Looking…Finding Dorothy (Letts)

When I was a child, watching The Wizard of Oz was a yearly family tradition. Armed with snacks, thanks to my father, we settled in to watch, be scared by those flying monkeys, see the world go from black and white to technicolor and hear Somewhere Over the Rainbow. But wait! Did L. Frank Baum write that song? No spoiler, he did not. So…how was this movie made? Who were the actors behind it and who were Mr. and Mrs. (Maud) Baum? You can find answers while reading this delightful historical novel.

There is familiarity as favorite characters are met on the set of the movie. Maud worked hard to have a presence there and to be true to the author’s intentions for the work. She also gets to know Judy Garland and comes to understand her history, emotions and pressures.

Behind and around this, the novel tells the story of Maud and Frank. I learned so much! For example, Maud’s mother was a committed suffragette and Aunt Susan (B. Anthony) was well known to the family. I also read about Maud’s experience as one of the early female students at Cornell. Meeting Frank, getting married, Franks’ biography, struggling…all of this is present in this book.

Finding Dorothy is an excellent historical novel. Follow the road to it!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e galley in exchange for an honest review.

#FindingDorothy #NetGalley