Character Interview: Sadie and Allie from AllieCat, Rebecca Fjelland Davis
Book Name and Author:
Chasing AllieCat by Rebecca Fjelland Davis
Main Character(s) Name:
Sadie and Allie
What was your life like growing up?
Sadie: I grew up in the Burbs of Minneapolis, and both my parents had good jobs–my dad’s an anthropology professor at the U of M, and my mom teaches high school history. I took dance lessons until I wanted to spend more time riding my mountain bike. That became my obsession. My little brother is a pest, but he was okay. We all had ups and downs, and everything was comfortable until Mom and Dad got divorced. Then my life seemed all chaos and out of whack until I met Allie. That put my life in perspective. I had it made and didn’t know it.
Allie: I grew up in a trailer court in the poorest outskirts of Mankato, Minnesota, across the river from the safe part of town. My mom is an alcoholic and drug addict, and my dad…well, he dealt drugs and he’s as hard as steel. Find out more in the book, I guess.
Before your story began, what were your hopes for the future?
Sadie: I wanted to start racing my mountain bike. I did NOT want to be ditched with my uncle on the outskirts of Mankato for the summer. Then and now, when I go to college, I also want to study environmental science, and I want to work with river pollution. I’m sort of obsessed with recycling and keeping the world safe and clean.
Allie: I wanted to win the expert mountain bike race at Mount Kato, and I mostly wanted to stay out of trouble.
What changed that?
Sadie: Meeting Allie
Allie: Meeting Sadie
Sadie: She got me into my first race, but more important, she kicked my butt so I got stronger and faster all summer. Plus, she made me realize how to appreciate pretty much everything in my life. And I got two new friends in the summer. (Oh, and I sort of fell in love, too).
Allie: Sadie is an awesome friend. That changed my summer drastically. That, and my dad getting out of prison–my whole world sort of turned topsy turvy in the summer. It all started with finding the priest’s body in the woods.
How would you describe your personality?
Sadie: Determined, I guess. I thought I was just pretty average until I started hanging out with Allie. Then I realized I’m strong and can do what I set out to do, and that I’m braver and even kinder than I thought before. I guess I like feeling those qualities.
Allie: I used to feel a little pissed off most of the time, and like I was always looking over my shoulder to keep out of trouble. Then when I met Sadie, I realized there were people in the world I could trust. I never really had a good friend before now. Now I feel strong and fast and not quite so worried–or scared. I hate to admit that part, but it’s true.
How would you describe your looks?
Sadie: Average. Brown ponytail, strong and lean but not skinny. An okay face. Nothing out of the ordinary. But Joe likes how I look, so I guess I am okay.
Allie: I think I look sort of on the edge. I have bleached-blond spiky hair, and quite a few piercings on my face and ears. Somebody described me as “all muscle.” That might be right, too.
What’s your greatest talents?
Sadie: I want to say biking, and I guess that’s true. Also being a friend and caring about the environment.
Allie: Biking. Biking. Biking.
Who are your closest friends?
Sadie: Allie and Joe, of course, but also my friends back home, Erica and Sara.
Allie: Sadie. And Joe.
Who do you love?
Sadie: Hmmm. Joe. My family. Allie, too, in a different way.
Allie: Sadie, I guess. My mom, even though she’s messed up. And Siren, my dog.
Who do you hate, and why?
Sadie: Allie’s dad. The rednecks around the Junk Woods. If you read the book, you know why. Who would write such a stupid sign and post it in the woods? CREEPY!
Allie: My dad. His friends. Ditto to Sadie.
What do you think is going to happen next?
Sadie: I’m going to keep racing. I hope Joe and I can maintain a long-distance relationship. I hope I see Allie a lot, even if we live 90 miles apart during the year. AND…we have a trial to dread–except that I’ll see Joe then, so it’s not all bad. It’s scary, but I’m excited to see Joe.
Allie: I’m hoping to get picked up by a sponsor. After my last two races, Specialized and Salsa have both talked to me. If I get sponsored, I can race all over the country…maybe I can even go pro! Oh, and there’s the trial in November. NOT looking forward to that. At all. My dream? That nobody knows about? Racing road bikes, and somehow racing the Tour de France, even though no woman ever has.
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