THE USA TODAY BESTSELLER ∙ Long before Dorothy visits Oz, her aunt, Emily Gale, sets off on her own grand adventure, leaving gritty Chicago behind for Kansas and a life that will utterly change her, in this transporting novel from New York Times bestselling author Hazel Gaynor.
As featured in People ∙ Us Weekly ∙ Woman's World ∙ and more!
Chicago, 1924: Emily and her new husband, Henry, yearn to leave the bustle of Chicago for the promise of their own American dream among the harsh beauty of the prairie. But leaving the city means leaving Emily’s beloved sister, Annie, who was once closer to her than anyone in the world.
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.
Bursting with courage and heart, Before Dorothy tells the story of the woman who raised a beloved heroine, and ponders the question: what is the true meaning of home?
You’re item was added to pickup at [location]
You’re [amount] away from FREE shipping!
You qualify for FREE shipping!
Translation missing: en.settings.free_shipping_default_message
"Gaynor's prequel offers a fresh take on the world of Oz, shifting the focus to Auntie Em and Uncle Henry before Dorothy is dropped on their doorstep."—Us Weekly
"Bestselling author Hazel Gaynor does for Dorothy and her family what Wicked did for The Wicked Witch of the West in this Depression-era origin story that peels back the intriguing layers of Auntie Em, the woman who raised Dorothy. Even casual fans of The Wizard of Oz will find their eyes widening in recognition as elements of the land of the Yellow Brick Road—the rainbow itself, the Tin Man, a stuffed lion with the power to comfort, wicked witches, and even fraudster wizards—come alive in the real world of Kansas's Dust Bowl and become the threads that will eventually weave themselves into Dorothy's future. A story as glimmering as the Emerald City and as hopeful as Dorothy herself, Hazel Gaynor's latest is an important and enchanting addition to the canon of Oz."—Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau
“In Technicolor prose, Hazel Gaynor gives new meaning to the familiar phrase 'there’s no place like home' in this stunning novel that imagines the real lives of Auntie Em, Uncle Henry, Dorothy, and Toto in the dust bowl of the Depression. Readers will love collecting Easter eggs from the 1939 movie scattered throughout this moving story about family secrets and the enduring power of love. Ingeniously done.”—Kerri Maher, USA Today bestselling author of All You Have To Do Is Call
“Like Dorothy stepping into Oz, Hazel Gaynor’s new novel pulls Auntie Em out of a black and white background and into a full-color world all her own.”—Sarah Miller, USA Today bestselling author of Marmee and Caroline: Little House, Revisited
“Detailed descriptions capture each of the senses as this novel explores the cost of going after our dreams and what it means to truly be a family. Rife with allusions to the original source material, this is an engaging backstory with depth that will give book clubs much to discuss.”—Booklist
“Gaynor’s (The Last Lifeboat) writing incorporates elegant touches echoing Baum’s timeless characters, symbols, and themes. Readers will be touched by Em’s story and respect the strong woman who raised such an unforgettable literary heroine.”—Library Journal
Overall rating: 4.2 / 5 from 5 reviews.
AI Generated Review Summary
Summary topics
Review topics: [].
Review highlights
Reviews
Beach reads and deadly deeds perfect match
"A fun little mystery romance read fast loved the characters great ending"
— Monique (5/5)
New Dorothy story
"An interesting idea with a story about Dorothy before the Wizard of Oz. The story has the events of the Great Depression with stock market collapse and drought and destruction of the prairie farms as a background. Despite all of this, the plot was somewhat uninteresting. I was expecting something more exciting. Something relating to the Wizard of Oz. Too much domesticity"
— Paul F. (2/5)
Before Dorothy
"Before Dorothy was a wonderful read and a true picture of the dirty thirties and the suffering of the farmers when the dust storms hit and they were unable to make a living off their farms. It also shows their will to fight for their property and livelihood. Even with the destruction they still didn’t give up until there was no hope and they also fought for Dorothy in the same way. There was no giving up until nothing was left."
— Frances T. (5/5)
Hazel Gaynor Never Disappoints!
"Another wonderful story from Hazel Gaynor! This author has a way of making you feel like you are apart of the pages in her books. You become enthralled with the characters and the story instantly. Her descriptive smooth paced writing guides you through the beauty stories she writes. Before Dorothy gives us heartwarming insight to a deeper understanding of Auntie Em and her love story both with Dorothy and Uncle Henry."
— Ferg (5/5)
Insightful, inspiring, and atmospheric!
"Before Dorothy is an enchanting tale that sweeps you away to Chicago and Kansas during the 1920s – 1930s when the country is reeling from the great depression, the farmers are struggling to maintain their livelihoods, identities, and health through the relentless heat, devastating wind storms, and catastrophic droughts, and the childless Emily Gale suddenly becomes the guardian of her eight-year-old niece Dorothy. The prose is evocative and smooth. The characters are strong, resilient, and hardworking. And the plot is a captivating, emotional tale filled with life, loss, self-discovery, motherhood, familial drama, poverty, tragedy, heartbreak, community, courage, romance, friendship, and survival. Overall, Before Dorothy is a creative, touching, heartwarming tale by Gaynor inspired by L. Frank Baum’s classic The Wizard of OZ that does a beautiful job of blending historical events with compelling, imaginative fiction."
— Zoe C. (4/5)
Q&A
Published date: Jun 17, 2025
Language: English
No. of Pages: 368
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
ISBN: 9780593440339
Dimensions:
5.15" W x
0.72" L x
7.93" H
Hazel Gaynor is an award-winning, New York Times, USA Today, Irish Times, and internationally bestselling author known for her deeply moving historical novels which explore the defining events of the 20th century. Her most recent novel, The Last Lifeboat, was a Times historical novel of the month, an Audie award winner, and was short-listed for the Irish Book Awards. Her work is published in twenty-seven territories to date. She lives in Ireland with her family.
You May Also Like
Previous
Next
Recently Viewed
Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
Opens in a new window.
eBooks from Indigo are available at Kobo.com
Simply sign in or create your free Kobo account to get started. Read eBooks on any Kobo eReader or with the free Kobo App.
Why Kobo?
With over 6 million of the world's best eBooks to choose from, Kobo offers you a whole world of reading. Go shelf-less with your library and enjoy reward points with every purchase.