Author: Hazel Gaynor
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group, 2025
Pages: 368
Rating: Highly Recommend
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.
Review: Purely by coincidence, I began listening to this book on the same day that I started reading, Emerald's of Oz by Peter Guzzardi It's been forever and a day since I've watched the movie, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and even longer since I read Frank L. Baum's book.
Hazel Gaynor is a wonderful historical fiction novelist so I knew I would enjoy Before Dorothy. Within the first couple of chapters, I thought for sure this would end up being my next five-star read. However, very shortly, it became a novel that would have been more aptly titled Before Oz. I just wanted more about young Aunt Em and her sisters. That said, I still highly recommend this novel.
Gaynor recommends Timothy Egan's book, Worst Hard Time, for related reading. It is excellent non-fiction reading for more information about the Dust Bowl.
A Memory of Violets
The Girl from the Savoy
The Girl Who Came Home
Fall of Poppies
Meet Me in Monaco
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