Before Dorothy
- Judith D Collins
- 7 days ago
- 6 min read
By: Hazel Gaynor
Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld
Penguin Audio
ISBN: 978-0593440339
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: 06/17/2025
Format: Other
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC)
Long before Dorothy visits Oz, her aunt, Emily Gale, sets off on her own unforgettable adventure...
Chicago, 1924:
Emily and her new husband, Henry, yearn to leave the bustle of Chicago for the promise of their own American dream among the harsh beauty of the prairie. But leaving the city means leaving Emily’s beloved sister, Annie, who was once closer to her than anyone in the world.
Kansas, 1932:
Emily and Henry have established their new home among the warmth of the farming community in Kansas. Aligned to the fickle fortunes of nature, their lives hold a precarious and hopeful purpose, until tragedy strikes and their orphaned niece, Dorothy, lands on their doorstep.
The wide-eyed child isn’t the only thing to disrupt Emily’s world. Drought and devastating dust storms threaten to destroy everything, and her much-loved home becomes a place of uncertainty and danger. When the past catches up with the present and old secrets are exposed, Emily fears she will lose the most cherished thing of all: Dorothy.
Bursting with courage and heart, Before Dorothy tells the story of the woman who raised a beloved heroine, and ponders the question: what is the true meaning of home?
My Review
Hazel Gaynor (favorite author) takes us back to Kansas—reimagines and answers the burning questions in the stunning BEFORE DOROTHY —Aunt Em, Henry, and how Dorothy came to live with Emily and Henry Gale.
As a prequel to the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, one of the most beloved tales of all time, Hazel Gaynor eloquently explores Emily Gale, who she was, who she might have been, and who she became.
The enchanting story is set against the backdrop of one of the most turbulent periods in American history: the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. These historical events not only shape the characters' lives but also the entire narrative, adding depth and realism to the story.
About...
Long before Dorothy visits Oz, her aunt, Emily Gale, sets off on her grand adventure, leaving gritty Chicago behind for Kansas and a life that will utterly change her as the author transports us.
Chicago, 1924: Emily and her new husband, Henry, leave Chicago for the promise of their American dream among the harsh beauty of the prairie. But leaving the city, they also leave Emily's sister, Annie.
Kansas, 1932: Emily and Henry have established their new home in the farming community of Kansas. Then tragedy strikes and their orphaned niece, Dorothy, lands on their doorstep.
Then there is the drought and the dust storms that threaten everything they have worked for, making it a place of uncertainty.
The past converges with the present as old secrets surface. These secrets, long buried and forgotten, threaten to disrupt the fragile peace Emily has built. As she grapples with these revelations, she fears she will lose the most loved, Dorothy.
My thoughts...
Captivating, inspiring, and compelling! A poignant story of a woman who raised a heroine and the true meaning of home.
BEFORE DOROTHY is a testament to Hazel Gaynor's storytelling prowess. Her meticulous research and passion for the story shine through on each page, bringing the characters to life in a way that will leave readers captivated, inspired, and deeply invested in their journey. The blend of historical elements, strong character development, and vivid descriptions makes for a heartwarming and compelling read.
The novel imagines the character of Emily Gale as a young woman embarking on a new life on the Kansas prairies and all the challenges they will soon face and the true meaning of home.
ENGROSSING! I enjoyed the Author's Note and Historical Notes, where Hazel Gaynor shares how she was inspired to write BEFORE DOROTHY and the story of Auntie Em, a character mentioned only a few times in Oz.
She brilliantly delves into her meticulous research process, which involved studying the harsh reality of the farmers who lived through the devastating years of the Dust Bowl. This note offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpse into the creation of the book.
It is also a beautiful story of strong, courageous women, the choices, and sacrifices we make, and the secrets we hold within families. As well as a book of sisters, daughters, mothers, aunts, and their roles and relationships.
Nature and our connection with the natural world play a substantial role in the book, as Emily responds to the environment around her, including tornadoes, droughts, and dust storms, as well as the ways women embraced homesteading life.
I enjoyed reading about how the financial crisis began and how farmers were affected, as they were unable to grow and became financially ruined, along with the poor health, sickness, and foreclosures. And their ways of survival, the traveling carvinals and rainmakers.
A stunning imagination of Emily, Henry, Dorothy, and Toto before Dorothy stepped onto the Yellow Brick Road. Enjoy all the Easter eggs and references to The Wizard of Oz! I loved it. Well Done! An ideal pick for book clubs and further discussions.
Recs...
BEFORE DOROTHY is for fans of the author and those of The Wizard of Oz, the Dust Bowl, environmental, and history buffs.
Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the honor of reading an advanced review copy for an honest review.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: June 17, 2025
Praise
As featured in People ∙ Us Weekly ∙ Woman's World ∙ and more!
"Gaynor's prequel offers a fresh take on the world of Oz, shifting the focus to Auntie Em and Uncle Henry before Dorothy is dropped on their doorstep."
—Us Weekly
"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
About the Author
Hazel Gaynor is an award-winning, New York Times, USA Today, Irish Times and internationally bestselling author known for her deeply moving historical novels which explore the defining events of the 20th century. A debut author recipient of the 2015 RNA Historical Novel of the Year award, her work has since been shortlisted for the 2019 HWA Gold Crown Award, the 2020 RNA Awards, and the Irish Book Awards in 2017, 2020 and 2023. When We Were Young & Brave was a national bestseller in the USA and her most recent novel, The Last Lifeboat, was a Times of London historical novel of the month and a 2024 Audie winner for Best Fiction Narrator. Hazel's next novel, Before Dorothy, will be published in June 2025. Her co-written historical novels with Heather Webb have all been published to critical acclaim. Their latest collaboration, Christmas with the Queen, was released in November 2024.
Her work has been translated into twenty languages and published in twenty-seven territories to date. She lives in Ireland with her family. WEBSITE
