Somewhere over the rainbow, Dorothy is a dictator.

By Kay Brennan, Hesperia Community Library Director.

Most people have watched the “Wizard of Oz” movie and some may have read the book by Frank L. Baum. You might remember Judy Garland as Dorothy and her great pals: the Tin Man, Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion. They met the wizard, killed the Wicked Witch and with the help of Dorothy’s ruby slippers each got their wish.  Dorothy’s wish was to return to her Aunty Em in Kansas.  This book, “Dorothy Must Die,” asks the reader to imagine that Dorothy didn’t stay back in Kansas. It is a New York Times best-selling debut book in a dark new series by Danielle Paige.

Amy Gumm is a modern-day girl from Kansas who gets caught up in a tornado and lands in Oz. However, this is a much different Oz. It turns out that Dorothy spent a short time in Kansas until she realized she really missed the magic she controlled and the power she had over all of the beings in Oz. The flying monkeys now serve Dorothy. The wicked witches find Amy and ask her to help them and the rest of the rebels. The Revolutionary Order of the Wicked fight to free the Land of Oz from the crazy dictatorship Dorothy has created. Amy finds out that Dorothy is using the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion (no longer “cowardly”) to kill and control every being around.  Dorothy is trying to stockpile all of the magic so that she can be an ultimate ruler. Amy doesn’t feel she is really cut out to fight and rescue anyone, because she has never fought anyone. The rebels train her to fight and be prepared for any kind of attack. Amy and the rest of the

rebels want to stop Dorothy, kill her if possible, to prevent her from destroying Oz. This novel is fun to read, and fans will be eager to read the next book of the series. It is considered a young adult novel but can be enjoyed by all.