Monday, September 16, 2013

Drama! The Four Dorothys by Paul Ruditis- Classics Retold


It's the Wizard of Oz month here since I am participating in Classics Retold this month.  I went on the hunt to find a Wizard of Oz retelling.  Mostly I only found out about Wicked... but then I stumbled upon this great young adult book.  I had no idea what to expect... but it's a great little book!  Here is the goodreads description:


Every performance needs a little scandal and . . . DRAMA! Spawned from Hollywood's A-list glitterati, nearly every student at the exclusive Orion Academy is a singer, dancer, model, or actor -- with the ego to match. So how do you fit so many budding stars into one school musical? Multi-cast, of course. It's a Wizard of Oz like no other: four Dorothys, two Scarecrows, two Glindas, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. Every "star" gets a moment in the spotlight. Meanwhile, Bryan Stark, narrator extraordinaire, needs to shed some light on a more scandalous plot. Dorothys are mysteriously dropping out of the show, one after the other. If Bryan doesn't figure out why, there may be no one left to click her heels by opening night. . . ..

This a fun humorous book about some high school students who go to an upscale high school in the California area.  They are doing a Wizard of Oz play but there is scandal because all the girls who are playing Dorothy seem like they are being sabotaged to not be in the play.  I mean ... the jokes were a little juvenile true.  I guess you could say that this book is more for middle grade.

I like that this book has a mystery and isn't your typical YA book.  No love triangles, or any of that nonsense. If you are looking for something that is all about Oz this is the book too.  It is more based off the movie then the the Wonderful Wizard of Oz book.  I did really enjoy the humor in the book.  The main character, Bryan Stark, talks to the reader.  He is telling us the story and it is pretty funny.

Apparently, this book is a series!!  Who knew?  (up to four books in the series now) I have never heard of this author before and when I looked up the authors other books on goodreads they are all over the place!  A West Wing (the show) companion guide, Sabrina the Teenage Witch books, and more. WOW!   I probably won't continue on with the series only because they are a little young for me.  Still though a lot of fun.   If you are looking for a cute Wizard of Oz retelling this is perfect!

The crystal balls says:




Clouds are covering! A read that lets me down every now and then but peaks out of the clouds!

And for those who are loving my OZ month don't forget to enter my giveaway! 




5 comments:

  1. This sounds so cute!

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  2. It's great that you enjoyed this one! I was wondering if the plot follows the Wizard of Oz in some way? Are the characters needing something to complete them? And the other upshot of this post is that now I have a craving to listen to Wicked. :D

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    1. It doesn't actually follow the Wizard of Oz plot. The characters are just 4 girls who have to share the play because it is only going to be able to be performed one night. Each girl has something happen to her to get her out of the play. So there is a mystery about who is doing it. There are some cute references to Oz... like how they get the stuffed Toto dogs. It is also fun to read about how each girl changes her Dorothy outfits. Lots of fun humor.

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    2. Ah okay! That makes sense, sounds like a fun way to incorporate the classic!

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