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Oz Continued #48
The Emerald Wand of Oz
Meet Em and Dori, two modern-day descendants of Dorothy Gale (yes, THAT Dorothy), who follow in her famous footsteps to the magical land of Oz -- and adventure. Dori loves reading all of the wonderful old Oz books, imagining what it would be like to meet the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow. Her younger sister, Em, thinks that believing in Oz is for babies and that the magical snow globe Dori claims was left to them by Dorothy Gale is just an old souvenir. But when a tornado suddenly deposits the sisters in a place where unicorns hold beauty contests, Nome princes walk through solid rock, and magic takes care of daily chores, they realize they're not in Kansas anymore. However, this is a new Oz, different in many ways from how it was when Dorothy traveled down the yellow brick road. Strange dark clouds hover over the Emerald City, Princess Ozma and her people are under an evil spell cast by Bastinda, the new Wicked Witch of the West, and Dorothy is nowhere to be found! It is up to Em and Dori to reverse the spell and save the people of Oz. But to do that they must get hold of the magic wand used to cast it -- a wand that belongs to the wicked witch! Whether this is your first trip to Oz or you have visited many times before, prepare to be enchanted by Sherwood Smith's fresh new adventure!
272 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2005
1 person is currently reading
349 people want to read
About the author
Sherwood Smith
168 books37.5k followersI am a writer,( Patreon here) but I'm on Goodreads to talk about books, as I've been a passionate reader as long as I've been a writer--since early childhood.
I'm not going to rate books--there are too many variables. I'd rather talk about the reading experience. My 'reviews' of my books are confined to the writing process.
I'm not going to rate books--there are too many variables. I'd rather talk about the reading experience. My 'reviews' of my books are confined to the writing process.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 8, 2016
As a long-time fan of L. Frank Baum's Oz books, I'm generally suspicious of newer books by other authors set in his world; I'm not even a big fan of Ruth Plumly Thompson, his immediate successor. However, I liked Sherwood Smith's Crown Duel enough that I thought it would be worth giving her Oz book, The Emerald Wand of Oz, a try -- and I loved it.
Smith's heroines are Em and Dori, who live in Kansas and are reputedly related to the famous Dorothy Gale, who first visited Oz in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. When a tornado strikes their house, they're suddenly whisked away -- just like Dorothy -- to the land of Oz. Dori, who's loved Oz all her life, is thrilled, but the more practical Em can hardly believe it. Soon, they're pulled into a quest to save Princess Ozma and Glinda the Oz from a wicked enchantment that's been laid on them.
Smith succeeds in bringing a more modern sensibility to her characters and a genuine sense of threat to the plot without dimming the charm and wonder of Oz. Em and Dori have family problems - their parents are separated - and Smith treats these realistically, with sympathy for the girls and for the adults. The threat to Ozma and Glinda and their country is vivid (particularly when a mysterious, frightening cloud shows up repeatedly), yet the country itself is every bit as inventive as Baum's, with pretty but vain unicorns, poppycocks (little scarlet birds which turn into flowers), and all manner of other Ozzy details. Smith handles Baum's characters nicely, too, particularly the dizzy Patchwork Girl.
Smith's heroines are Em and Dori, who live in Kansas and are reputedly related to the famous Dorothy Gale, who first visited Oz in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. When a tornado strikes their house, they're suddenly whisked away -- just like Dorothy -- to the land of Oz. Dori, who's loved Oz all her life, is thrilled, but the more practical Em can hardly believe it. Soon, they're pulled into a quest to save Princess Ozma and Glinda the Oz from a wicked enchantment that's been laid on them.
Smith succeeds in bringing a more modern sensibility to her characters and a genuine sense of threat to the plot without dimming the charm and wonder of Oz. Em and Dori have family problems - their parents are separated - and Smith treats these realistically, with sympathy for the girls and for the adults. The threat to Ozma and Glinda and their country is vivid (particularly when a mysterious, frightening cloud shows up repeatedly), yet the country itself is every bit as inventive as Baum's, with pretty but vain unicorns, poppycocks (little scarlet birds which turn into flowers), and all manner of other Ozzy details. Smith handles Baum's characters nicely, too, particularly the dizzy Patchwork Girl.
April 25, 2018
This book was good, and quite professionally written. It did seem short, though. It doesn't LOOK any shorter than any of the original Oz books, none of which were very long, but it seemed like less happened in it, or something.
The main characters, Dori and Em, are somehow related to Dorothy, but we never actually find out how. While in Oz, they meet the Nome King's son Rikiko, and the Wicked Witch of the West's niece Bastinda (which was actually the name the witch had in the Russian adaptation of The Wizard of Oz; I'm rather fond of it). While the whole idea of the characters being related to other ones is often kind of silly, it didn't work out as badly as you might expect. I liked Rik, a terse Nome with rock-based magic and a penchant for lying (which he describes as an "ancient and honorable Nome art"), who has trouble deciding what side he's on. There's a pretty good explanation for why we never see Nome women or children. I know some Oz scholars have proposed that there are none, but I prefer Sherwood Smith's theory.
I don't really like Bastinda so much. A lot of what she does seems to just be copying her famous aunt, and she's defeated in much the same way, too. I do like the descriptions of her castle, though, and her moronic giant gecko guards. There's one scene where the Scarecrow convinces the guards that he's there to inspect the drawbridge, which plays out like something from a cartoon, but it's pretty amusing nonetheless.
Dori and Em are decent characters. Dori is a dreamer, and has read some of the Oz books. The idea that some Americans in the Oz books have actually read other Oz books is one that dates back to L. Frank Baum himself. Some readers have objected to this idea, but I actually like it. Maybe it's because it gives a kind of "it could be you" feeling to the books. I mean, if these people who have read about Oz eventually get to go there, maybe it could be the same for you or me, you know? Anyway, Em is a more practical girl, and she's so convinced that Oz and magic don't exist that she initially sees unicorns as ponies, and doesn't understand their speech. This hasn't actually been done in an Oz book before, as far as I know, but there's a certain similarity between Em's situation and that of the ferryman in The Lost Princess of Oz, who is unable to understand animal speech. Em eventually does come to realize where she is and that magic DOES exist, but I'm kind of hoping her more practical mind will come in handy in later books (and there presumably will be sequels). There's a mention that Em took math lab instead of horse care at summer camp, and so she isn't as good at grooming unicorns as Dori. I'd like to see an implication that math lab is also useful, though. I mean, it's not impossible to be both practical AND imaginative, after all. An underlying subplot is Dori and Em's attempt to deal with their parents splitting up. There's even a scene where they discuss whether they're to blame for their parents' marital difficulties, which is apparently common, but hey, I never thought I was to blame when MY parents split up.
The familiar Oz characters are used pretty well, although the author seems to fall into the trap of using a lot of them in her first book, even when they really don't do much. There really doesn't seem to be much reason why Jack Pumpkinhead is part of the adventuring party, for instance. The Scarecrow and the Glass Cat have significant roles, though. The Patchwork Girl also shows up, and the author tells us that she's "always kind," which doesn't match her portrayal in some of the other Oz books. Mind you, I DID just recently reread a book by John R. Neill, who tends to make the Patchwork Girl noticeably meaner and more annoying than other authors do.
Sherwood Smith leaves some loose ends, especially considering the disappearance of Dorothy, and some sinister clouds that show up over Oz at various points in the story. I'd also be interested in learning how the Scarecrow and his friends came by the flying carpet that they use.
The main characters, Dori and Em, are somehow related to Dorothy, but we never actually find out how. While in Oz, they meet the Nome King's son Rikiko, and the Wicked Witch of the West's niece Bastinda (which was actually the name the witch had in the Russian adaptation of The Wizard of Oz; I'm rather fond of it). While the whole idea of the characters being related to other ones is often kind of silly, it didn't work out as badly as you might expect. I liked Rik, a terse Nome with rock-based magic and a penchant for lying (which he describes as an "ancient and honorable Nome art"), who has trouble deciding what side he's on. There's a pretty good explanation for why we never see Nome women or children. I know some Oz scholars have proposed that there are none, but I prefer Sherwood Smith's theory.
I don't really like Bastinda so much. A lot of what she does seems to just be copying her famous aunt, and she's defeated in much the same way, too. I do like the descriptions of her castle, though, and her moronic giant gecko guards. There's one scene where the Scarecrow convinces the guards that he's there to inspect the drawbridge, which plays out like something from a cartoon, but it's pretty amusing nonetheless.
Dori and Em are decent characters. Dori is a dreamer, and has read some of the Oz books. The idea that some Americans in the Oz books have actually read other Oz books is one that dates back to L. Frank Baum himself. Some readers have objected to this idea, but I actually like it. Maybe it's because it gives a kind of "it could be you" feeling to the books. I mean, if these people who have read about Oz eventually get to go there, maybe it could be the same for you or me, you know? Anyway, Em is a more practical girl, and she's so convinced that Oz and magic don't exist that she initially sees unicorns as ponies, and doesn't understand their speech. This hasn't actually been done in an Oz book before, as far as I know, but there's a certain similarity between Em's situation and that of the ferryman in The Lost Princess of Oz, who is unable to understand animal speech. Em eventually does come to realize where she is and that magic DOES exist, but I'm kind of hoping her more practical mind will come in handy in later books (and there presumably will be sequels). There's a mention that Em took math lab instead of horse care at summer camp, and so she isn't as good at grooming unicorns as Dori. I'd like to see an implication that math lab is also useful, though. I mean, it's not impossible to be both practical AND imaginative, after all. An underlying subplot is Dori and Em's attempt to deal with their parents splitting up. There's even a scene where they discuss whether they're to blame for their parents' marital difficulties, which is apparently common, but hey, I never thought I was to blame when MY parents split up.
The familiar Oz characters are used pretty well, although the author seems to fall into the trap of using a lot of them in her first book, even when they really don't do much. There really doesn't seem to be much reason why Jack Pumpkinhead is part of the adventuring party, for instance. The Scarecrow and the Glass Cat have significant roles, though. The Patchwork Girl also shows up, and the author tells us that she's "always kind," which doesn't match her portrayal in some of the other Oz books. Mind you, I DID just recently reread a book by John R. Neill, who tends to make the Patchwork Girl noticeably meaner and more annoying than other authors do.
Sherwood Smith leaves some loose ends, especially considering the disappearance of Dorothy, and some sinister clouds that show up over Oz at various points in the story. I'd also be interested in learning how the Scarecrow and his friends came by the flying carpet that they use.
April 2, 2019
As a continuation of the Oz series, I found this to be a worthy entry at least, even though it has a much more modern tone than other Oz books that try to continue the Famous Forty. Although commissioned by the Baum family, I don't really see this as having any more authority or canonicity than Edward Einhorn's Paradox in Oz or similar modern Oz works, which I feel do a better job remaining faithful to the original books. I think the main characters spend way too much of the book trapped with the vain unicorns; the action doesn't really start to pick up until halfway through the book, by which time the plot feels a little bit rushed. Now I haven't read every single Oz book, but I've read all the Baum ones, and I don't remember a single mention of unicorns in Oz. Furthermore, it's stated that they don't even have horses according to the 4th book. I could have done without that entire portion; the kids should have just gone straight to Glinda's Castle, with maybe a brief pit stop somewhere that was also a location in the original books. We have to wait way too long before we see any familiar Oz characters. The villain, being the Wicked Witch of the West's niece, might not be the most original idea, but she does fine I suppose. Dori and Em, the main characters, are well-written and feel like real people, which is always good. The concept of Oz's magic being cancelled out by Em's disbelief is an interesting one, which kind of reminds me of Neverland and other "fairylands". Various plot threads are left unresolved, being saved for the sequels presumably. Still, I would be interested in picking up the next book just to see what happens next, that all said.
February 29, 2024
To understand this book, you need to understand the context in which it was published. Basically, it’s a modern-ish addition to the Oz canon that was authorised by the L. Frank Baum estate and which follows Dorothy’s descendants as they, too, discover Oz.
I’ve been trying to read through the Oz books in publication order, but while I managed that for forty books or so, we eventually ran into problems because of books going out of print without being in the public domain.
This book was easy to track down because it was published recently (and I think it’s still in print). It’s also a lot of fun and actually one of the better Oz books that I’ve come across.
There’s a lot to like, from the fact that the two girls have an electric guitar in their bedroom to the fact that one of them is an Oz sceptic who refuses to believe in magic until it’s literally staring them in the face.
It’s also the first book in a trilogy, with a little bit of a backstory going on which includes an absent parent thanks to conflicts between the mother and father. All of this combines to make it a truly 21st century take on the Oz series which somehow brings something new to it that was previously missing.
And so if you’re a fan of the Oz books, you should check this one out. Lots to like!
I’ve been trying to read through the Oz books in publication order, but while I managed that for forty books or so, we eventually ran into problems because of books going out of print without being in the public domain.
This book was easy to track down because it was published recently (and I think it’s still in print). It’s also a lot of fun and actually one of the better Oz books that I’ve come across.
There’s a lot to like, from the fact that the two girls have an electric guitar in their bedroom to the fact that one of them is an Oz sceptic who refuses to believe in magic until it’s literally staring them in the face.
It’s also the first book in a trilogy, with a little bit of a backstory going on which includes an absent parent thanks to conflicts between the mother and father. All of this combines to make it a truly 21st century take on the Oz series which somehow brings something new to it that was previously missing.
And so if you’re a fan of the Oz books, you should check this one out. Lots to like!
January 8, 2011
Sherwood Smith is an award winning author who was contracted by Byron Preiss to write 4 novels as the new Royal Historian of Oz for the L. Frank Baum Family Trust. This is the first of 2 novels published by HarperCollins as part of that agreement. The second book, Trouble Under Oz (2006), continues where this book leaves off. A third called Sky Pirates of Oz was written, but Preiss's death in 2005 & subsequent bankruptcy put the future of that book and the fourth book into doubt.
The story is about Dorothy Gale's modern day grand nieces Em and Dori who are transported to Oz by a tornado where they get caught up in adventures with local Oz characters new and old. Like Dorothy, they live in Kansas in an unhappy household. Their parents are separated and they respond to the stress in opposite ways. Em is practical and realistic like her namesake Aunt Em, while Dori is disorganized and imaginative, dreaming of the fairy land her namesake Dorothy once visited.
Every Oz story has a visit to at least one strange place filled with amusing but dangerous inhabitants. Dori and Em start their Oz adventure in Unicorn Valley, which is reminiscent of "My Little Pony" with brightly colored unicorns living with children who spend their days grooming and decorating the vain animals. The girls want to get home to Kansas to let their mother know they are alright, so they decide to visit the castle of Glinda the good witch of the south. Only the unicorns, needing groomers, will not let them go. Teaming up with a boy named Rik, and with the help of a freshwater mermaid, they escape Unicorn Valley. However they can't escape an ominous cloud with barely visible faces that seems to follow them.
When they arrive at Glinda's castle Dori and Em find out that a witch named Bastinda, the niece of Dorothy's Wicked Witch of the West, has ransacked the castle for magical tools and used an emerald wand to magically steal Glinda's smarts, leaving her and everyone in the castle laconic and dazed. Scraps the Patchwork Girl tells Em that Bastinda has stolen Ozma's smarts as well, casting an evil spell on all the people of the Emerald City. Meanwhile, Dori discovers that Rik is after magical tools for his own purposes. Dori and Em must team up with Scraps and other famous non-human Oz characters who are free of the spell in a three-way struggle with Bastinda and Rik to get the emerald wand and break the enchantments.
Sherwood Smith devotes 75 pages to Unicorn Valley which makes the first half of the book slow, but the pace picks up and never slackens once the girls leave. This is a wonderful book for anyone who has read L. Frank Baum's early Oz books or seen the movie. Smith is marvelous at character development and her characters Rik, Bastinda, and Bastinda's Giant Gecko Guards are complex and rewarding. They fit in well with her recreations of such Oz personages as Scraps, Scarecrow, Jack Pumpkinhead and the Glass Cat.
The story is about Dorothy Gale's modern day grand nieces Em and Dori who are transported to Oz by a tornado where they get caught up in adventures with local Oz characters new and old. Like Dorothy, they live in Kansas in an unhappy household. Their parents are separated and they respond to the stress in opposite ways. Em is practical and realistic like her namesake Aunt Em, while Dori is disorganized and imaginative, dreaming of the fairy land her namesake Dorothy once visited.
Every Oz story has a visit to at least one strange place filled with amusing but dangerous inhabitants. Dori and Em start their Oz adventure in Unicorn Valley, which is reminiscent of "My Little Pony" with brightly colored unicorns living with children who spend their days grooming and decorating the vain animals. The girls want to get home to Kansas to let their mother know they are alright, so they decide to visit the castle of Glinda the good witch of the south. Only the unicorns, needing groomers, will not let them go. Teaming up with a boy named Rik, and with the help of a freshwater mermaid, they escape Unicorn Valley. However they can't escape an ominous cloud with barely visible faces that seems to follow them.
When they arrive at Glinda's castle Dori and Em find out that a witch named Bastinda, the niece of Dorothy's Wicked Witch of the West, has ransacked the castle for magical tools and used an emerald wand to magically steal Glinda's smarts, leaving her and everyone in the castle laconic and dazed. Scraps the Patchwork Girl tells Em that Bastinda has stolen Ozma's smarts as well, casting an evil spell on all the people of the Emerald City. Meanwhile, Dori discovers that Rik is after magical tools for his own purposes. Dori and Em must team up with Scraps and other famous non-human Oz characters who are free of the spell in a three-way struggle with Bastinda and Rik to get the emerald wand and break the enchantments.
Sherwood Smith devotes 75 pages to Unicorn Valley which makes the first half of the book slow, but the pace picks up and never slackens once the girls leave. This is a wonderful book for anyone who has read L. Frank Baum's early Oz books or seen the movie. Smith is marvelous at character development and her characters Rik, Bastinda, and Bastinda's Giant Gecko Guards are complex and rewarding. They fit in well with her recreations of such Oz personages as Scraps, Scarecrow, Jack Pumpkinhead and the Glass Cat.
May 31, 2010
The Emerald Wand is a well told story that beautifully combines a literary look at Baum's famous Oz series with a modern story of twin girls who do not get along. Doty and Em are dealing with growing up, divorced parents, and feuding family members. When a large storm hits their Kansas house, the girls find themselves transported to the Land of Oz-- just like out of the books they read when they were younger. Smith combines well-known characters from Baum's famous series with new additions from her imagination to reintroduce and update Oz for a new generation. The story benefits from the realistic (and often strained) relationship between the sisters and from the ongoing mystery of why Dorothy has disappeared. A good read for 8-11 year olds, provided that they are familiar with the Oz stories. Readers unfamiliar with the books will still enjoy the story, but may be confused about characters and situations that are referenced in Baum's work.
January 14, 2013
I have to be honest, it wasn't my favorite book but it wasn't my least favorite book. I guess it's one of those books you can't decided if you like it or not, but you find it oddly fascinating at the same time. It's about two sisters Em and Dori, who are related to Dorothy Gale and they go to the magical Land of Oz just like her through a snow globe. And they set out on an adventure of their own because something’s wrong in Oz, but what is it exactly?
March 31, 2013
It's been a long time since I picked up a new-to-me Oz book, and I was charmed to see so many things the same in this book of accidental travelers to that magic kingdom -- from characters who are wrapped up in their own view of the world to unknown corners of the land. There weren't as many puns as in Baum's books, and I was frustrated with the number of loose threads at the end of the book -- but I truly enjoyed reading it.
July 22, 2011
last year when i read this book, it was so good that it got me hooked on all the other oz books. even though they aren't write by the same author, i thought that i might at acuatily like them. i had only watched the movie, after reading this book i wanted to read the oz books. i would recomend it for anybody and everybody.
January 18, 2015
What a disappointment! The first hundred pages are 75 pages too long and lack all the humor, whimsy and word-play that make L. Frank Baum's Oz stories such fun to read. The second half is better but doesn't make up for the dull first half. My grandchildren gave it up and went on to more rewarding reads.
August 30, 2014
I love love love this book it's so interesting and it has different characters than the Wizard of Oz. I highly recommend this book I was sad when it was over so if you have nothing to read right now please read this I promise you that you are going to like it because I loved it. It's so magical and wonderful well please read it I'm going now bye
January 31, 2020
This book definitely added a new twist to the original Wizard of Oz. I liked it. The new characters were wonderfully crafted. I would recommend this to anyone who likes the Wizard of Oz and wants to try something fresh and different. It sure felt like home! 😄
February 23, 2008
I really like these books by Sherwood Smith about Oz. I loved how they are in mordern context, and they were well wriiten.
September 5, 2009
This book is amazing! The beautiful cover is what caught my attention, but when i opened it up, i could not set it down. This book is full of adventure and a variety of characters!
April 15, 2011
Middle Grade--a fun return to the magical land of Oz. My kids are in the school play next month--my daughter will be a munchkin and my son a winkie. This read was fun for the whole family.
August 30, 2011
Sherwood Smith writes books that are true to the spirit of Baum's OZ, not everyone elses. I hope that the situation works out that her other OZ books will eventually be published.
February 16, 2016
I enjoyed this short and sweet return to Oz story. Dori and Em and a pretty good team once they get over their differences and decide to work together to save Oz.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews