Before Dorothy

Praise

“Bestselling author Hazel Gaynor does for Dorothy and her family what Wicked did for The Wicked Witch of the West in this Depression-era origin story that peels back the intriguing layers of Auntie Em, the woman who raised Dorothy. Even casual fans of The Wizard of Oz will find their eyes widening in recognition as elements of the land of the Yellow Brick Road—the rainbow itself, the Tin Man, a stuffed lion with the power to comfort, wicked witches, and even fraudster wizards—come alive in the real world of Kansas’s Dust Bowl and become the threads that will eventually weave themselves into Dorothy’s future. A story as glimmering as the Emerald City and as hopeful as Dorothy herself, Hazel Gaynor’s latest is an important and enchanting addition to the canon of Oz.”—Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau

“In Technicolor prose, Hazel Gaynor gives new meaning to the familiar phrase ‘there’s no place like home’ in this stunning novel that imagines the real lives of Auntie Em, Uncle Henry, Dorothy, and Toto in the dust bowl of the Depression. Readers will love collecting Easter eggs from the 1939 movie scattered throughout this moving story about family secrets and the enduring power of love. Ingeniously done.”—Kerri Maher, USA Today bestselling author of All You Have To Do Is Call

“Like Dorothy stepping into Oz, Hazel Gaynor’s new novel pulls Auntie Em out of a black and white background and into a full-color world all her own.”—Sarah Miller, USA Today bestselling author of Marmee and Caroline: Little House, Revisited

“Detailed descriptions capture each of the senses as this novel explores the cost of going after our dreams and what it means to truly be a family. Rife with allusions to the original source material, this is an engaging backstory with depth that will give book clubs much to discuss.”—Booklist

“Gaynor’s (The Last Lifeboat) writing incorporates elegant touches echoing Baum’s timeless characters, symbols, and themes. Readers will be touched by Em’s story and respect the strong woman who raised such an unforgettable literary heroine.”—Library Journal