Cover Love:
Yes! I love this cover so much. Even if I wasn't overly interested in the book I would read it simply because of the cover!
Why I Wanted to Read This:
Well, the cover, for one. But the synopsis, wow. How could anyone who has grown up watching The Wizard of Oz not want to read this? Here it is from GoodReads:
I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero.Romance?: No, but Amy develops feelings for a couple different people who help her along the way.
But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?
Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little blue birds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still the yellow brick road, though—but even that's crumbling.
What happened?
Dorothy. They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.
My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas.
I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked.
I've been trained to fight.
And I have a mission:
Remove the Tin Woodman's heart.
Steal the Scarecrow's brain.
Take the Lion's courage.
Then and only then—Dorothy must die!
My Thoughts:
First of all, read the novella. If you don't have an ereader, buy it and read it on your computer. It's really good and gives you a lot of understanding as to why Dorothy is evil in the first place.
Second of all, by the time Amy gets to Oz you know for certain, this is not your technicolor Oz. This is a dark, place full of evil and there is no one you can trust. NO ONE.
Amy lives in our reality, in Kansas, growing up watching The Wizard of Oz, knowing all about Dorothy. But beyond enjoying it a little when she was younger she doesn't give Oz or Dorothy much thought. But, like Dorothy a cyclone sweeps her up and brings her to Oz. I say "brings her" because everyone in Oz feels that someone or something is responsible from bringing Amy (and Dorothy) to Oz.
There are so many forces at work in Oz it's dizzying--there are the Wicked Witches, who are now Good? There are the Good Witches and people (like the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Lion and Glinda) who are now Wicked? There are Winged monkeys and Wingless monkeys. There is literally NO ONE for Amy to trust, but she does enter into some uneasy alliances and I hope, in the long run, that Amy will be successful for herself, not for anyone else.
This is a very visual book. The author does a fantastic job turning Oz into something dark and twisted and gross. And Dorothy's three companions are also dark and twisted and gross and evil and violent. And they are also supremely loyal to Dorothy. But they are all also still the insecure characters we met in The Wizard of Oz. Despite having a heart, the Tin Man doesn't know how to love; the Scarecrow, with his brain, still doesn't think he's smart enough; and the Lion still gets scared.
Also, the Wizard is still around and even though he's not in the book long, I really liked his character. Not sure if I can trust him, but I really liked him.
There were a few slow parts, one right in the middle, but first third and the last third are a thrill ride that you will have a hard time putting down!
To Sum Up: This might be a bit old for the my library-with it's swearing and imagery, but I think it will hit big with a lot of young adult readers--both young and older adults!
Book begged for and received by HarperCollins. Thanks Alison!
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