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Whatever After #13.5
Abby in Oz
In this second Special Edition of the New York Times bestselling Whatever After series, Abby and her friends enter the magical Land of Oz . . . with hilarious and empowering results!
Follow the yellow brick road . . .I'm with my best friends Robin and Frankie (and my sometimes friend, Penny) when a TORNADO scoops us up and whisks us away. As soon as we land, I can tell we're not in Smithville anymore -- we've been transported into The Wonderful Wizard of Oz!We're excited to meet Dorothy and Toto . . . but the story isn't going as planned. The Wicked Witch of the East locks us in her dungeon, so we have no way of getting the magic slippers that will take Dorothy home. Plus, the Emerald City is under attack, and the Wizard himself may be in danger!Now we have to:- Befriend the Lion, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow- Flee the flying monkeys- Learn to steer a hot-air balloon- Find the courage, heart, and smarts to save the day. . . or we'll never escape -- and everyone knows there's no place like home!This edition is extra-magical, featuring puzzles, games, and a note from the author.
Follow the yellow brick road . . .I'm with my best friends Robin and Frankie (and my sometimes friend, Penny) when a TORNADO scoops us up and whisks us away. As soon as we land, I can tell we're not in Smithville anymore -- we've been transported into The Wonderful Wizard of Oz!We're excited to meet Dorothy and Toto . . . but the story isn't going as planned. The Wicked Witch of the East locks us in her dungeon, so we have no way of getting the magic slippers that will take Dorothy home. Plus, the Emerald City is under attack, and the Wizard himself may be in danger!Now we have to:- Befriend the Lion, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow- Flee the flying monkeys- Learn to steer a hot-air balloon- Find the courage, heart, and smarts to save the day. . . or we'll never escape -- and everyone knows there's no place like home!This edition is extra-magical, featuring puzzles, games, and a note from the author.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published April 7, 2020
135 people are currently reading
1030 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Mlynowski
160 books3,353 followersSarah was born in Montreal, Canada. After graduating with an honors degree in English literature from McGill University, she moved to Toronto to work for Harlequin Enterprises. While she never met Fabio, she used her romance publishing experiences to fuel her first novel Milkrun.
Since then, Sarah has written four additional novels for adults: Fishbowl, As Seen on TV, Monkey Business, and Me vs. Me; the New York Times bestselling middle grade series Whatever After; the middle grade series Upside-Down Magic (with Lauren Myracle and Emily Jenkins); and the teen novels Bras & Broomsticks, Frogs & French Kisses, Spells & Sleeping Bags, and Parties & Potions (all in the Magic in Manhattan series), as well as Gimme a Call, Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have), Don't Even Think About It, Think Twice, and I See London, I See France. Along with Lauren Myracle and E. Lockhart, Sarah also wrote How to Be Bad, and along with Farrin Jacobs, she wrote See Jane Write, a guide to writing. Sarah also co-edited two bestselling charity collections (Girls' Night In and Girls' Night Out), and has contributed to various anthologies (American Girls About Town, Sixteen: Stories About That Sweet and Bitter Birthday, 21 Proms, First Kiss (Then Tell), Fireworks, and Vacations from Hell).
Sarah is also a co-founder of OMG BookFest, a celebration of books aimed at the early to middle grade reader (ages 7-12) that brings together commercial and award-winning authors with underserved local communities for an exciting experience of books, games and activities.
Sarah's books have been translated into twenty-nine languages and optioned to Hollywood. She now lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters.
Since then, Sarah has written four additional novels for adults: Fishbowl, As Seen on TV, Monkey Business, and Me vs. Me; the New York Times bestselling middle grade series Whatever After; the middle grade series Upside-Down Magic (with Lauren Myracle and Emily Jenkins); and the teen novels Bras & Broomsticks, Frogs & French Kisses, Spells & Sleeping Bags, and Parties & Potions (all in the Magic in Manhattan series), as well as Gimme a Call, Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have), Don't Even Think About It, Think Twice, and I See London, I See France. Along with Lauren Myracle and E. Lockhart, Sarah also wrote How to Be Bad, and along with Farrin Jacobs, she wrote See Jane Write, a guide to writing. Sarah also co-edited two bestselling charity collections (Girls' Night In and Girls' Night Out), and has contributed to various anthologies (American Girls About Town, Sixteen: Stories About That Sweet and Bitter Birthday, 21 Proms, First Kiss (Then Tell), Fireworks, and Vacations from Hell).
Sarah is also a co-founder of OMG BookFest, a celebration of books aimed at the early to middle grade reader (ages 7-12) that brings together commercial and award-winning authors with underserved local communities for an exciting experience of books, games and activities.
Sarah's books have been translated into twenty-nine languages and optioned to Hollywood. She now lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
May 22, 2020
Four years ago, when my oldest daughter, Abby, was a much more reluctant reader we began this series. As part of the family reading challenge she needs to read at least 20 minutes each day. When we began this series, I would read 2 pages for every page she read. Now she reads to me. And this book she read to be beginning to end over nine days. And She read to me while I worked out, killing two birds with one stone. Last summer while on a road trip with her Aunt and Nana she read them two of these books. And she read me the other special edition last fall. And this second Special Edition she has just finished reading to me.
We both really enjoy the whatever After books. As have other family members she has read them to. This is the fifth that we have read together. And of all the Whatever After books this one is now my daughters favorite. She really liked that there was less focus on Jonah not being with Abby this time. She also appreciated the conflict between the friends, and how they had to all realize things in order to overcome it. She loved the final conflict with the witches, and is now using this story in her own bid to get a new puppy.
Again after reading this story we also talked about what other books we would love to see Abby dropped into. Her top pick would be one of the Narnia books, specifically The Magician’s Nephew, or The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I on the other hand thought immediately of the possibilities if Abby were to find herself and her friends in The Giver by Lois Lowry, or Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit. But I am getting ahead of myself, lets take a look at this specific book. My daughter also wondered about dropping Abby in the tv Series Once where things are already messed up.
This second Whatever After Special Edition they are different than any of the other books for a number of reasons. First, Jonah and Abby do not go together into the story. Second, they do not get to the story via Mary Rose the magic mirror in their basement. In this one Abby and her friends get caught up in a tornado while in a tree house and are transported to Oz. What is similar is that they end up in a story. Then they mess the story up somehow and need to fix it to find their way out. But this time they need to not only find a way home themselves, they need to help Dorothy and Toto find a way home. They encounter many of the characters from the story, and one evil fairy who has a nasty plan and purpose, and Gluck is out to get them, especially Abby.
With the first Special Edition I mentioned I enjoyed it more than the source story. That was not the case this time, but it was still a great read. I really enjoy that my daughter who is now 13 still enjoys these books and is willing to read them to me. This is a great addition to the stories in the ‘Whatever After’ world. We both give it a very solid 5/5 Stars!
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Sarah.
We both really enjoy the whatever After books. As have other family members she has read them to. This is the fifth that we have read together. And of all the Whatever After books this one is now my daughters favorite. She really liked that there was less focus on Jonah not being with Abby this time. She also appreciated the conflict between the friends, and how they had to all realize things in order to overcome it. She loved the final conflict with the witches, and is now using this story in her own bid to get a new puppy.
Again after reading this story we also talked about what other books we would love to see Abby dropped into. Her top pick would be one of the Narnia books, specifically The Magician’s Nephew, or The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I on the other hand thought immediately of the possibilities if Abby were to find herself and her friends in The Giver by Lois Lowry, or Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit. But I am getting ahead of myself, lets take a look at this specific book. My daughter also wondered about dropping Abby in the tv Series Once where things are already messed up.
This second Whatever After Special Edition they are different than any of the other books for a number of reasons. First, Jonah and Abby do not go together into the story. Second, they do not get to the story via Mary Rose the magic mirror in their basement. In this one Abby and her friends get caught up in a tornado while in a tree house and are transported to Oz. What is similar is that they end up in a story. Then they mess the story up somehow and need to fix it to find their way out. But this time they need to not only find a way home themselves, they need to help Dorothy and Toto find a way home. They encounter many of the characters from the story, and one evil fairy who has a nasty plan and purpose, and Gluck is out to get them, especially Abby.
With the first Special Edition I mentioned I enjoyed it more than the source story. That was not the case this time, but it was still a great read. I really enjoy that my daughter who is now 13 still enjoys these books and is willing to read them to me. This is a great addition to the stories in the ‘Whatever After’ world. We both give it a very solid 5/5 Stars!
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Sarah.
January 31, 2022
Four years ago, when my oldest daughter, Abby, was a much more reluctant reader we began this series. As part of the family reading challenge she needs to read at least 20 minutes each day. When we began this series, I would read 2 pages for every page she read. Now she reads to me. And this book she read to be beginning to end over nine days. And She read to me while I worked out, killing two birds with one stone. Last summer while on a road trip with her Aunt and Nana she read them two of these books. And she read me the other special edition last fall. And this second Special Edition she has just finished reading to me.
We both really enjoy the whatever After books. As have other family members she has read them to. This is the fifth that we have read together. And of all the Whatever After books this one is now my daughters favorite. She really liked that there was less focus on Jonah not being with Abby this time. She also appreciated the conflict between the friends, and how they had to all realize things in order to overcome it. She loved the final conflict with the witches, and is now using this story in her own bid to get a new puppy.
Again after reading this story we also talked about what other books we would love to see Abby dropped into. Her top pick would be one of the Narnia books, specifically The Magician’s Nephew, or The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I on the other hand thought immediately of the possibilities if Abby were to find herself and her friends in The Giver by Lois Lowry, or Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit. But I am getting ahead of myself, lets take a look at this specific book. My daughter also wondered about dropping Abby in the tv Series Once where things are already messed up.
This second Whatever After Special Edition they are different than any of the other books for a number of reasons. First, Jonah and Abby do not go together into the story. Second, they do not get to the story via Mary Rose the magic mirror in their basement. In this one Abby and her friends get caught up in a tornado while in a tree house and are transported to Oz. What is similar is that they end up in a story. Then they mess the story up somehow and need to fix it to find their way out. But this time they need to not only find a way home themselves, they need to help Dorothy and Toto find a way home. They encounter many of the characters from the story, and one evil fairy who has a nasty plan and purpose, and Gluck is out to get them, especially Abby.
With the first Special Edition I mentioned I enjoyed it more than the source story. That was not the case this time, but it was still a great read. I really enjoy that my daughter who is now 13 still enjoys these books and is willing to read them to me. This is a great addition to the stories in the ‘Whatever After’ world. We both give it a very solid 5/5 Stars!
We both really enjoy the whatever After books. As have other family members she has read them to. This is the fifth that we have read together. And of all the Whatever After books this one is now my daughters favorite. She really liked that there was less focus on Jonah not being with Abby this time. She also appreciated the conflict between the friends, and how they had to all realize things in order to overcome it. She loved the final conflict with the witches, and is now using this story in her own bid to get a new puppy.
Again after reading this story we also talked about what other books we would love to see Abby dropped into. Her top pick would be one of the Narnia books, specifically The Magician’s Nephew, or The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I on the other hand thought immediately of the possibilities if Abby were to find herself and her friends in The Giver by Lois Lowry, or Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit. But I am getting ahead of myself, lets take a look at this specific book. My daughter also wondered about dropping Abby in the tv Series Once where things are already messed up.
This second Whatever After Special Edition they are different than any of the other books for a number of reasons. First, Jonah and Abby do not go together into the story. Second, they do not get to the story via Mary Rose the magic mirror in their basement. In this one Abby and her friends get caught up in a tornado while in a tree house and are transported to Oz. What is similar is that they end up in a story. Then they mess the story up somehow and need to fix it to find their way out. But this time they need to not only find a way home themselves, they need to help Dorothy and Toto find a way home. They encounter many of the characters from the story, and one evil fairy who has a nasty plan and purpose, and Gluck is out to get them, especially Abby.
With the first Special Edition I mentioned I enjoyed it more than the source story. That was not the case this time, but it was still a great read. I really enjoy that my daughter who is now 13 still enjoys these books and is willing to read them to me. This is a great addition to the stories in the ‘Whatever After’ world. We both give it a very solid 5/5 Stars!
November 9, 2023
Lions and tigers and....dogs?
Okay what's funny is I was just barely starting book 14 of this series on audio which is Good as Gold when Abby mentioned Wizard of Oz in it and I was like, "What the heck?" So looking up on goodreads here to see where it landed (no pun intended ;) haha) and sure enough it was after Spill the Beans and before Good as Gold and I put that latter on hold and picked up this one and I have to say this cute special edition was just as cute and adorable as Abby in Wonderland and lo and behold you learn about Gluck in Wonderland, a wicked and mean fairy who plays a role in the Maryrose story and now he's back in this one! After listening to this one I'm kinda hoping Sarah Mlynowski writes more fairytale/book stories like these and had stories such as Robin Hood, Pinnochio maybe (which will be fun actually), Peter Pan, Thumbelina, The Ugly Duckling, or a few others' I can't think of. But I say keep going since they're so much fun and great reads for kids hands down! Even I'm enjoying this series a lot and Emily Eiden who does the narration for these audios does an amazing job with these and maybe that's what's making me love them even more cause she's so good with Abby's and Jonah's voices and this is one of those rare exceptions where I'll only read these if I can listen to the audio because that's how good Emily Eiden is at the narration.
For any mom out there looking for a good book series for their kids or to read with/to your kids these are stories you don't want to miss and they're clean, fun, adorable, funny which I find myself laughing or chuckling every once in a while, and super enjoyable!
August 22, 2020
I am a huge fan of this series. I already love fairy tale retellings, but this is such a unique way of telling them, and I love how each are different and do not follow a predictable pattern.
This newest installment is a special edition of the series and is a bit different. While Abby and Jonah normally go through a magic mirror, the special editions find Abby and her friends entering books because an evil fairy is trying to trap Abby in the story. The addition of Abby’s friends’ personalities definitely makes for an interesting story and more conflict throughout the book.
Lastly, I could not review any book in this series without celebrating the audiobooks–they are phenomenal!
Full review with teaching tools: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=2...
This newest installment is a special edition of the series and is a bit different. While Abby and Jonah normally go through a magic mirror, the special editions find Abby and her friends entering books because an evil fairy is trying to trap Abby in the story. The addition of Abby’s friends’ personalities definitely makes for an interesting story and more conflict throughout the book.
Lastly, I could not review any book in this series without celebrating the audiobooks–they are phenomenal!
Full review with teaching tools: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=2...
April 13, 2020
The Wizard of Oz is one of my favorite stories/fairytales that they have gone into so far! I think my niece is really gonna like this one👍
April 16, 2020
Loved this book a great page turner and I will totally look in too read the others I have not read.
January 28, 2021
A good book, completely unpredictable. I'm super sad the series is over though. 😪
February 1, 2023
My 6 year old randomly purchased this at a book fair and we read one chapter each evening before bed. Both her and my son really enjoyed this book and were excited to start the bedtime routine knowing they were about to hear what “happened next”. Can’t wait to check out the other books in this series!
June 2, 2020
It was enjoyable but if i reas the original book it would be much enjoyable
August 29, 2020
LOVED IT!!!!
February 26, 2021
Addi wanted me to read this and it was so cute and she’s been waiting for me to read it since September so I’m glad I finally did today!
June 5, 2021
I loved it it really took me back to when the Wizard of Oz came out it was very well detailed.
April 22, 2020
Love love love this series
May 19, 2020
book 18 out of 75
audiobook
I really enjoyed this next installment in the “Whatever After” series.
Of course it wasn’t mind-blowing and the characters were very childish, but the book is a middle grade so I’d expected that much.
Honestly just read this to be caught up in the series and to pass time.
➼ 3 stars
audiobook
I really enjoyed this next installment in the “Whatever After” series.
Of course it wasn’t mind-blowing and the characters were very childish, but the book is a middle grade so I’d expected that much.
Honestly just read this to be caught up in the series and to pass time.
➼ 3 stars
March 11, 2020
It is my favorite author
June 17, 2023
FRAP is meeting up for a group project, but it all goes wrong when Gluck sends a tornado and brings Abby and her friends into the story of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz! They meet Dorothy and run into the wicked with of the east. And she’s not dead. She throws the five girls (plus two dogs) in the dungeon. A nice munchkin named Oralie helps them escape. But then the flying monkeys come! Read the book and find out what happens next as Abby and her friends go on an amazing adventure in the second special edition of the Whatever After series!
July 15, 2022
Ahhhh, we are branching out from fairy tales once again! This time, all of Abby's friends are back with her once again. I liked:
1. Once again, I love every single one of Abby's friends and even tolerate Penny! I love how Penny gets to learn in this one that it can be very terrifying to go into fairytales and books alike. It may seem like it's all fun and games, but it's really not. However, I did enjoy Penny learning this and overcoming her fears to be brave. She shows that while she is meant to be the annoying friend, she isn't always bad. I liked how Abby has learned to work with her friends and let them have things she wants to help them.
2. I always like when all of the friends are in there together because most of them have no idea what to do. Frankie is in a terrible mood and is just constantly sabotaging everyone's efforts to keep the characters calm. I love when she blows up at Dorothy and basically tells her that she isn't real. Very fun moment!
3. The quick read is always a positive!
A great special edition book!
1. Once again, I love every single one of Abby's friends and even tolerate Penny! I love how Penny gets to learn in this one that it can be very terrifying to go into fairytales and books alike. It may seem like it's all fun and games, but it's really not. However, I did enjoy Penny learning this and overcoming her fears to be brave. She shows that while she is meant to be the annoying friend, she isn't always bad. I liked how Abby has learned to work with her friends and let them have things she wants to help them.
2. I always like when all of the friends are in there together because most of them have no idea what to do. Frankie is in a terrible mood and is just constantly sabotaging everyone's efforts to keep the characters calm. I love when she blows up at Dorothy and basically tells her that she isn't real. Very fun moment!
3. The quick read is always a positive!
A great special edition book!
December 19, 2025
At the start of the book Abby was at her friend Robins house, for a school project. While they where deciding what to do they herd weird sounds outside. They looked outside but didn`t see anything. In a couple of minutes they realized that they where inside of a tornado.
In the middle of the book Abby, Robin and Dorothy where trapped inside the Tiger-Tower dungin. They where trapped until Penny, Frainky, tin man, lion and scarecrow came to the tower to save them. They all stood on each others shoulders and got Robin, Abby and Dorothy to the growned.
At the end of the book Dorothy used the magical slippers to get back to her house and Abby asked the wisadr if her and her friends can use his parashoot. When they got back to Robbins house, Robin and Frainky woke up and didn`t remember anything about the story.
My favorite character was Abby because she was kind.
I was surprised that Penny helped Abby.
I wouldn't change the ending because Abby`s secret ctayed to the people she trusted.
I was reading: Whatever After, Abby in Oz
In the middle of the book Abby, Robin and Dorothy where trapped inside the Tiger-Tower dungin. They where trapped until Penny, Frainky, tin man, lion and scarecrow came to the tower to save them. They all stood on each others shoulders and got Robin, Abby and Dorothy to the growned.
At the end of the book Dorothy used the magical slippers to get back to her house and Abby asked the wisadr if her and her friends can use his parashoot. When they got back to Robbins house, Robin and Frainky woke up and didn`t remember anything about the story.
My favorite character was Abby because she was kind.
I was surprised that Penny helped Abby.
I wouldn't change the ending because Abby`s secret ctayed to the people she trusted.
I was reading: Whatever After, Abby in Oz
March 10, 2021
223 pgs. This was a cool adventure for Abby and her three friends as they travel through the mirror to meet Dorothy and take on two witches. There were moments in the story that I felt things were a bit too tidy and easily resolved. Then other times it was more reasonable with how the girls worked out the challenges. I guess you have to realize it is all fantasy and just go with it. The games and extra sheets at the end are NOT necessary for library books. I think those should only be included in paperback or books sold from a bookstore as a home library book. It will only encourage kids to write in library books...not good. Otherwise, it was a pretty good read. Watch out for that mischievous evil fairy Gluck! He keeps things interesting, to say the least. Highly recommended for Grades 4-5.
January 19, 2021
My daughter and I, who read these books together, really enjoyed this special edition book. While my daughter can only claim to have seen the movie (I've read the book and seen the movie), it was still a great story and we loved how Mlynowski twisted things up, yet again. We look forward to reading more from this wonderful series that really captivates the target audience and still entertains older readers, like myself.
February 16, 2023
A great story about Teamwork and being understanding! Everyone has something to contribute, and they needed everyone to pitch in when they accidentally ruin the Wicked Witch's death.
Sudden the munchkins are still in servitude, they have no magic slippers to get home, and they already know Oz won't be much help. Except he does! Such a fun twist on the Wizard of Oz! I should probably read the original at some point like Abby wants to do haha
Sudden the munchkins are still in servitude, they have no magic slippers to get home, and they already know Oz won't be much help. Except he does! Such a fun twist on the Wizard of Oz! I should probably read the original at some point like Abby wants to do haha
March 23, 2025
It was good. Just not a 5 star because it wasn't the most engaging plot and the portrayal of the "Wonderful Wizard of Oz" was not accurate. There were two good witches in the original novel, not just one. For people who haven't read the novel by L. Frank Baum (original author of the Oz series), the good witch that gave Dorothy the shoes and the good witch that showed them the way home are two different witches.
March 19, 2021
Man, I love this series! I've read all of them and have now pulled my 7 and 9-year-old boys to them. We've listened to several of the audiobooks together, but I read this one aloud. We had read and watched The Wizard of Oz, so this was a great companion for us. I like the regular ones with Jonah better, but this one was great!
June 3, 2021
I loved it how they messed up the entire book and then tried to do exactly what Dorothy is supposed to do and totally do it wrong and they end up saving the world and leaving the way Dorothy did I also thought it was really cool how the characters met Dorothy and she worked the scarecrow the lion and the tin man but she also did it with Abby Frankie Robin and Penny
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2020
Aww! I love the character development that happens in this book. The Wizard of Oz story gets sooo messed up it’s hard to guess what will happen next! Which I found delightful. Very cute. Love the cover.
June 2, 2020
I love this series! I love when they go back home and Robin and Frankie don't remember what happened. I didn't like when Gluk shot the hot air balloon, though. If I could change the story I would make Gluk not in the story.
Currently reading
September 8, 2021I read this book from every possible library I can find. Every single chapter is amazing. I love every part of it, even the ones that are in american because I am from Asia. Anyway, I love it and read very book.
March 29, 2022
Listened to this on audiobook with my kids. This was one of my less favorite books in the series so far, because there is a lot of bickering and because the characters keep saying “OMG.” It’s a bit annoying. The kids liked the adventure though.
January 24, 2023
My 10yo and I are really enjoying these books! I especially love that this storyline was true to the original but that Abby and her friends changed the story. There were also fun surprises throughout the book that kept us both interested.
November 27, 2023
So fun that Abby and her friends go on another adventure! I've read the book and seen the movie so I expected a few things to be different. Of course the addition of the girls causes even more differences.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews