Review & Giveaway – Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor
Synopsis
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.
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 all: Dorothy.
Bursting with courage and heart, Before Dorothy tells the story of the woman who raised a beloved heroine, and ponders the question: what is the true meaning of home?
Amazon * B&N * Bookshop * Kobo
Enter the Goodreads Giveaway. Ends 6/20/25
Review
The Wizard of Oz has been a tradition in our family for many years, and I was intrigued by the chance to read an author’s thoughts on Auntie Em. While this is all fiction, how did Dorothy come to live with Em and Henry? What shaped Dorothy’s life before the tornado that took her to Oz? This book gives us one perspective on the events prior to that fateful storm.
In the original Wizard of Oz, we really don’t see much of Auntie Em. She is portrayed as a hard woman with no color. Was it her life on the prairie? Or was it something else? This interpretation brings life to this character, and perhaps what she was like before she was created for this popular book.
Emily is an inspirational character. Despite everything she endures, she still comes out ahead, caring for her family and her town. While she may not feel like she fits in, she is accepted more than she knows. Even taking in her niece is a sacrifice, but a blessing in the end.
Many strong characters reminded me of the characters in The Wizard of Oz. You will see them, too, if you read this book. Did Dorothy really travel to Oz, or was it all a dream?
Home is where your family is, which they all learn by the end of the novel.
I thought the time setting was an interesting choice, but a good one because it does tie in to the poverty, weather conditions, and the community. I learned a few new facts and enjoyed the author’s notes at the end of the book.
We give this book 5 paws up.
About the Author
Hazel 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.
