Common Sense Media Review
By Julie A. Carlson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Amy and her quest take a darker turn in imaginative sequel.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Amy Gumm is still trapped in Oz, and Dorothy is still alive. Along with Ollie, Maude, and Ozma, Amy ends up in the Queendom of the Wingless, where she must figure out how to save the Revolutionary of the Wicked, search for Nox, and complete her mission by killing Dorothy. Amy also must learn to fight the darkness consuming her before she truly becomes something she most fears: being wicked.
Is It Any Good?
This series is brilliantly developed, and the world of Oz leaps off the page in vivid color, lush descriptions, and characterization. The Wicked Will Rise starts off right where Dorothy Must Die ends. Amy leaves behind the Emerald City and discovers more places and creatures in Oz. Though readers might miss the Emerald City, author Danielle Paige continues to bring imaginative new landscapes into the picture. We also meet the hilariously trash-talking monkey, Lulu, Queen of the Queendom of the Wingless; Bright, who smokes rainbows, and his girlfriend, Polychrome; and Heathcliff on the Island of Lost Things. Readers encounter the evil Dorothy, the Lion, and Glinda, who is definitely not the Good Witch. The villains and monsters are pure evil but also have some funny lines. Their brutality and quest to hurt others for the sake of their own power will make readers cheer for Amy on her mission to save Oz.
Younger readers might cringe that the heroine is starting to become as violent as the villains. Yet there's a part of Amy that holds back, is afraid, and questions her mission, which makes her likable and multidimensional. The Wicked Will Rise is an action-packed story that ends with a cliffhanger, making readers eager for the next installment: Yellow Brick War, to be published March 15, 2016.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the Land of Oz and the characters in the Dorothy Must Die series are different from Frank L. Baum's original novels. Have you read the The Wonderful Wizard of Oz books or seen the 1939 movie? How do you like author Danielle Paige's version of Oz, her twist on the iconic characters, and the new characters she's created?
Do you think Oz and the darkness of the world is starting to consume Amy? Do you feel she should continue the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked's mission to kill Dorothy, or can she change Oz without committing murder? What would you do in her place?
How do you feel about the cliffhanger? Will you read the next novel to see what happens?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Book Characters , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : HarperCollins Publishers
- Publication date : March 31, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 17
- Number of pages : 304
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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