Is anyone else already rehearsing their performance of “Defying Gravity” — and hoping they won’t get kicked out of the movie theater? What fashionable and over-the-top Elphaba and Glinda costumes are floating across everyone’s socials? And who else’s TikTok is overflowing with the lyrics to “Popular”?
With so many people excited about the new Wicked movie adaptation, what a lot of people might not know is that before the musical, it was a book … which was based on the classic 1939 movie that was, yes, also a book!
If you haven’t read Gregory Maguire’s Wicked or L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, don’t fret! It’s not too late to run to your nearest bookstore and grab a copy — I’m sure they’re placed front and center right now.
And while you’re there, be sure to check out these 5 modern novels inspired by the classic tale. They. Will. Be. Popular!
Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige
Oz isn’t the place you’ve been led to believe. No, it’s a place where Good Witches can’t be trusted and Wicked Witches may just be the good guys. Amy Gumm learns this the hard way after a tornado whisks her from Kansas to Oz, where Dorothy has seized power — power that’s gone to her head. Recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked, Amy has a tough mission ahead: to remove the Tin Wodman’s heart, steal the Scarecrow’s brain, take the Lion’s courage, and of course — kill Dorothy.
Toto by A. J. Hackwith
Who’s the true hero of The Wizard of Oz? That’s right: everyone’s favorite little dog, Toto. In this delightfully snarky reimagining, Toto finally gets to tell his side of the story. While Dorothy runs around Oz — falling into the wrong crowd and playing tug-of-war over a pair of slippers that don’t even taste good — Toto tries his hardest to keep her out of trouble. But when she just refuses to listen, this sensible little pup is forced to save the day himself. And he will — because little dogs can get away with anything.
Spelled by Betsy Schow
In this wickedly charming YA trilogy, being the crowned princess of Emerald isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Sure it has its perks, but a forced marriage to the not-so-charming prince Kato is not what Dorthea had in mind for her enchanted future. Trying to fix her prince problem by wishing on a (cursed) star royally backfires, leaving the kingdom in chaos and her parents stuck in some place called “Kansas.” Now it’s up to Dorthea and her pixed off prince to find the mysterious Wizard of Oz and undo the curse… before all spell breaks loose.
The Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale by Virginia Kantra
Inspired by the classic tale, this novel follows Dorothy “Dee” Gale in her search for a place to belong. After her relationship ends with heartbreak, humiliation, and a tornado of negative publicity, Dee joins a writing program in Dublin. Her journey to Ireland leads to new companions: the seemingly brainless Sam Clery, the allegedly heartless Tim Woodman, and the fiercely loyal Reeti Kaur. With her new friends and the mentorship of powerful women in the writing program, Dee finds the confidence to confront her biggest fears — including her intimidating graduate advisor, who may not be so wicked after all.
Tin by Candace Robinson and Amber R. Duell
It’s been over a decade since Dorothy visited the faerie world of Oz, and she’s lost everything — her family, her dog, her farm. So when a green portal opens in her wheat field, she jumps at the opportunity to return. But things have changed. She didn’t expect to find Tin once again cursed with a heart of stone. Tin — an assassin on a mission to deliver Dorothy to Lion — didn’t expect to find a vivacious, grown woman. As the two travel together, their lives begin to make sense again. Soon, they must decide where their loyalties lie — at the risk of losing everything.