Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

Pages: 452
Intended Audience: Mature Teens
Genre: Fantasy
Notes for Parents: Contains violence and coarse language

The Back Cover

I didn’t ask for any of this.
I didn’t ask to be some kind of hero.
But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?
Sure, I’ve read the books. I’ve seen the movies. But I never expected Oz to look like this. A place where Good Witches can’t be trusted and Wicked Witches just might be the good guys. A place where even the yellow brick road is crumbling.
What happened? Dorothy.
My name is Amy Gumm—and I’m the other girl from Kansas. I’ve been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked, and I’ve been given a mission:
Remove the Tin Woodman’s heart, steal the Scarecrow’s brain, take the Lion’s courage; and then—Dorothy must die.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the first book in a series.

What’s good?

Another girl from Kansas arrives in Oz to discover that Dorothy has been corrupted by power and is terrorizing the inhabitants – such a great premise! This story is a creative and original continuation of the Wizard of Oz story. The first-person narrative showcases Amy Gumm, the strong, well-drawn protagonist. She’s likeable, relatable, and a little irreverent. The story has a powerful start, a strong setting, and good world-building overall.
Best Part: Indigo, the foul-mouthed munchkin, Ollie, the former flying monkey, and Star, the pet rat.

What isn’t good?

The pacing is choppy, with great action scenes followed by long stretches of nothing. While the main character is well-drawn, the supporting characters are lackluster. How is it possible that characters that were so colorful and expressive in the original story can feel so…cardboard? Especially now that they have all been so corrupted by power! Perhaps it makes it worse because the story is told without a lot of emotion. The corruption is described, but not really felt. Even Amy’s motivation isn’t clear a lot of the time.
Worst part: the wasted potential

Recommendation þþþoo

I was underwhelmed. The story started strong, the premise was good, and I was drawn to the main character immediately. Even the idea that the difference between good and evil is ambiguous was a great theme. I don’t really understand why this book wasn’t more exciting! Perhaps this would make a better movie than book. It was entertaining, but also disappointing.

Paige, Danielle. Dorothy Must Die. New York: Harper, 2014.

Blank by Trina St. Jean

Pages: 299
Intended Audience: Teens
Genre: Real life / Trauma
Notes for Parents: There are a few mature scenes and mild coarse language.

The Back Cover

It’s all fun and games until someone loses an I.
Jessica’s life is one big question mark.
She doesn’t remember a thing about the accident that put her in a coma.
She doesn’t recognize her family and friends.
Her moods range from sadness to full-on rage.
Would she be better off running away and starting a new life?
Or should she stay where she is and accept that she may never remember her past?

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the author’s first novel.

What’s good?
So much of who we are develops from our life experiences. So who do we become when we can’t remember those experiences? This story is a fairly easy treatment of what is a very complicated issue. The main character, Jessica, as well as most of the supporting characters, struggle with what comes next after Jessica loses her memory. Short chapters and a simplified plot highlight the frustration and uncertainty that everyone feels, especially Jessica, who doesn’t even recognize the face she sees in the mirror. The characters are well-drawn. Jessica’s parents, little brother, old friends, and new friend all contribute to her efforts to get to know the person she was before – and decide if that’s who she wants to be again.
Best Part: the dog.

What isn’t good?

The story moved slowly. While nothing about the book was terrible, nothing really stood out for me either. I could sense Jessica’s frustration, but never really related to her situation. Her memory loss seemed inconsistent at times, making her situation feel less dire than what was probably intended. A lot of her weariness came from misunderstandings and impatience.
Worst part: Nothing was terrible.

Recommendation þþþoo

It was good, but not great. Again I’ll say, there was nothing bad, there just wasn’t anything overly original. She had amnesia, yet there were hints, even at the beginning when she knows her brother’s nickname, that suggests the damage won’t be permanent. The fear and frustration were palpable, but the necessary urgency wasn’t there.

St. Jean, Trina. Blank. Victoria, B.C.: Orca Book Publishers, 2015.

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

Pages: 240
Intended Audience: Tweens and up
Genre: Graphic novel
Notes for Parents: Nothing to worry about.

The Back Cover

Twelve-year-old Astrid has always done everything with her best friend Nicole. So when Astrid signs up for roller derby camp, she assumes Nicole will too. But Nicole signs up for dance camp with a new friend instead, and so begins the toughest summer of Astrid’s life.
There are bumps and bruises as Astrid learns who she is without Nicole…and what it takes to be a strong, tough roller girl.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the author’s first graphic novel for middle-grade readers.

What’s good?

This is a story about friendship, self-doubt, perseverance, and hard work. It’s witty and expressive with bold, colorful drawings and a strong main character with an indomitable spirit. Characterization is excellent, the story is gritty yet heartwarming, and the lessons are about change, sacrifice and hard work. It’s a quick and easy read with a simple plot and great storytelling. The pacing is smooth and swift and Astrid’s mom and roller derby jammer Rainbow Bite are excellent adult role-models.
Best Part: The derby names!

What isn’t good?

Wow, I can’t think of anything I didn’t like! Astrid was perfectly imperfect, a typical coming-of-age twelve-year-old who is a little whiney, a little dishonest, and extremely relateable. The artwork is bold and clear, just the way I like it, and the dialogue is expressive and funny.
Worst part: None!

Recommendation þþþþþ

This story has a “pick yourself up and dust yourself off” kind of vibe. It’s gritty without being coarse, and uplifting without being corny. It was entertaining from start to finish. Highly recommended!

Jamieson, Victoria. Roller Girl. New York: Scholastic, 2015.

A Time to Dance by Padma Venkatraman

Pages: 307
Intended Audience: Mature Tweens
Genre: Novel in Verse
Notes for Parents: There are some mature scenes.

The Back Cover

Veda is a prize-winning dancer, skilled in the fine art of traditional Indian Bharatanatyam.
Then she is injured in a bus accident, and her right leg must be amputated below the knee. Her dance teacher does not believe she will ever dance again.
But Veda is too passionate to abandon her dream and finds a new teacher who shares her hope. And though she must relearn even the most basic of steps, his faith in her allows her to reclaim the art form that has brought her so much joy.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

The author was born in India and now lives in the United States. She is a trained oceanographer.

What’s good?

This is an emotional story told lyrically in verse about a dancer who loses her leg in an accident. It’s a beautiful portrait of a culture, a country (India), and a dance form (Bharatanatyam). While the narrative focuses on perseverance and resilience, this is also a story about Veda’s relationships with her family, her friends, and her teachers. It also develops into a sweet love story. Characterization is well down, the plot is simple, and the writing is strong.
Best Part: Veda is an inspiring character.

What isn’t good?

My only complaint is that the story moved a little slow. This was a character-driven story that relied on emotion, so the pace was a gentle flow of grief and determination rather than a heart-pounding adventure. The outcome was fairly predictable.
Worst part: Nothing was terrible.

Recommendation þþþþo

This was a simple and easy-to-read tale about a girl dealing with adversity. Rhythmic, expressive, and passionate, this story was beautifully told. There is no action or adventure, it’s a story about struggle, passion, and hard work. Readers who can relate to those things will enjoy this novel. Recommended.

Venkatraman, Padma. A Time to Dance. New York: Scholastic, 2014.