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Before Dorothy
THE USA TODAY BESTSELLER ∙ Long before Dorothy visits Oz, her aunt, Emily Gale, sets off on her own grand adventure, leaving gritty Chicago behind for Kansas and a life that will utterly change her, in this transporting novel from New York Times bestselling author Hazel Gaynor.
As featured in People ∙ Us Weekly ∙ Woman's World ∙ and more!
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 Dorothy.
Bursting with courage and heart, Before Dorothy tells the story of the woman who raised a beloved heroine, and ponders the what is the true meaning of home?
As featured in People ∙ Us Weekly ∙ Woman's World ∙ and more!
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 Dorothy.
Bursting with courage and heart, Before Dorothy tells the story of the woman who raised a beloved heroine, and ponders the what is the true meaning of home?
367 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 17, 2025
770 people are currently reading
24565 people want to read
About the author
Hazel Gaynor
22 books3,911 followersHazel Gaynor is an award-winning New York Times and internationally bestselling author of historical novels which explore the defining events of the 20th century. A recipient of the 2015 RNA Historical Novel award and the 2024 Audie award for Best Fiction Narrator, she was also shortlisted for the 2019 HWA Gold Crown, and the Irish Book Awards in 2017, 2020 and 2023.
Hazel’s co-written historical novels with Heather Webb have all been published to critical acclaim, winning or being shortlisted for several international awards.
She is a regular speaker at literary festivals, co-founder of The Inspiration Project, and programmed and hosted a series of Historia Live events in association with Dublin UNESCO City of Literature in 2024. Her work is translated into 20 languages and published in twenty-seven territories to date. Her latest novel, Before Dorothy, the imagine life story of Dorothy’s Aunt Em from The Wizard of Oz, will be published in June 2025.
Hazel lives in Ireland with her family.
For more information, visit www.hazelgaynor.com
where you can also sign up for her newsletter.
Hazel’s co-written historical novels with Heather Webb have all been published to critical acclaim, winning or being shortlisted for several international awards.
She is a regular speaker at literary festivals, co-founder of The Inspiration Project, and programmed and hosted a series of Historia Live events in association with Dublin UNESCO City of Literature in 2024. Her work is translated into 20 languages and published in twenty-seven territories to date. Her latest novel, Before Dorothy, the imagine life story of Dorothy’s Aunt Em from The Wizard of Oz, will be published in June 2025.
Hazel lives in Ireland with her family.
For more information, visit www.hazelgaynor.com
where you can also sign up for her newsletter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 826 reviews
June 14, 2025
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The Book Review Crew Blog
Last year I read and enjoyed a book called After Oz which was about Dorothy's return to Kansas after her trip to Oz, when I saw that this was about Auntie Em's adventure from Chicago to Kansas, long before Dorothy arrives on the scene and after, I had to have it. I also loved Hazel Gaynor's 2023 release The Last Lifeboat so it was a no-brainer for me to request this, and am I ever glad I did.
This was such an enchanting story that details the real-life inspiration behind Baum's Oz series. The author weaves historical details and a plot that brings to life the depression era struggles that led to the iconic books. The characters are complex, multi-faceted, and vividly portrayed, and I was completely invested in their story. Gaynor writes historical fiction wonderfully, and she paints a vivid portrait of depression era America and the people who inspired the books. The historical accuracy with which she writes and the emotional depth shine through.
This book is the perfect mix of historical detail and emotion, with well-developed characters. This one left me with a new appreciation for The Wizard of Oz; it is truly a gem of a read. I highly recommend this to any reader who loves historical fiction and/or Oz. I think it's time I add Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts to my TBR. Maybe I'll hit the trifecta on Wizard of Oz historical books.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
The Book Review Crew Blog
Last year I read and enjoyed a book called After Oz which was about Dorothy's return to Kansas after her trip to Oz, when I saw that this was about Auntie Em's adventure from Chicago to Kansas, long before Dorothy arrives on the scene and after, I had to have it. I also loved Hazel Gaynor's 2023 release The Last Lifeboat so it was a no-brainer for me to request this, and am I ever glad I did.
This was such an enchanting story that details the real-life inspiration behind Baum's Oz series. The author weaves historical details and a plot that brings to life the depression era struggles that led to the iconic books. The characters are complex, multi-faceted, and vividly portrayed, and I was completely invested in their story. Gaynor writes historical fiction wonderfully, and she paints a vivid portrait of depression era America and the people who inspired the books. The historical accuracy with which she writes and the emotional depth shine through.
This book is the perfect mix of historical detail and emotion, with well-developed characters. This one left me with a new appreciation for The Wizard of Oz; it is truly a gem of a read. I highly recommend this to any reader who loves historical fiction and/or Oz. I think it's time I add Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts to my TBR. Maybe I'll hit the trifecta on Wizard of Oz historical books.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
June 18, 2025
"Long before Dorothy visits Oz, her aunt, Emily Gale, sets off on her own grand adventure, leaving gritty Chicago behind for Kansas and a life that will utterly change her, in this transporting new novel from New York Times bestselling author Hazel Gaynor." The brilliance of authors that can spin off from the classics Wizard of Oz, then Wicked, After Oz, and Finding Dorothy amazes me. I have read Wicked and now I need to invest in the others because Before Dorothy is a gem and delight to see where it all began. I love Wizard of Oz and it was always a highlight as a child, who grew up with black and white films. The colors of that film still cover the screen with amazement.
I remember the dusty iconic scenes of the farm and how the tumbleweed crossed the horizon. The clothes of Auntie Em and Uncle Henry portrayed hardworking farmers. The drought and dust storms never crossed my mind in the Wizard of Oz until I read this. The struggles were real in the 1930's as the Depression changed this generation into frugal people that never wasted anything and found the future uncertain and prioritizing their plans. There is so much heart and courage to be said as I read this book. When they thought it was bad, Auntie Em's family suffers a tragedy bringing little Dorothy into their homes to live. Another mouth to feed, but they made it work.
"There's no place like home." This was coined in the Oz, but means a whole lot more after reading this book. Great job by the author, which has encouraged me to continue with the other books about Oz.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this incredible ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I remember the dusty iconic scenes of the farm and how the tumbleweed crossed the horizon. The clothes of Auntie Em and Uncle Henry portrayed hardworking farmers. The drought and dust storms never crossed my mind in the Wizard of Oz until I read this. The struggles were real in the 1930's as the Depression changed this generation into frugal people that never wasted anything and found the future uncertain and prioritizing their plans. There is so much heart and courage to be said as I read this book. When they thought it was bad, Auntie Em's family suffers a tragedy bringing little Dorothy into their homes to live. Another mouth to feed, but they made it work.
"There's no place like home." This was coined in the Oz, but means a whole lot more after reading this book. Great job by the author, which has encouraged me to continue with the other books about Oz.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this incredible ARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 21, 2025
I have never read The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, but the movie is my favorite childhood movie and in all honesty, I still enjoy it . I was also drawn to this story that depicts life on the prairie in Kansas in the 1920’s, implications of the stock market crash and Depression . I have read one other book by the author which I very much enjoyed. All of that made me think I’d enjoy this and I did.
It’s well written, descriptive without being flowery. The depiction of the time and place are so well done . Auntie Em’s story before being in Kansas was about family, sisters, their dreams and secrets . The beauty of the novel , though is in the love and care that she and Henry show in building their home and their life together on the farm. They built a place of love and belonging that they gave to Dorothy when tragedy struck in her 7 year old life . This place called home was wherever they were together even when disaster struck.
My favorite parts were the excerpts from Emily’s beautifully written journal that are interspersed throughout , filled with descriptions of her impressions of the land, the natural surroundings and natural disasters - drought and dust storms, tornadoes, her life and love of Henry, the challenges at first of caring for a child. The focus is on Emily, but Uncle Henry stole my heart, too. While it was a nice change of pace from recent reads, I can’t say that this was entirely a light one because there is tragedy and loss and hard times. The Oz references were endearing at first , but there were just too many and they felt little contrived at times . As a fan of Oz, I got caught up in the nostalgia and enjoyed this heartwarming story in spite of that. It’s filled with heart, and intelligence and courage. Historical fiction readers will appreciate the author’s note indicating the inspiration for the times reflected here .
I received a copy of this from Berkeley through NetGalley.
It’s well written, descriptive without being flowery. The depiction of the time and place are so well done . Auntie Em’s story before being in Kansas was about family, sisters, their dreams and secrets . The beauty of the novel , though is in the love and care that she and Henry show in building their home and their life together on the farm. They built a place of love and belonging that they gave to Dorothy when tragedy struck in her 7 year old life . This place called home was wherever they were together even when disaster struck.
My favorite parts were the excerpts from Emily’s beautifully written journal that are interspersed throughout , filled with descriptions of her impressions of the land, the natural surroundings and natural disasters - drought and dust storms, tornadoes, her life and love of Henry, the challenges at first of caring for a child. The focus is on Emily, but Uncle Henry stole my heart, too. While it was a nice change of pace from recent reads, I can’t say that this was entirely a light one because there is tragedy and loss and hard times. The Oz references were endearing at first , but there were just too many and they felt little contrived at times . As a fan of Oz, I got caught up in the nostalgia and enjoyed this heartwarming story in spite of that. It’s filled with heart, and intelligence and courage. Historical fiction readers will appreciate the author’s note indicating the inspiration for the times reflected here .
I received a copy of this from Berkeley through NetGalley.
June 18, 2025
'We all need something magical to guide us, something bigger to hope for, a reason to believe that the impossible might just become possible after all'.
Emily Gale is living out her dream of expansive skies and fields of gold in Kansas, along with her husband Henry. Although the work is hard, and the danger of tornadoes is an annual threat, the rewards are plenty. But Emily's dreams take a tragic twist, when she is informed not only of her sister and brother-in-law's death but that she is now to be the caregiver of their child, Dorothy. And that's not the only challenge, lately the rain has stopped falling and the only dark clouds around seem to be full of smothering dust, 'We didn't know we were destroying the land we loved; that we would soon be harvesting our despair...'. With the Gales' dreams seeming to fail like their crops, and now with another mouth to feed, where has all of life's magic gone?
'Before Dorothy' is told in a dual timeline: one about life before Dorothy and the other about life since.
I enjoyed reading about life on the prairie during the tough times of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl era. Sprinkling the seeds of Dorothy, Toto and the magic of the Wizard of Oz added a fun, nuanced angle but didn't feel contrived. I believe both Wizard of Oz fans and historical fiction fans will get a lot out of Hazel Gaynor's latest offering.
'The prairie taught me that life never goes as planned. It was the hardest lesson of all, to accept that we are nothing but tumbleweed, blown by the whims of fortune and destiny'.
Emily Gale is living out her dream of expansive skies and fields of gold in Kansas, along with her husband Henry. Although the work is hard, and the danger of tornadoes is an annual threat, the rewards are plenty. But Emily's dreams take a tragic twist, when she is informed not only of her sister and brother-in-law's death but that she is now to be the caregiver of their child, Dorothy. And that's not the only challenge, lately the rain has stopped falling and the only dark clouds around seem to be full of smothering dust, 'We didn't know we were destroying the land we loved; that we would soon be harvesting our despair...'. With the Gales' dreams seeming to fail like their crops, and now with another mouth to feed, where has all of life's magic gone?
'Before Dorothy' is told in a dual timeline: one about life before Dorothy and the other about life since.
I enjoyed reading about life on the prairie during the tough times of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl era. Sprinkling the seeds of Dorothy, Toto and the magic of the Wizard of Oz added a fun, nuanced angle but didn't feel contrived. I believe both Wizard of Oz fans and historical fiction fans will get a lot out of Hazel Gaynor's latest offering.
'The prairie taught me that life never goes as planned. It was the hardest lesson of all, to accept that we are nothing but tumbleweed, blown by the whims of fortune and destiny'.
July 7, 2025
Chicago, 1924: Emily Gale is a new bride and she stays behind to help her sister Annie who’s expecting her first child and while her husband Henry travels to the Kansas prairie to start building their farm and house. Annie can’t understand why the couple would want to leave the city, this causes some tension between the sisters and they have always been close. When Emily arrives in Liberal, she adores the homestead Henry has created and she embraces the wide open spaces, wildflowers and being a farmer’s wife.
Kansas, 1932: Henry and Emily have worked hard, made friends in the community and unfortunately the couple haven’t been blessed with children. When Emily receives a telegram informing her Annie and husband John have been killed in an accident and she and Henry are seven year old Dorothy’s legal guardians. The Great depression and drought have taken it's toll on Emily and Henry, how can she expect a pampered child from the city to live in a place plagued by tornadoes and dust storms and snakes and disappointment.
I received a copy of Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor from NetGalley and HarperCollins UK in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. Full of vivid and heartbreaking descriptions of Depression era Kansas, from flour sack dresses, a lady barnstormer and a rainmaker called Leo and the dust storms and terrible pneumonia it caused. Emily’s character was my favourite, she was strong, yet vulnerable and she was very unsure what her role would be in Dorothy’s life and would she be able help her navigate the rest of her childhood and being teenager.
The narrative is rich with details that pays tribute to L. Frank Baum’s one hundred and twenty five year old classic novel, and they refer to the little hints as “Easter Eggs” and it’s fun when you come across a familiar one. A story about family, types of loss, survival, there’s no place like home, how love and understanding can grow and when you least expect it and never give up hope.
A book to savour and despite at times it did move slowly and Hazel Gaynor always delivers an unputdownable read and one that makes you think and feel emotionally invested and five stars from me.
Kansas, 1932: Henry and Emily have worked hard, made friends in the community and unfortunately the couple haven’t been blessed with children. When Emily receives a telegram informing her Annie and husband John have been killed in an accident and she and Henry are seven year old Dorothy’s legal guardians. The Great depression and drought have taken it's toll on Emily and Henry, how can she expect a pampered child from the city to live in a place plagued by tornadoes and dust storms and snakes and disappointment.
I received a copy of Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor from NetGalley and HarperCollins UK in exchange for an unbiased and honest review. Full of vivid and heartbreaking descriptions of Depression era Kansas, from flour sack dresses, a lady barnstormer and a rainmaker called Leo and the dust storms and terrible pneumonia it caused. Emily’s character was my favourite, she was strong, yet vulnerable and she was very unsure what her role would be in Dorothy’s life and would she be able help her navigate the rest of her childhood and being teenager.
The narrative is rich with details that pays tribute to L. Frank Baum’s one hundred and twenty five year old classic novel, and they refer to the little hints as “Easter Eggs” and it’s fun when you come across a familiar one. A story about family, types of loss, survival, there’s no place like home, how love and understanding can grow and when you least expect it and never give up hope.
A book to savour and despite at times it did move slowly and Hazel Gaynor always delivers an unputdownable read and one that makes you think and feel emotionally invested and five stars from me.
June 20, 2025
We learn of Auntie Em's life with her sister Annie in Chicago and her life in Kansas before and after seven-year-old Dorothy came to live with Em and Henry after Annie passed away.
Em and her sister lived in Chicago until Uncle Henry swept her off her feet and took her to Kansas.
Annie stayed in Chicago and married a man Em wasn't fond of - she wasn't even sure her sister loved him. Her sister had a secret that Em wanted to reveal, and it was something that came between them.
Em loved Kansas and her life on the farm, and when she was called back to Chicago to take her niece Dorothy to live with her, Em wondered how Dorothy would adapt to the rural life.
We go back and forth through both time periods that are filled with love and tenderness, and hope.
We learn of the hardships and the heartaches Auntie Em endured along with taking us through the depression, the stock market crash, and living in the dust bowl of the 1930s.
If you loved The Wizard of Oz and didn't know Auntie Em's story, BEFORE DOROTHY is a book you won't want to miss.
There are subtle mentions of the characters and scenes in The Wizard of Oz that will make you smile.
You will love how Toto got his name in this book - I'm guessing that is the real story about his name.
Auntie Em is a wonderful person who had a difficult and at times sad life.
I didn't really like her sister Annie - she was cold and only thought of herself.
BEFORE DOROTHY is another gem by Hazel Gaynor that you won't want to miss.
Hazel Gaynor's marvelous, descriptive writing pulls you right in and warms your heart. 5/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Em and her sister lived in Chicago until Uncle Henry swept her off her feet and took her to Kansas.
Annie stayed in Chicago and married a man Em wasn't fond of - she wasn't even sure her sister loved him. Her sister had a secret that Em wanted to reveal, and it was something that came between them.
Em loved Kansas and her life on the farm, and when she was called back to Chicago to take her niece Dorothy to live with her, Em wondered how Dorothy would adapt to the rural life.
We go back and forth through both time periods that are filled with love and tenderness, and hope.
We learn of the hardships and the heartaches Auntie Em endured along with taking us through the depression, the stock market crash, and living in the dust bowl of the 1930s.
If you loved The Wizard of Oz and didn't know Auntie Em's story, BEFORE DOROTHY is a book you won't want to miss.
There are subtle mentions of the characters and scenes in The Wizard of Oz that will make you smile.
You will love how Toto got his name in this book - I'm guessing that is the real story about his name.
Auntie Em is a wonderful person who had a difficult and at times sad life.
I didn't really like her sister Annie - she was cold and only thought of herself.
BEFORE DOROTHY is another gem by Hazel Gaynor that you won't want to miss.
Hazel Gaynor's marvelous, descriptive writing pulls you right in and warms your heart. 5/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
June 19, 2025
BEFORE DOROTHY
by Hazel Gaynor
I loved Hazel Gaynor’s 2023 release, The Last Lifeboat, so I wanted to read this historical fiction read by her. From only seeing Auntie Em in the movie, The Wizard of Oz, as an older woman, it was nice to see her transformed to Emily Gale — a vibrant young woman who journeyed from Chicago to the Kansas prairie. We see her as a newlywed ready to move where Henry wanted to farm — the Great Plains. Emily had a special bond to her sister, Annie, which became strained by distance, secrets, and the paths that each chose. When tragedy strikes and Dorothy lands on Emily and Henry’s doorstep, Emily struggles with her own limitations. The landscape of the prairie lifestyle that Gaynor portrays is with a deep sense of realism. You can taste and feel the dust and grit. I think she captured the stark beauty of the prairie along with the relentless hardships of life in the Great Plains. The bond with Dorothy shifts from distant, to duty, to something more richer with the shared grief, and quiet understanding they form. Gaynor’s blending of historical fiction with literary reimagining of this classic (The Wizard of Oz) worked for me. I enjoyed all the “Easter Eggs” throughout as a nod to The Wizard of Oz.
This is a story of identity, family, the resilience of women, bonds between sisters, mothers, and daughters, and the quiet courage it takes to carry on when everything seems lost.
Thank you to BookBrowse for the book to read.
by Hazel Gaynor
I loved Hazel Gaynor’s 2023 release, The Last Lifeboat, so I wanted to read this historical fiction read by her. From only seeing Auntie Em in the movie, The Wizard of Oz, as an older woman, it was nice to see her transformed to Emily Gale — a vibrant young woman who journeyed from Chicago to the Kansas prairie. We see her as a newlywed ready to move where Henry wanted to farm — the Great Plains. Emily had a special bond to her sister, Annie, which became strained by distance, secrets, and the paths that each chose. When tragedy strikes and Dorothy lands on Emily and Henry’s doorstep, Emily struggles with her own limitations. The landscape of the prairie lifestyle that Gaynor portrays is with a deep sense of realism. You can taste and feel the dust and grit. I think she captured the stark beauty of the prairie along with the relentless hardships of life in the Great Plains. The bond with Dorothy shifts from distant, to duty, to something more richer with the shared grief, and quiet understanding they form. Gaynor’s blending of historical fiction with literary reimagining of this classic (The Wizard of Oz) worked for me. I enjoyed all the “Easter Eggs” throughout as a nod to The Wizard of Oz.
This is a story of identity, family, the resilience of women, bonds between sisters, mothers, and daughters, and the quiet courage it takes to carry on when everything seems lost.
Thank you to BookBrowse for the book to read.
September 17, 2025
A new novel by Hazel Gaynor is always such a treat, Before Dorothy is Auntie Em’s backstory. Set between Chicago in the 1920s and Kansas in the 1930s, this story is thanks in part to the real-life inspiration of the beloved Wizard of Oz books. The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl were a big part of shaping the story.
I typically love added journal entries, and I definitely did here with Emily’s. The story feels nostalgic and warm, and I loved how Oz was part of the story the whole way. The author’s note is icing on the cake, where Hazel Gaynor shares her inspiration and insights. An absolute gem of a read full of heart.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
I typically love added journal entries, and I definitely did here with Emily’s. The story feels nostalgic and warm, and I loved how Oz was part of the story the whole way. The author’s note is icing on the cake, where Hazel Gaynor shares her inspiration and insights. An absolute gem of a read full of heart.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
July 28, 2025
4.25 stars The story of Emily Gale most frequently known as Auntie Em. When Dorothy becomes an orphan at the young age of seven, Emily amd her husband Henry became her leg a guardians and move her to Kansas. Life was anything but easy as The Great Depression hits along with twisters and the Dust Bowl, the conditions of which resulted in crop failures.
The character development of these classic, iconic characters is incredible. I felt all of Emily's emotions intensely and felt that I fully understood her. This brilliantly written novel combines historical fiction reminiscent of The Fours Winds with a prequel to The Wizard of Oz. An endearing story that is sure to become a classic to understand Aunty Em before The Wizard of Oz. Highly recommend.
The character development of these classic, iconic characters is incredible. I felt all of Emily's emotions intensely and felt that I fully understood her. This brilliantly written novel combines historical fiction reminiscent of The Fours Winds with a prequel to The Wizard of Oz. An endearing story that is sure to become a classic to understand Aunty Em before The Wizard of Oz. Highly recommend.
June 26, 2025
This in interesting perspective on Dorothy and Oz, letting us get to know Emily Gale… to become Auntie Em. We meet Emily and her sister Annie as young women living in Chicago. They are young working women, enjoying everything available to them in a busy city. Emily meets Henry, who is cousin to Annie’s husband, and they learn they share a common dream. They yearn to establish a life living on the prairie; sadly, Annie resents Emily’s departure and their relationship suffers.
Life on the prairie is challenging but rewarding. They create a home, learn farming life, and become part of their community in Kansas. Environmental changes cause hardship to the farmers at the same time as the country experiences an economic crash, making times very difficult. Emily finds out her sister and her husband have died, and she is to take over care of their daughter; Dorothy, who she hasn’t seen since she was an infant.
As Dorothy adjusts to her new life, Emily and Henry try to maintain their home and farm amidst terrible draught and dust storms. Tragedy and secrets surround them, but through it Emily’s love for Dorothy is strengthened. And their family is challenged to find the meaning of home.
I enjoyed this audiobook, the story of how Dorothy comes to live with her aunt and uncle, and the challenges in rural America at this time. It’s a little strange reading this a few months after reading Finding Dorothy, which was a story told through Oz writer’s wife, Maud Baum. Though very different looks at the story, they take place in a similar time and environment and both focused on the character Dorothy.
Life on the prairie is challenging but rewarding. They create a home, learn farming life, and become part of their community in Kansas. Environmental changes cause hardship to the farmers at the same time as the country experiences an economic crash, making times very difficult. Emily finds out her sister and her husband have died, and she is to take over care of their daughter; Dorothy, who she hasn’t seen since she was an infant.
As Dorothy adjusts to her new life, Emily and Henry try to maintain their home and farm amidst terrible draught and dust storms. Tragedy and secrets surround them, but through it Emily’s love for Dorothy is strengthened. And their family is challenged to find the meaning of home.
I enjoyed this audiobook, the story of how Dorothy comes to live with her aunt and uncle, and the challenges in rural America at this time. It’s a little strange reading this a few months after reading Finding Dorothy, which was a story told through Oz writer’s wife, Maud Baum. Though very different looks at the story, they take place in a similar time and environment and both focused on the character Dorothy.
July 12, 2025
This book has my HEART!!!!!
The story of Dorothy parents etc has always been a secret! Here we learn exactly what happened and how the events of wizard of oz play out. Let me tell ya I have read prequels by other authors who claim to be amazing! This is the only one in my books I recommend. Hazel did a AMAZING job 😍
The story of Dorothy parents etc has always been a secret! Here we learn exactly what happened and how the events of wizard of oz play out. Let me tell ya I have read prequels by other authors who claim to be amazing! This is the only one in my books I recommend. Hazel did a AMAZING job 😍
July 31, 2025
2.5* Outlier review.
I so wanted to like this more than I did. Before Dorothy had an interesting premise, but for me, it didn't quite live up to its potential. It's well written and started off strong, but fell flat afterward. The pacing was slow, and some characters lacked depth. There were a few engaging moments, especially for fans of The Wizard of Oz, but overall, it didn’t fully draw me in.
I so wanted to like this more than I did. Before Dorothy had an interesting premise, but for me, it didn't quite live up to its potential. It's well written and started off strong, but fell flat afterward. The pacing was slow, and some characters lacked depth. There were a few engaging moments, especially for fans of The Wizard of Oz, but overall, it didn’t fully draw me in.
June 19, 2025
I am a huge Wizard of Oz fan, so anytime I see a book or TV show or special on it, I know I need to read or watch. This book was so good. It's about Dorothy's Aunt Emily Gale's life BEFORE Dorothy showed up. In 1924, Emily left Chicago with her husband Henry to start a new life in Liberal Kansas. Here they are living their dream life on the prairie and enjoying the community. Five years later, Emily finds out that her sister and Brother-in-law have died, and her orphaned niece, Dorothy, has been left in her care. So now, they have another mouth to feed, and at the same time the crops are drying up from a drought. Times are tougher than they expected.
I truly loved this one and the way the author had Wizard of Oz references throughout was really well done. I also loved the descriptions of the settings and landscape, and history of the great depression and how hard it was to survive during those times. The sisterly part of the story, between Emily and her sister, their relationship and bond as they grew up, got married and went on with their lives separately, was compelling. So much to enjoy in this book!
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
I truly loved this one and the way the author had Wizard of Oz references throughout was really well done. I also loved the descriptions of the settings and landscape, and history of the great depression and how hard it was to survive during those times. The sisterly part of the story, between Emily and her sister, their relationship and bond as they grew up, got married and went on with their lives separately, was compelling. So much to enjoy in this book!
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
August 19, 2025
I was excited to read this book because I absolutely love the way Hazel Gaynor writes and love The Wizard Of Oz!!
This is an emotional book about Auntie Em and Uncle Henry... it's their story and how Dorothy came to live with them in Kansas. An Absolute delight and an easy 5 shiny stars rating from me! ✨✨✨✨✨
Very highly recommended! Enjoy and Happy Reading 💫 💫
This is an emotional book about Auntie Em and Uncle Henry... it's their story and how Dorothy came to live with them in Kansas. An Absolute delight and an easy 5 shiny stars rating from me! ✨✨✨✨✨
Very highly recommended! Enjoy and Happy Reading 💫 💫
January 19, 2025
The Wizard of Oz has been part of my life in many forms from childhood through adulthood, so I was delighted at the chance to read a story about Auntie Em and how Dorothy came to be with them.
This story stays true to things we know about Dorothy, Auntie Em and Uncle Henry from the Wizard of Oz, with many delightful references to the original, the movie and other works in the Wizard of Oz world such as Wicked. I loved reading little moments about the Lion, Tinman and Scarecrow, the silver slippers, dreams of flying monkeys, and many many more fun Easter eggs throughout the book.
But what really made this story engaging, was the new story of Emily. Where she came from, who she was, her relationship with her sisters and her desire for something more than what city life had to offer. Something she could work for and call her own. Kansas, and Henry.
It felt special to sit with her through heartbreak, and trials. Incorporating historical events like living through the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression made the story feel real in addition to the magic.
This book filled in some holes I didn’t know were even missing. But what never changes is the idea of home. Being with those we love.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This story stays true to things we know about Dorothy, Auntie Em and Uncle Henry from the Wizard of Oz, with many delightful references to the original, the movie and other works in the Wizard of Oz world such as Wicked. I loved reading little moments about the Lion, Tinman and Scarecrow, the silver slippers, dreams of flying monkeys, and many many more fun Easter eggs throughout the book.
But what really made this story engaging, was the new story of Emily. Where she came from, who she was, her relationship with her sisters and her desire for something more than what city life had to offer. Something she could work for and call her own. Kansas, and Henry.
It felt special to sit with her through heartbreak, and trials. Incorporating historical events like living through the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression made the story feel real in addition to the magic.
This book filled in some holes I didn’t know were even missing. But what never changes is the idea of home. Being with those we love.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
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July 24, 2025I have loved reading Oz books for over 60 years and the related books such as Wicked. I found it really hard to get started as it starts in 1922, supposedly prior to Dorothy being born and her forthcoming adventures. As Frank Baum wrote the Wizard of Oz in 1900 and this is called 'historical fiction' I found it very difficult to even get started. It didn't help when Henry suggests to Emily that they get together for pizza in 1922 as the first pizzeria was in America was established in New Haven, my home town, in 1925. Chicago deep dish pizza was a while off. So it just isn't working for me, so I'm going to leave it at 20%, even though so many GR friends have loved it with their four and five star reviews. I know it is fiction based on fantasy, but why call it historical fiction when it is a lie.
June 16, 2025
This was a very enjoyable tale featuring Dorothy, Aunt Em and Uncle Henry from The Wizard of Oz. We learn the story that Hazel Gaynor has written of how Dorothy went to Kansas.
It is 1924 Chicago and Aunt Em is moving to Kansas to build a better life with Uncle Henry. Life on the prairie isn’t as good as it seemed in Chicago. It is a hard life with dust storms, tornadoes and drought. Devastation is everywhere.
Back in Chicago Dorothy parents both die in a tragic accident.and Emily becomes guardian to Dorothy.
Hazel Gaynor is.a wonderful author. I have read several of her books and enjoyed them all.
This book was beautifully written with wonderful characters and descriptions of life on the prairie.
I loved the subtle hints of things from Oz.
If you loved the movie you will love this book.
It is 1924 Chicago and Aunt Em is moving to Kansas to build a better life with Uncle Henry. Life on the prairie isn’t as good as it seemed in Chicago. It is a hard life with dust storms, tornadoes and drought. Devastation is everywhere.
Back in Chicago Dorothy parents both die in a tragic accident.and Emily becomes guardian to Dorothy.
Hazel Gaynor is.a wonderful author. I have read several of her books and enjoyed them all.
This book was beautifully written with wonderful characters and descriptions of life on the prairie.
I loved the subtle hints of things from Oz.
If you loved the movie you will love this book.
March 9, 2025
I received a free copy of, Before Dorothy, by Hazel Gaynor, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Emily and Henry Gale moved from Chicago to Kansas in the 1930, leaving family behind is hard. Their niece comes to visit after losing her parents. I love The Wizard of Oz, it was so nice to read Auntie Em's story. This is a really great read.
November 27, 2025
A wonderful, unputdownable book!
For me, growing up in the 70’s in Texas, Easter was always a special time. One of my most beloved memories is of watching the scheduled showing of “The Wizard of Oz” movie on television, always on Easter weekend. Such a treat, seeing it year after year, reciting the dialogue along with the actors, and knowing exactly when the commercial breaks would come, so you could take a bathroom break without missing anything! (Lion jumping through the window bring back memories, anyone?)
I also loved reading my little paperback copy of the book over and over. It sustained me in the backseat of the car on many long family trips, until it finally wore out.
Flash forward to my adulthood: I’m seeing the the theater production of “Wicked” in NYC. I remember thinking, “Wow, what a cool way to present the backstories of so many Oz characters!” (Along with wonderful music!) As an avid reader, I have a real fondness for “background stories”.
So, on Thanksgiving week of 2025, my adult son and I enjoyed streaming the original movie and, yes, quoting a lot of the lines together. I immediately went in search of “Before Dorothy” and quickly became hooked. It is absolutely one of the very best “backstory novels” I have ever read!
So, if you have ever wondered about Auntie Em and Uncle Henry’s younger days, or about how Dorothy came to live with them, or about why a certain neighbor was as mean as she was, this is definitely a book for you! (Now I’m going to hunt down my copy of the “Wizard of Oz” that I purchased at the Oz Museum in Kansas, and enjoy revisiting an old favorite…Sigh.
For me, growing up in the 70’s in Texas, Easter was always a special time. One of my most beloved memories is of watching the scheduled showing of “The Wizard of Oz” movie on television, always on Easter weekend. Such a treat, seeing it year after year, reciting the dialogue along with the actors, and knowing exactly when the commercial breaks would come, so you could take a bathroom break without missing anything! (Lion jumping through the window bring back memories, anyone?)
I also loved reading my little paperback copy of the book over and over. It sustained me in the backseat of the car on many long family trips, until it finally wore out.
Flash forward to my adulthood: I’m seeing the the theater production of “Wicked” in NYC. I remember thinking, “Wow, what a cool way to present the backstories of so many Oz characters!” (Along with wonderful music!) As an avid reader, I have a real fondness for “background stories”.
So, on Thanksgiving week of 2025, my adult son and I enjoyed streaming the original movie and, yes, quoting a lot of the lines together. I immediately went in search of “Before Dorothy” and quickly became hooked. It is absolutely one of the very best “backstory novels” I have ever read!
So, if you have ever wondered about Auntie Em and Uncle Henry’s younger days, or about how Dorothy came to live with them, or about why a certain neighbor was as mean as she was, this is definitely a book for you! (Now I’m going to hunt down my copy of the “Wizard of Oz” that I purchased at the Oz Museum in Kansas, and enjoy revisiting an old favorite…Sigh.
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December 1, 20254.5🌟 This version makes the most sense for what happens in the movie for a real world explanation., but not true to historical timelines when published in 1900 by Frank Baum. The author note at the back is worth reading for clarity. Loved this story and Auntie ‘Em💕🌟
July 11, 2025
Hazel Gaynor’s Before Dorothy is a luminous, heart-wrenching reimagining of the origin story behind one of literature’s most iconic heroines. With her signature lyrical prose and deep emotional resonance, Gaynor casts a spotlight on the oft-overlooked figure of Aunt Em—no longer just a stoic silhouette in a sunbonnet, but a fully realized woman with dreams, heartbreaks, and a fierce, enduring love.
Set against the twin backdrops of 1920s Chicago and Dust Bowl-era Kansas, Before Dorothy is as sweeping as the prairie winds and as intimate as a whispered promise. Emily Gale’s journey—from a hopeful bride to a tenacious farmer’s wife, and finally to the reluctant but devoted guardian of a wide-eyed little girl—is rendered with aching beauty and authenticity. Gaynor paints Emily not merely as a supporting character to Dorothy’s tale, but as the beating heart of a story all her own.
The prose is evocative, capturing both the relentless grit of prairie life and the fragile joy found in everyday moments. Gaynor’s depiction of the Dust Bowl—its choking air, its bleak sun, the slow erosion of hope—is powerful, yet never gratuitous. It serves as a formidable antagonist, amplifying the internal storms that rage within Emily herself.
But it is the emotional undercurrent—Emily’s longing for her estranged sister Annie, the aching grief of lost dreams, the fierce maternal bond with Dorothy—that gives this novel its timeless gravity. As secrets from Emily’s past begin to unravel, readers are drawn into a poignant meditation on sacrifice, resilience, and what it truly means to be family.
Fans of historical fiction, The Wizard of Oz, or simply gorgeously told stories of women forging strength from sorrow will find Before Dorothy unforgettable. Hazel Gaynor has not just reimagined a classic—she has deepened it, gifting us a tender, stirring prequel that will linger long after the final page.
A triumph of storytelling. 🌪️❤️📚
Set against the twin backdrops of 1920s Chicago and Dust Bowl-era Kansas, Before Dorothy is as sweeping as the prairie winds and as intimate as a whispered promise. Emily Gale’s journey—from a hopeful bride to a tenacious farmer’s wife, and finally to the reluctant but devoted guardian of a wide-eyed little girl—is rendered with aching beauty and authenticity. Gaynor paints Emily not merely as a supporting character to Dorothy’s tale, but as the beating heart of a story all her own.
The prose is evocative, capturing both the relentless grit of prairie life and the fragile joy found in everyday moments. Gaynor’s depiction of the Dust Bowl—its choking air, its bleak sun, the slow erosion of hope—is powerful, yet never gratuitous. It serves as a formidable antagonist, amplifying the internal storms that rage within Emily herself.
But it is the emotional undercurrent—Emily’s longing for her estranged sister Annie, the aching grief of lost dreams, the fierce maternal bond with Dorothy—that gives this novel its timeless gravity. As secrets from Emily’s past begin to unravel, readers are drawn into a poignant meditation on sacrifice, resilience, and what it truly means to be family.
Fans of historical fiction, The Wizard of Oz, or simply gorgeously told stories of women forging strength from sorrow will find Before Dorothy unforgettable. Hazel Gaynor has not just reimagined a classic—she has deepened it, gifting us a tender, stirring prequel that will linger long after the final page.
A triumph of storytelling. 🌪️❤️📚
June 21, 2025
The story starts off interesting. The language is beautiful and well written. I truly enjoyed the connections to the original book/characters. Each time I read one it was like a little gift. The setting felt right (Great Depression, Dust Bowl), but wrong at the same time (due to the original publication of the first book). The book begins to repeat itself in such a way that it became dull. It felt like we were climbing to something exciting, but then it completely flattened out and stayed that way until the end of the book. The overall messages-“Home is where your people are”and “With a kind heart, strong mind, and courage you can accomplish anything” are always beautiful reminders.
June 16, 2025
It’s Aunt Em’s origin story! We meet her in 1920s Chicago and follow as she moves to the prairie, builds a life, and then watches it all change as the dust bowl takes effect and she must raise her niece Dorothy. This is solidly a prairie historical fiction (which I loved) and you’d forget it was related to the wizard of oz and then there would be fun little Easter eggs to it. Loved.
April 21, 2025
This is a great book for fans of The Wizard of Oz. The focus is on Auntie Em, Dorothy's aunt. Dorothy goes to live with her, in Kansas, after her parents die.
In the movie (I don't remember much about the book), Emily (Auntie Em) was very secondary. Her character was not developed at all. In Google searches, she is described as “grayed,” which is not complimentary at all. She sounds invisible. She was anything but that.
This story focuses on Emily, long before Dorothy was born. She is the daughter of Irish immigrants and she had two sisters. Emily is a very strong woman, physically and mentally. She is determined to be a successful prairie farmer and wife. But at the same time, she is vulnerable. The reader learns about prairie life, the joys in the early, prosperous years and the devastation of the Dust Bowl and the Depression years in the 1930s.
The description of the Dust Bowl is very vivid. I could feel the grit in my eyes and the dust on my face. As in Kristin Hannah's The Four Winds, we learn how the settlers unknowingly caused The Dust Bowl of the 1930s by over-farming. It is sad to witness…..such long term devastation.
Once Dorothy comes to live with her aunt and uncle there is a period of adjustment for all of them. Along the way, there are lots of hints as to what will come in The Wizard of Oz. It's fun to recognize the hints. I'm sure there are a few I missed.
Emily's character is multi-faceted. She shows strength, love, self-doubt, resilience, determination, vulnerability and more. I really liked her. That is a credit to Ms Gaynor.
The story is full of ups and downs of life in Kansas. The “downs” were are difficult. But the end is full of hope for new adventures to come.
At the end of the book are 2 sections written by the author. One includes historical facts about the time period and certain events. The other is about Ms Gaynor's personal love of The Wizard of Oz. Both were interesting and the perfect way to wrap up this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
In the movie (I don't remember much about the book), Emily (Auntie Em) was very secondary. Her character was not developed at all. In Google searches, she is described as “grayed,” which is not complimentary at all. She sounds invisible. She was anything but that.
This story focuses on Emily, long before Dorothy was born. She is the daughter of Irish immigrants and she had two sisters. Emily is a very strong woman, physically and mentally. She is determined to be a successful prairie farmer and wife. But at the same time, she is vulnerable. The reader learns about prairie life, the joys in the early, prosperous years and the devastation of the Dust Bowl and the Depression years in the 1930s.
The description of the Dust Bowl is very vivid. I could feel the grit in my eyes and the dust on my face. As in Kristin Hannah's The Four Winds, we learn how the settlers unknowingly caused The Dust Bowl of the 1930s by over-farming. It is sad to witness…..such long term devastation.
Once Dorothy comes to live with her aunt and uncle there is a period of adjustment for all of them. Along the way, there are lots of hints as to what will come in The Wizard of Oz. It's fun to recognize the hints. I'm sure there are a few I missed.
Emily's character is multi-faceted. She shows strength, love, self-doubt, resilience, determination, vulnerability and more. I really liked her. That is a credit to Ms Gaynor.
The story is full of ups and downs of life in Kansas. The “downs” were are difficult. But the end is full of hope for new adventures to come.
At the end of the book are 2 sections written by the author. One includes historical facts about the time period and certain events. The other is about Ms Gaynor's personal love of The Wizard of Oz. Both were interesting and the perfect way to wrap up this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
March 22, 2025
Wizard of Oz fans will adore this historical imagining of the life of Dorothy's Aunt Emily Gale, who moved from Chicago with her husband Henry to Kansas, hoping for a better life. We learn how Dorothy came to live with them (an accident killed her parents), with the story unfurling against the economic and political backdrop of the times (the Depression, the Dust Bowl.) But more than that, we find a warm and loving family with a fierce will to survive. Beautifully written and highly recommended.
April 2, 2025
I’m sure most of us have seen The Wizard of Oz (and/or read L. Frank Baum’s classic novel on which it’s based), but how many of us have stopped to think about what happened to the characters before the story began? Why was Dorothy living with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry? Who were her real parents? And how did the family come to be in Kansas in the first place? In Hazel Gaynor’s new novel, Before Dorothy, she sets out to answer these questions and more.
The book is written from the perspective of Emily Gale – Aunt Em – and begins in 1932 as she returns to Chicago following the death of her sister, Annie. Annie’s seven-year-old daughter, Dorothy, has been left an orphan and Emily and her husband, Henry, are to become her legal guardians. Emily hasn’t seen Dorothy since she was a baby – she and Henry now live in Kansas and her relationship with Annie has been very strained in recent years – and she’s not at all sure she’s the right person to care for a child, particularly one who has suffered the trauma of losing her parents. Once back in Kansas, however, Emily gradually begins to feel a stronger bond with Dorothy than she’d expected.
Moving backwards and forwards in time, we watch as Emily and Annie, originally from Connemara in Ireland, first arrive in Chicago in 1924 and meet their respective husbands, cousins Henry and John Gale. We also see how Emily makes the decision to start a new life with Henry in Kansas and what she discovers when she gets there. The focus is always on Emily rather than Dorothy and unlike the Baum novel and its adaptations, the story is firmly grounded in reality rather than fantasy.
I tend not to read many books that are spin-offs of classics or that borrow other authors’ characters and I only chose to read this one because I’ve enjoyed some of Hazel Gaynor’s previous work. I wasn’t sure I would like it, but I did – although I think it would probably have worked just as well if it had simply been a novel about an original fictional family living on the prairie, with no connection to the Gales. It was fun spotting the references to The Wizard of Oz, though. The scarecrow, tin man and lion all appear, as do the wizard, witches (good and wicked), the tornado and many more – although not necessarily in the form you would expect! Gaynor manages to work these references into the story in a way that feels believable and not too forced.
What I liked best about this book, though, was the portrayal of life on the prairie – the sense of adventure and optimism Emily and Henry feel when they first arrive, followed by a growing awareness that things are going to be much more difficult than they’d expected. With an influx of people coming to the Great Plains in large numbers to farm the land, there’s eventually a surplus of wheat, too much to be sold, leading to a drop in prices. Worse, the overexploitation of the land and removal of the prairie grasses, combined with a prolonged drought, causes severe dust storms (known as the Dust Bowl). The hardships and challenges faced by the Gales, as well as the environmental disaster unfolding around them, forms a big part of the novel.
I’m sure a lot of the people who read this book will have been drawn to it by the links with The Wizard of Oz, but even if that doesn’t appeal to you I think there’s still enough here to make it an enjoyable work of historical fiction in its own right.
The book is written from the perspective of Emily Gale – Aunt Em – and begins in 1932 as she returns to Chicago following the death of her sister, Annie. Annie’s seven-year-old daughter, Dorothy, has been left an orphan and Emily and her husband, Henry, are to become her legal guardians. Emily hasn’t seen Dorothy since she was a baby – she and Henry now live in Kansas and her relationship with Annie has been very strained in recent years – and she’s not at all sure she’s the right person to care for a child, particularly one who has suffered the trauma of losing her parents. Once back in Kansas, however, Emily gradually begins to feel a stronger bond with Dorothy than she’d expected.
Moving backwards and forwards in time, we watch as Emily and Annie, originally from Connemara in Ireland, first arrive in Chicago in 1924 and meet their respective husbands, cousins Henry and John Gale. We also see how Emily makes the decision to start a new life with Henry in Kansas and what she discovers when she gets there. The focus is always on Emily rather than Dorothy and unlike the Baum novel and its adaptations, the story is firmly grounded in reality rather than fantasy.
I tend not to read many books that are spin-offs of classics or that borrow other authors’ characters and I only chose to read this one because I’ve enjoyed some of Hazel Gaynor’s previous work. I wasn’t sure I would like it, but I did – although I think it would probably have worked just as well if it had simply been a novel about an original fictional family living on the prairie, with no connection to the Gales. It was fun spotting the references to The Wizard of Oz, though. The scarecrow, tin man and lion all appear, as do the wizard, witches (good and wicked), the tornado and many more – although not necessarily in the form you would expect! Gaynor manages to work these references into the story in a way that feels believable and not too forced.
What I liked best about this book, though, was the portrayal of life on the prairie – the sense of adventure and optimism Emily and Henry feel when they first arrive, followed by a growing awareness that things are going to be much more difficult than they’d expected. With an influx of people coming to the Great Plains in large numbers to farm the land, there’s eventually a surplus of wheat, too much to be sold, leading to a drop in prices. Worse, the overexploitation of the land and removal of the prairie grasses, combined with a prolonged drought, causes severe dust storms (known as the Dust Bowl). The hardships and challenges faced by the Gales, as well as the environmental disaster unfolding around them, forms a big part of the novel.
I’m sure a lot of the people who read this book will have been drawn to it by the links with The Wizard of Oz, but even if that doesn’t appeal to you I think there’s still enough here to make it an enjoyable work of historical fiction in its own right.
July 6, 2025
Next time you go looking for your heart's desire in a book, pick a different one. I'm a Wizard of Oz freak so I snapped this book up, eager to find out Auntie Em's backstory. The book got off to a bad start for this humbug, as some historical anachronisms jumped out and slapped me in the face. (It would have been impossible for Em and her sister to listen to a Benny Goodman record in 1922, as he was only 13 and hadn't started recording his big band hits just yet). The first half of the book was painfully slow, but it did pick up when Em married Henry and they moved from Chicago to Kansas. There are lots of little Wizard of Oz references throughout which were kind of clever, but didn't take me to the other side of the rainbow. My tip for Oz fans: read Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts.
June 15, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for an advanced reader copy of Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor. All opinions are my own. This was one of my most anticipated books of the summer. A combination of historical fiction and a new backstory for Auntie Em, I think I loved it before I even started it!
I quickly became engrossed in this imaginative story of Auntie Em, told during the 1920s to 1930s, before Dorothy visits Oz. Set against the backdrop of the financial crisis of the Great Depression and the devastating dust storms of the Dust Bowl era, the family drama follows Emily from her young single days living in Chicago with her beloved sister, Annie, to her move to Kansas with her new husband, Henry. Emily’s struggle to find a place in her new life and heart for young Dorothy while hiding personal and family secrets felt realistic.
I enjoyed getting a better understanding of Auntie Em as well as Dorothy’s childhood, and especially all of the nods to The Wizard of Oz. Highlights for me were a grouchy neighbor (or “witch”) in Kansas named Wilhelmina West, a traveling showman (or “wizard”) who claims to be a prairie rainmaker, and the introduction of Toto. Fans of classic retellings and historical fiction should check out this entertaining and informative novel (available 6/17). 4/5⭐️
I quickly became engrossed in this imaginative story of Auntie Em, told during the 1920s to 1930s, before Dorothy visits Oz. Set against the backdrop of the financial crisis of the Great Depression and the devastating dust storms of the Dust Bowl era, the family drama follows Emily from her young single days living in Chicago with her beloved sister, Annie, to her move to Kansas with her new husband, Henry. Emily’s struggle to find a place in her new life and heart for young Dorothy while hiding personal and family secrets felt realistic.
I enjoyed getting a better understanding of Auntie Em as well as Dorothy’s childhood, and especially all of the nods to The Wizard of Oz. Highlights for me were a grouchy neighbor (or “witch”) in Kansas named Wilhelmina West, a traveling showman (or “wizard”) who claims to be a prairie rainmaker, and the introduction of Toto. Fans of classic retellings and historical fiction should check out this entertaining and informative novel (available 6/17). 4/5⭐️
November 4, 2025
I am such a fan of Hazel Gaynor and she certainly works her magic again with Before Dorothy - a gorgeous, heartfelt story that pulls back the curtain on the world before The Wizard of Oz. Wicked fans will also adore this historical imagining of the life of Dorothy's Aunt Em who moved from Ireland, to Chicago and eventually to Kansas, hoping for a better life. We learn how Dorothy came to live with them as the story unfurls against the Great Depression and the infamous Dust Bowl of the 1930s.
The story is rich in detail and pays tribute to L. Frank Baum’s classic novel, with little “Easter Eggs” that will delight fans when they come across them. Before Dorothy is a story about family and friends, loss and survival, it’s about never giving up hope and understanding there really is no place like home.
The story is rich in detail and pays tribute to L. Frank Baum’s classic novel, with little “Easter Eggs” that will delight fans when they come across them. Before Dorothy is a story about family and friends, loss and survival, it’s about never giving up hope and understanding there really is no place like home.
June 16, 2025
Insightful, inspiring, and atmospheric!
Before Dorothy is an enchanting tale that sweeps you away to Chicago and Kansas during the 1920s – 1930s when the country is reeling from the great depression, the farmers are struggling to maintain their livelihoods, identities, and health through the relentless heat, devastating wind storms, and catastrophic droughts, and the childless Emily Gale suddenly becomes the guardian of her eight-year-old niece Dorothy.
The prose is evocative and smooth. The characters are strong, resilient, and hardworking. And the plot is a captivating, emotional tale filled with life, loss, self-discovery, motherhood, familial drama, poverty, tragedy, heartbreak, community, courage, romance, friendship, and survival.
Overall, Before Dorothy is a creative, touching, heartwarming tale by Gaynor inspired by L. Frank Baum’s classic The Wizard of OZ that does a beautiful job of blending historical events with compelling, imaginative fiction.
Before Dorothy is an enchanting tale that sweeps you away to Chicago and Kansas during the 1920s – 1930s when the country is reeling from the great depression, the farmers are struggling to maintain their livelihoods, identities, and health through the relentless heat, devastating wind storms, and catastrophic droughts, and the childless Emily Gale suddenly becomes the guardian of her eight-year-old niece Dorothy.
The prose is evocative and smooth. The characters are strong, resilient, and hardworking. And the plot is a captivating, emotional tale filled with life, loss, self-discovery, motherhood, familial drama, poverty, tragedy, heartbreak, community, courage, romance, friendship, and survival.
Overall, Before Dorothy is a creative, touching, heartwarming tale by Gaynor inspired by L. Frank Baum’s classic The Wizard of OZ that does a beautiful job of blending historical events with compelling, imaginative fiction.
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