As the story goes, Dorothy Gale was supposed to have gone back to Kansas. 80 years ago she was transported by a tornado to a world of munchkins, talking tin men, wicked witches and a yellow brick road. This was OZ. Here, the imminently lovable and charming Dorothy had adventures, claimed a stunning pair of red high heels, made unlikely friendships and eventually restored the enchanting kingdom to its rightful ruler. But, she couldn’t possible stay in OZ forever. After all, as intoxicating a magical world like Oz is, there’s no place like home. Three clicks of her shoes and she was back in her bed, surrounded by the one who love her most. Like the most enduring magical stories, Dorothy’s story ended with things exactly how they were supposed to be. Good reigned, and wicked was defeated.

If only things were really that simple.

Amy Gumm, a teenager in modern day Kansas, has totally lost control of her life. Suspended from school and tending to her dismissive, alcoholic mother, Amy can’t imagine a life beyond the confines of her bleak trailer park home. Enter a tornado. To her disbelief, Amy Gumm, finds herself in Oz. The former fairyland that she’s heard about all herself is real. But something is wrong, terribly wrong.

Dorothy Gale has found her way back. Installing herself as queen, Dorothy has turned this former fantast utopia upside down, terrifying the people of Oz into complete submission with the help from the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the (not so) Cowardly Lion. Citizens of Oz are mandated by a Royal Happiness Decree to always be smiling. Crows, genetically modified with human ears hide in trees, poised to report back any signs of treason. Munchkins are used for their small statures to mine Oz’s magic from the earth itself. Dorothy has become a tyrant, magic is what drives her and she always wants more. No one is safe.

As Amy wavers unsteadily in Oz, somewhere between fantasy and reality, truth and fiction, she is recruited by a revolutionary group of former Wicked Witches and their enchanted cohorts to teach her how to fight to reclaim Oz. But this won’t end like most fairy tales. The lines between good and evil are not so sharply drawn and Amy must learn what it means to fight for what you believe in and to hold true to what is right. And that becoming the author of your life means discarding all the stories we’ve been told.  

DOROTHY MUST DIE was recently optioned for television by Tim Kring (Heroes).

Click here to read a USA Today interview with author Danielle Paige

Click here to read a feature piece in Entertainment Weekly

**************

Osoby zainteresowane tytułem proszone są o kontakt z Agatą Żabowską pod adresem agata@literatura.com.pl