Toto
by AJ Hackwith
Fantasy
Retelling
* * * Stars (Pretty good)
The Wizard of Oz from Toto’s point of view (with nods to current culture trends). This is a breezy read in some ways – just touching upon a lot of plot points that receive more attention in L. Frank Baum’s books/the movie. But the characters offer up a lot of surprises – the Scarecrow wasn’t always thus and is a magic practitioner in his own right, the Tin Man (Chopper) has a sister (and an obsession with masculinity), Toto can talk (and everyone can understand him), Dorothy is a modern teen, and the Witch of the West is not what you’d expect at all. Those familiar with the Oz universe may want to revisit it after reading this (I sure do!) to further examine the differences. Published for adults. This is definitely a fun read for older teens and adults who enjoy retellings from another perspective. Fans of Wicked may enjoy the canine point of view.
Reviewed by YA Librarian
