Bewitched in Oz (Bewitched in Oz Series #1)

by Laura J. Burns

Overview

Even though sorcery is forbidden in Oz, Zerie Greenapple is determined to use her magic. When the Flying Monkeys find Zerie and her friends using magic, one of their gang is captured. Three friends go on the run through the wild landscapes of Oz to try and find Glinda the Good, who they hope will save them from the evil Princess Ozma. But will magic be enough to lead these three friends to safety? This exciting tale of adventure and fantasy will surround readers in a world of complexity, where the truth is always shifting and the integrity of friendship is constantly questioned.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781623702410
Publisher:	Capstone
Publication date:	08/01/2014
Series:	Bewitched in Oz Series , #1
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	9 - 13 Years

About the Author

Laura J. Burns has written more than thirty books for kids and teens, touching on topics from imaginary lake monsters to out-of-control Hollywood starlets. She has also written for the TV shows ROSWELL, 1-800-MISSING, and THE DEAD ZONE. Laura lives in New York with her husband, her kids, and her two exceptionally silly dogs.

Editorial Reviews

As a fan of THE WIZARD OF OZ I really enjoyed reading Burn’s spin off of this magical place. The author cleverly draws parallels of three friends traveling together to fulfill a quest. Like the original characters, each of our new characters has a special talent and a specific request. Unlike the original, they don’t have to hunt down the wicked witch. The cliffhanger ending piqued my interest —- when will the next book come out?

Kids Reads/The Book Report

A twist at the end sets up a sequel, and, of course, Oz name recognition will work in this book’s favor.

Booklist Online

If teen readers are turned off by all the heavy and dark reads populating the young adult shelves these days, this book will provide a light and playful antidote to their woes. The book is a pretty breezy read, much shorter than your average fantasy tale, and the cliffhanger ending strongly suggests there will be a sequel.

VOYA

06/01/2014
Gr 5–8—Zerie, Vashiti, and Tabitha are three friends who discover they each have unique "talents." These abilities range from making people or things age to becoming invisible. They meet in the woods to practice there talents despite a ruling from Princess Ozma that magic has been outlawed. A boy named Brink witnesses the girls' secret meeting and shows them that he also has powers. All four are then discovered using magic by the winged monkeys, Princess Ozma's faithful servants. They go on the run to obtain help from Glinda the Good. Fans of Frank L. Baum's Wizard of Oz will take delight in the Winged Monkeys, Glinda the Good, and the Glass Cat, all of whom make appearances throughout the narrative. This story has some interesting twists and turns, and characters are well developed. However, the characters are 16 and have love interests, yet the language and overall theme of the story is geared much younger, which may lead to a dissatisfying experience for some. The novel ends in a shocking cliff-hanger. Only fans of the source material will flock to this title.—Megan McGinnis, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY

School Library Journal

2014-06-10
In an Oz where magic has been outlawed, a group of teens seeks to practice their talents freely.Zerie has superspeed, Vashti can levitate things, and Tabitha can make herself disappear. Later, they discover that Brink, that cute Ned Springer’s dorky little brother, can cast illusions. They practice in secret, as discovery would lead to submersion in the Water of Oblivion, Ozma’s penalty for the illegal use of magic. When the Winged Monkeys apprehend Tabitha to take her to Ozma, Zerie, Vashti and Brink head to Glinda’s palace with the fitful guidance of the Glass Cat in the hope that she will take their side. Burns’ foray into the Oz mythos is an uneasy blend of Baum canon and vapid teen series fiction. Burns’ introduction of a pair of sweethearts, one a Flutterbudget and the other a Rigmarole, is a real treat, and her sense of geography is as goofily arbitrary as Baum’s. But her protagonists are 16, somewhat older than Baum’s Dorothy, and one tiresome subplot involves Zerie and Vashti’s mutual crush on Ned; the question of who “likes” whom is plumbed so often the book begins to feel like a middle school cafeteria. The plot itself—teens fighting for self-actualization in the face of Ozma’s tyranny—rings inherently false, with insufficient back story to justify it.Only for readers who want to follow the Yellow Brick Road into Sweet Valley High. (Fantasy. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews