Review of The Wickedest Meanest Witch of Oz

[Justine Ocsebio]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Wickedest Meanest Witch of Oz" by Robert Evans.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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The Wickedest Meanest Witch of Oz by Robert Evans is a novel that retells the popular story of The Wizard of Oz. In this retelling, Dorothy is now back in the real world. After her unforgettable adventures in Oz, she couldn't help but wonder how her friends were doing there. Much to her surprise, Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Lion showed up to her house! Glinda, the Good Witch, also appeared in her living room bearing bad news: the Munchkins were held hostage by the Wicked Witch, and they needed Dorothy's help to free them. Is a new adventure awaiting our dear heroine?

This adventure book takes readers back to the magical and whimsical world of Oz. The book feels nostalgic to read, as it manages to capture the tone from the original story. Dorothy's adventures unfold through eccentric encounters with Oz inhabitants that are both thrilling and humorous. The story might come off as a narrative meant for children, but I would say that book should cater to teenagers and adults. The language can sometimes feel much too complex for a young reader. What I like the most about the book is the themes weaved into the story. It teaches us that showing compassion even to people we disagree with will result in harmony and reconciliation. Some people are merely prisoners of their own hatred, and we should not be quick to give up on them. Dorothy is a character that young girls can aspire to be, as she is both kind-hearted and brave, willing to do anything for the people she cares about.

As much as I love the story, I believe that the book's formal qualities need improvement. There are more than ten errors spotted in the text. The format, too, suffers from inconsistent text formatting. In summary, I like the premise, the characterizations, and the themes. I dislike the errors in the text, which is indicative of the poor quality of editing. Therefore, I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. I subtracted a star due to the issues mentioned. I recommend this book to young adults looking for refreshing and fun retellings of a famous children's story.

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The Wickedest Meanest Witch of Oz
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