I grew up completely obsessed with The Wizard of Oz but truly never wondered what Auntie Em was like before we knew her, so I love that author Hazel Gaynor thought of it for us!

Before Dorothy explores Emily Kelley before and after she becomes Emily Gale, including how Dorothy comes to live with her and Uncle Henry. With dual timelines of 1924 Chicago and Kansas a decade later, we learn so much about Emily as a young woman, a new wife, and an aunt who becomes caregiver.

I just adored Emily and was fascinated at the thought of her as a youthful, modern, city woman who more than willingly gives it up to become a prairie wife, while staying true to herself. Her assimilation into her new community wasn’t necessarily and easy one, and thought the Kansas characters were great additions. I especially warmed to the character of Adelaide, a female pilot who smashes societal expectations and gives energy to the women in Kansas.

Spread throughout the book are not-so-subtle references to The Wizard of Oz (Dorothy’s lion stuffed animal), as well as those done on the sly (is Adelaide Glinda the Good Witch?) I thought all those pieces were done well.

The theme of roles women play in each other’s lives was present throughout the book. We saw that prominently in Emily’s Kansas community but I wish we had more of Emily and her two sisters, one of whom has already left for a new life when the book begins. I was so intrigued by their relationships and definitely wanted more.

The author did a nice job of weaving in the very difficult life of homesteading, and the very real consequences of the Dust Bowl, a time in U.S. history when severe dust storms all but destroyed middle America. I honestly don’t know great details about this time, but the author’s narrative transported me right there. Through her writing, Gaynor honors the land shows respect for the people who tend to it.

Completely unexpected was the author’s decision to make Emily, her sisters and parents Irish immigrants. It made sense, though, as another theme was the idea around what makes a place home, finding home (there’s no place like home!).

All in all, I really enjoyed Before Dorothy. Definitely recommend!

I received an advance review copy from BookBrowse for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.

This historical fiction book takes readers to Portland, Oregon in the 1880s, when/where anti-Chinese sentiment in the US is high. American-Chinese Celia passes for white and keeps her heritage a secret. We start with Celia having been kidnapped. As she tries to escape, we go back several years to her some of her back story, which is heartbreaking through and through, but man is she tough!

I had a bit of a hard time starting the book, but once I got into it, I was completely engrossed. I enjoyed Celia’s story and learning more about this time in U.S. history, which I admittedly know little about. I did engage with our main character Celia but really loved the supporting character Marie, who IMO needs her own book!

I was happy to see the author’s note and Q&A at the end, which dove further into the Chinese experience in America at that time (and after). I always look for this with historical fiction and appreciate the additional background.

While the book had a lot of sadness, I also found it to be inspirational and hopeful. The writing was thoughtful and treated the characters with care. I’ve had McMorris’ “Sold on a Monday” on my physical TBR for a while and will definitely bump it up in order!

Somehow I’ve never read this book so I jumped at the chance when I was gifted a copy by BookBrowse. The book is described as the story of a young Black girl named Pecola who desperately wants the blond hair and blue eyes she associates with beauty. While Pecola is supposed to be the main character, she barely shows up in the book and is not the book’s narrator (who instead is another child, Claudia). Instead, we’re offered the stories of Pecola’s parents, as well as the parents of Claudia and her sister Frieda - and how their parents’ upbringing, experiences, and parenting styles led to the girls’ view on self beauty.

It’s incredibly sad to think of any child (or adult) doubting their own self worth because of societal values, and specifically something as beautiful as skin color. I can relate on other levels and certainly as a parent of a child who similarly struggles.

Morrison’s writing is lovely and poetic though, for me, challenging. I did not understand the ending and ended up spending a bit of time online learning more. It then all came together but I would have liked to have been able to decipher that myself.

This was a special book and I’m grateful to have read it. It is a beautifully written novel that honors the trans community and memorializes those who were persecuted during WWII.

I feel ashamed at not knowing this part of history. We all know the six million Jews that were killed in the Holocaust, and that another six million people also were killed. Selfishly, I’ve always focused on the Jews and have never been taught about or taken the time to learn about the others. Due to my own ignorance, I was horrified to learn how Americans and Allies forced Germans into reparation camps, and worse still how LGBTQ people survived the war only to be put back into captivity.

I couldn’t help but make comparisons to today’s climate as marginalized communities are under attack and their rights being threatened. It’s so disheartening so many decades later to see such similarities, and serves as a reminder of how we must all keep fighting any attacks on freedoms.

TY BookBrowse for the gifted copy. I’m thankful to have been given the opportunity to read this beautiful book, and help give this community the respect they deserve.

Fagin the Thief is a reimagining of Oliver Twist, from the perspective of Jacob Fagin - the best pickpocket in London. I completely missed that when I first read the description, and was just drawn to the story. I've never read Oliver Twist and all I know about it is the "please sir, I want some more" line I remember from some kind of parody.

For me, the book but it wasn't an easy read. Between chapters varying in times and the various characters, there wasn't an even flow. I was bored with the story at times and couldn't figure out where it was going.

The antisemitism in the book was prevalent and seemed overused. I know it was true to the time, and the author's note explained the origin of it from Oliver Twist. That being said, it was almost distracting and took my focus away from the rest of the story.

I'm fairly certain I was at a disadvantage not knowing the characters and their stories. This book may be better suited to someone familiar with Oliver Twist.

This book wasn't for me but I'd definitely read more from the author.