A Night For Books,Field Hockey, and History Fans

Acclaimed novelist Quan Barry, who grew up in Danvers will be reading from her recently released novel, "We Ride Upon Sticks". Set in Danvers where the accusations began that led to the 1692 witch trials, "We Ride Upon Sticks" follows the 1989 Danvers High School Falcons field hockey team, who will do anything to make it to the state finals—even if it means tapping into some devilishly dark powers. The title is derived from Tituba, the enslaved woman who pleaded guilty at the witch trials in 1692 as she explained how she and other supposed witches flew from Salem to Boston - "We ride upon sticks and are there presently"

This book follows the Danvers High field hockey team as they discover that the dark impulses of their Salem forebears may be the key to a winning season. Only one character in the book, Coach Barb Damon, is not fictionalized. She passed away in 2019 and is fondly remembered by many in the area.

To quote Emily Temple, Lit Hub Senior Editor - 'Basically, this book is a must read if you were ever a teenage girl, played a team sport, contemplated witchcraft, and/or were alive in the 80s.'

The reading will take place on March 11th at 7:00 in Tapley Hall, 13 Page St., Danvers. Copper Dog Books on Cabot St. in Beverly will be present to sell signed copies of the book.