I was born and
raised in Kansas, the ‘Land of Oz.’ When you tell people you are from Kansas,
even when they too live in Kansas, they will make a crack about red shoes, a
dog named Toto or tell you “You aren’t in Kansas anymore….” I have seen the
movie; I have read the book; I was given the part of the Lion in the play; I
have seen the musical Wicked; I have
read the series of Oz books by Frank Baum. I have been there and done that with
the infamous tale of Kansas. I was a bit apprehensive as I started reading this
book. Could this new author ,whose fame started from a nonfictional book,
rewrite an old tale to a YA audience? This curious and apprehensive Kansas girl
answers her own question with a resounding YES! Betsy Schow could hook this
Kansas girl in a new and refreshing version of the Wizard of Oz with her book Spelled.
Dorothea is a
young princess from the Emerald Isle. Her family has been cursed and she can
never leave her home for fear of unleashing fire upon the earth destroying
everything she encounters. Dorothea can no longer endure this hardship! She is
forever trying to figure a way out of the castle, her curse and the life she
has to live.
The evil witch
Griz entraps Dorothea into making a wish to undo the happily ever afters of all
stories forever. Dorothea, and her amazing Ruby shoes, must discover how her
curse of Emerald flames can help save herself, her Prince charming and the
people of the Stories. The fun doesn’t end with the conclusion of the book.
Schow nicely sets up the end to continue into a series of more “glammed” fun
with Dorothea in upcoming books.
The story is
good, but the thing that got me, was at the end of every chapter was a quote
from another Princess or story book character. There were snippets from their
stories in relationship to advice Dorothea should take. The wit and humor of
Schow was amazing. She uses explicit adult language twisted into fairy tale
language. It is extremely clever and made for a truly enjoyable new spin on an
over done story.
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