Get Ready for Wicked on the Big Screen with These Oz-Related Reads

Wicked, by Gregory Maguire
Let’s start with the obvious: Gregory Maguire’s exploration of the untold backstory of the Wicked Witch of the West (before she was so-called) is a must-read—not just to appreciate the amazing things the author did with such a tragically misunderstood character, but also for the unique insights into the trials and tribulations of personal hygiene when one is deathly allergic to water.

The Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum
It’s the story behind the story that inspired the movie. You know how it goes: Dorothy Gale gets tornadoed from boring old Kansas to the magical Land of Oz, where she accidentally lands on a witch and makes a mortal enemy of her even wickeder sister. Flying monkeys, adorable munchkins, a yellow brick road to an emerald city: it’s all here! (And if you want to really immerse yourself in Oz, the adventure continued on for a whopping 15 books. This will keep you busy.)

The Four Dorothys, by Paul Ruditis
The stage version of the Wizard of Oz forms the framework for this novel, a dishy drama-club mystery that’s sort of like High School Musical meets American Horror Story. (Or in other words: It’s Glee!) At an elite performing arts high school, every student who tries out for the musical has to get a starring role, which is how four girls end up sharing the part of Dorothy Gale…and perhaps why somebody seems to be trying to sabotage the production with poorly hung spotlights and poisonous tacos. Can the book’s narrator, second-string Scarecrow Bryan Stark, figure out who’s behind the shenanigans before someone pulls out his stuffing?

Spelled, by Betsy Schow
If Carrie Bradshaw rewrote The Wizard of Oz, it might turn out a lot like Spelled: a glittery, pun-filled, pretty pretty princess’ homage to the original fantasy. In this version, Princess Dorthea of Emerald has the same quest as her namesake—to locate the mysterious Wizard—but the similarities to the original end there, as the story livens things up with budding romance, royal intrigues, and a mega-mishmash of fairytale elements that goes far beyond the borders of Oz.

Who Stole the Wizard of Oz?, by Avi
The most meta entry on this list is this middle-grade mystery by award-winning author Avi, in which a missing rare edition of actual book The Wizard of Oz leads two wrongfully accused kids on a wild chase to uncover the true thief. It’s a quick read, but the library-based scavenger hunt at the center of the story is all kinds of fun.

Dorothy Must Die, by Danielle Paige
This wild contemporary fantasy follows the trials of one Amy Gumm, the other girl from Kansas, who finds herself whisked away to an Oz gone all wrong—one in which a power-mad Dorothy and her crazed compatriots have turned the L. Frank Baum’s “wonderful world” into an evil, crumbling dystopia. As the newest member of the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked, Amy’s mission is simple: to assassinate Dorothy Gale and restore order before all hope is lost. (Pro tip: After you’ve finished Dorothy Must Die, stick around for the three other books and countless novellas in the sprawling series.)