Name: Before Dorothy
Rating: 4 (5 reviews)
Author: Hazel Gaynor

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Book Summary

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.

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?

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

Before Dorothy imagines the character of Emily Gale as a young woman embarking on a new life on the Kansas prairies. How did you respond to her, and what surprised you the most about the challenges she and Henry face as they establish their new life in Kansas?
Emily's mother keeps the pamphlet about Kansas with a dream of going there one day, and Emily shares her almost instinctive sense of destiny to move there. Why do you suppose this is? Where do you most long to visit, or move to? Is there a place your north star pulls you toward?
Adelaide Watson arrives as a fairy godmother character in Emily's and Dorothy's lives, renewing their sense of hope and purpose when they feel lost. What were your thoughts on Adelaide and her impact on the...

Please be aware that this discussion may contain spoilers!

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Overall, what did you think of Before Dorothy, and to what audience would you recommend it? (no spoilers, please!)
This book was interesting because it provided Dorothy and auntie Em's background and how they got together (tragically). I liked the way that the author introduced all of the OZ characters (and even Oz) before Dorothy went there and developed their unique personalities. I would recommend this to ...
-Shirley_Fentz

What are your thoughts on the homesteading life we see among women of Kansas? Do you follow any of these traditional ways of living (making or repairing clothes, canning), or are there any aspects of that life you would like to adopt? If not, why?
I think that the homesteading women lived hard lives and were very brave and strong. This would not be the life for me – I enjoy my modern life and couldn't have survived the life that Emily and her friends lived..
-Susan_Roberts

Nell and Emily ended up living in rural communities while Annie was determined to stay in the city. Why do you suppose the girls developed such different desires as they grew older? Do you consider yourself a country girl or a city girl
I think that the two sisters had very different views of life and each one of them migrated to the life that they loved best. I grew up in a big city, then moved to the country and am now back in the city. I enjoyed living in the country but am really a city girl at heart.
-Susan_Roberts

In writing Before Dorothy, the author enjoyed weaving in a number of “Easter eggs” as references to The Wizard of Oz. Which did you spot?
There so many 'Easter eggs" throughout the book. I enjoyed it when I found the references to the original book.
-Susan_Roberts

Annie and Emily’s close relationship deteriorates throughout the book as they are pulled in different directions. How did you respond to the breakdown of their connection? Why do you think Annie still chose Emily as Dorothy’s guardian?
I hated that the two sisters grew apart but they were totally different people with different goals in their lives. Annie thrived on the approval of other people and Emily thrived on helping other people. I think Annie knew deep down that she was a shallow person and that her sister would do a gr...
-Susan_Roberts

In what ways do you feel Emily’s community supported her? What might her life have been like if she hadn’t been welcomed by Liberal’s women? Do you have a community that supports you?
Friends are important to everyone. Emily would have lived a lonelier life without the other women in Liberal. They all had problems and sharing problems with friends makes you better able to deal with the problems.
-Susan_Roberts

Adelaide Watson arrives as a fairy godmother in Emily’s and Dorothy’s lives, renewing their sense of hope and purpose. What were your thoughts on Adelaide and her impact on the other characters’ lives? Do you have a similar person in your own life?
Everyone needs a friend like Adelaide - she gave Emily and Dorothy someone to talk to and helped them realize how strong they were.
-Susan_Roberts

What was your response to Emily and Henry’s decision to leave Kansas? In their place, would you have left sooner, later, or not at all? What would you like to see happen to Dorothy, Emily, and Henry next?
I think that they waited to leave until they knew that they had done everything they could to save their farm. They are all hard workers and dedicated to whatever they do so I think that they'll be successful in California
-Susan_Roberts

What are you reading this week? (7/2/2025)
I just finished Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor, which was a fun read about how Dorothy got to Kansas and her Auntie Em and Uncle Henry. Then I read Don't open your eyes by Liv Constantine - twisty...
-Shirley_Fentz

Dorothy tells her Auntie Em that she didn’t think Mr. Stregone was a magic man at all. Em replies, “I think the idea of magic is sometimes more important than the magic itself” (p. 324). What do you think of her response? Do you think she’s right?
I love this quote. I do think we need things to believe in, for many that is a religion. Whenever I take a walk in nature, i feel a sense of peace. That may be magic, spirituality or just the power of nature. But we need to believe. Often, I have experienced what I would consider a kindness or bl...
-Dee_Driscole

What are your favorite lines or quotes from the book? Share them with your reading group and discuss why they especially resonate with you
Home. I now know, isn't a place at all. Mountains or ocean, city or prairie - that's just landscape, the view from the window when you wake. The most desolate place imaginable can feel safer than the prettiest place on earth, as long as those you love are with you. Finally, I found the answer. My...
-Susan_Roberts

Annie asks Emily why she hadn’t told Henry about her miscarriage. Emily responds that she “didn’t want to bring such sadness to our new start.” Annie concurs: “Sometimes ignorance is kinder than the truth.” What did you think of this exchange?
I thought that she should have told him. He cared enough about her that knowing about the miscarriage would have made them even closer.
-Susan_Roberts

Emily eventually publishes her journal entries into a book, parts of which are included between chapters of Before Dorothy. What did you think of their inclusion? What did they add to your understanding of Emily and her life? Do you keep a journal?
I really liked those journals. They provided Emily's inner thoughts. It made me feel even closer to her character. While that is a great way for the author to bring an additional warmth and rounding out Emily's character in reality few people share their most truthful inner thoughts in diaries an...
-Lauri_Z

How did you react to Leonardo Stregone, and in what ways did you see parallels between him and the wizard in the original Wizard of Oz book and movie? What are your thoughts on the rainmakers who traveled across the Great Plains during the Dust Bowl?
I thought he was a carpet bagger and scheming liar. But I wanted him to be able to actually bring rain. And I absolutely saw the connection with the Wizard of Oz. I understand that many people were so desperate during those times of drought, and given the lack of more complex technology that is n...
-Lauri_Z

The roles of women as sisters, friends, daughters, wives, aunts, and mothers is explored throughout the book. What was your emotional response to the relationship between Emily and Dorothy? Which other relationships particularly resonated with you?
I loved watching the blossoming of the relationship between Auntie Em and Dorothy. While I haven't experienced an identical situation it reminds me of the times I let down my walls and opened my heart to some friends. I truly believe that this is how I got my best friend and confidante. I also lo...
-Lauri_Z

What is your own connection or response to the natural world? What more could you do to change how you interact with and respond to nature?
I totally agree that I find peace and can recharge when walking on wooded trails in our beautiful park system in DC. When I close my eyes and imagine my walking there my breath slows. It blows me away when people deny climate change. I see it all around me. I live in the city and one thing that i...
-Lauri_Z

What are you reading this week? (6/19/025)
I'm reading Fulfillment by Lee Cole but having a hard time getting into it. Just finished Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor - loved it. And The English Masterpiece by Katherine Reay - interesting mystery.
-Shirley_Fentz

Nature and our connection with the natural world play a central role in the book. Which scenes and events captured the sense of the prairie the most vividly for you?
Dee, thank you so much for your response. I feel more knowledgeable because of your detailed explanation!
-Joyce_Montague

Adelaide tells Emily that fear is a temporary thing. “Face it, and it doesn’t exist anymore. Turn away from it and it’ll haunt you forever.” (p.215). What do you think she means? Do you agree?
I think it's situational and doesn't work in every situation. I used to be afraid of performing in front of people - I'd get terrible stage fright - and although I forced myself to do it, it never got any better. Plus, sometimes it's good to be afraid of things - fear is instinctive and there's a...
-kim.kovacs

Before Dorothy imagines Emily Gale as a young woman embarking on a new life on the Kansas prairies. How did you respond to her, and what surprised you the most about the challenges she and Henry face as they establish their new life in Kansas?
I thought she was a very brave woman. She put her faith in the man she loved and did everything she could to make their new life a successful one.
-Terrie_J

Emily’s mother keeps the pamphlet about Kansas with a dream of going there one day, and Emily shares her sense of destiny to move there. Why do you suppose this is? Where do you most long to visit, or move to? Is there a place you're pulled toward?
Emily's mother may have kept the pamphlet because it helped her feel close to her mother.i have always wanted to go to Australia and Hawaii.I don't have a sentimental reason but would like to go.
-Thelma_H

Before Dorothy is set during the Depression and Dust Bowl. Why do you think the author chose that period, and in what ways do you think the economic and ecological events of that time reflect the references to power that we see in The Wizard of Oz?
I agree that the Dust Bowl & Depression occurred after Baum's time, but I thought the setting worked well for the direction in which the author chose to take the plot. The drought and ensuing dust bowl brought another element into the novel and kept it from having a completely happy ending - a fe...
-kim.kovacs

What are you reading this week? (5/29/2025)
Digging into Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor. Really enjoying it!
-Carla_D

What are you reading this week? (5/1/2025)
...good books the past few weeks that I would like to share. I am currently reading THE GUEST COTTAGE by Lori Foster - it's very uplifting. Other books: BEFORE DOROTHY by Hazel Gaynor - loved it - it is about Auntie Em before Dorothy arrived and when she arrived - Excellently done - totally enjoyable. THE FAMINE ORPHANS by Patricia...
-Elizabeth

Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor Discussion
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Media Reviews

"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 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

"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

This information about Before Dorothy was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

Reader Reviews

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Elizabeth@Silver's Reviews

Elizabeth@Silver's Reviews - Another GEM by Hazel Gaynor
We learn of Auntie Em's life with her sister Annie in Chicago and her life in Kansas before and after seven-year-old Dorothy came to live with Em and Henry after Annie passed away.

Em and her sister lived in Chicago until Uncle Henry swept her off her feet and took her to Kansas.

Annie stayed in Chicago and married a man Em wasn't fond of - she wasn't even sure her sister loved him. Her sister had a secret that Em wanted to reveal, and it was something that came between them.

Em loved Kansas and her life on the farm, and when she was called back to Chicago to take her niece Dorothy to live with her, Em wondered how Dorothy would adapt to the rural life.

We go back and forth through both time periods that are filled with love and tenderness, and hope.

We learn of the hardships and the heartaches Auntie Em endured along with taking us through the depression, the stock market crash, and living in the dust bowl? of the 1930s.

If you loved The Wizard of Oz and didn't know Auntie Em's story, BEFORE DOROTHY is a book you won't want to miss.

There are subtle mentions of the characters and scenes in The Wizard of Oz that will make you smile.

You will love how Toto got his name in this book - I'm guessing that is the real story about his name.

Auntie Em is a wonderful person who had a difficult and at times sad life.

I didn't really like her sister Annie - she was cold and only thought of herself.

BEFORE DOROTHY is another gem by Hazel Gaynor that you won't want to miss.

Hazel Gaynor's marvelous, descriptive writing pulls you right in and warms your heart. 5/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Emily (Emmie Mere)

Loved this take an Auntie Em!
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.

SusanR

Auntie Em
I have watched The Wizard of Oz on TV more times than I can count and really enjoyed Hazel Gaynor's story about Dorothy's Auntie Em's earlier life and how she ended up Kansas. There are lots of references to the Wizard of Oz from a mention of the ruby red shoes, Toto and lots more. It was fun to see all of these references back to the original story and I think that Frank Baum would have approved of this story.

This story begins long before Dorothy was born. Emily and her two sisters had emigrated from Ireland with their parents and after several stops, they ended up in dirty and gritty Chicago. The oldest sister moved to California and Annie married someone that Emily didn't really like or trust. When Emily married Henry and they decided to farm in Kansas, Annie was very unhappy and kind of nasty to her sister about the move. Annie was pretty spoiled and willful and didn't want Emily to leave and not be available to help her. But Emily was not only in love with Henry but she soon was in love with the beauty that was Kansas and wanted to do everything that she could to help the farm. After a miscarriage, she realized that she'd never get pregnant and resigned herself to never becoming a mother. When Annie and her husband died, their will requested that Emily and Henry take responsibility and raise their daughter Dorothy. Life in Kansas was tough when Emily brought Dorothy to Kansas - the Depression was affecting farm prices and the huge dust storms had started along with frequent tornadoes. Emily wasn't sure how Dorothy would adapt to Kansas or adapt to her because she wasn't really sure how to be a mother. Yet despite everything, they did become a family.

Be sure to read the Author's notes at the end of the book where she gave some political background of the story and talked about her love of the Wizard of Oz movie. It was apparent when reading this book that the author had done considerable research into the time period and into the movie. It was a fun book to read and it was interesting to find all of the references to the original story.

Jill

There’s no place like home.
BEFORE DOROTHY
by Hazel Gaynor

I loved Hazel Gaynor’s 2023 release, The Last Lifeboat, so I wanted to read this historical fiction read by her. From only seeing Auntie Em in the movie, The Wizard of Oz, as an older woman, it was nice to see her transformed to Emily Gale — a vibrant young woman who journeyed from Chicago to the Kansas prairie. We see her as a newlywed ready to move where Henry wanted to farm — the Great Plains. Emily had a special bond to her sister, Annie, which became strained by distance, secrets, and the paths that each chose. When tragedy strikes and Dorothy lands on Emily and Henry’s doorstep, Emily struggles with her own limitations. The landscape of the prairie lifestyle that Gaynor portrays is with a deep sense of realism. You can taste and feel the dust and grit. I think she captured the stark beauty of the prairie along with the relentless hardships of life in the Great Plains. The bond with Dorothy shifts from distant, to duty, to something more richer with the shared grief, and quite understanding they form. Gaynor’s blending of historical fiction with literary reimagining of this classic (The Wizard of Oz) worked for me. I enjoyed all the “Easter Eggs” throughout as a nod to The Wizard of Oz.

This is a story of identity, family, the resilience of women, bonds between sisters, mothers, and daughters, and the quiet courage it takes to carry on when everything seems lost.

Thank you to BookBrowse for the book to read.

Michelle H

Cliched and Sentimental Writing
I enjoy reading stories re-told from marginalized characters’ points of view (James, Fagin, Longbourne, etc) so I was looking forward to reading a prequel to Oz told from Auntie Em’s point of view. But I was sorely disappointed. There are very few surprises in this sentimental description of life on the Kansas prairie during the Great Depression, unless you’ve never heard of this era of American history before.

Any character “secrets” are revealed long in advance, and everything that happens feels quite predictable -- bright promising young Emily is worn down and hardened by prairie life during the Dust Bowl. The writing is cliched, full of too many adjectives (plus endless ruby-red and emerald-green objects!), and far too many heavy-handed metaphors (“a cyclone of emotion,” etc). Lots of one word sentences: “Dust. Dirt. Life. Death.”

The dialogue often seems pulled from a corny 1940s B-movie. And foreshadowing every detail of the Wizard of Oz by tying it to something in reality (Dorothy has a toy lion, tin man and scarecrow, a little hourglass, there is an aerial circus balloonist turned fraudulent rainmaker, etc) – was actually irritating to me, as it flattened the magic and strangeness of L. Frank Baum’s highly imaginative, inventive world, making it all “explainable.” (In the book the magic of Dorothy’s adventure in Oz is simply true, and not explained away as a ‘just a dream’).

I did like the addition of female aviator (who later “becomes” the good witch), and it was also somewhat interesting to read about what happened after the big tornado. (Note that two-thirds of the story happens AFTER Dorothy enters Emily’s life, though). I felt obliged to read my free advance copy, but otherwise, I honestly don’t think I would have finished this book.

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Author Information

Biography

Hazel Gaynor

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.

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