Allison’s Book Report Gregory Maguire’s “Wicked”

So. Let’s talk about “Wicked.”

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've been hearing all about the new movie based on the 20-something-year-old Broadway musical of the same name. We are musical theater nerds in our house, so we're very familiar with the Broadway version. But do you remember that the musical is actually based on a book?

That's right—way back in 1995, author Gregory Maguire released "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" as the first in a series of four books that chronicle the life of the witch before she went around terrorizing little girls (and their little dogs, too) and being all around, well, wicked.

Years before Dorothy and Toto's crash landing, another little girl makes her presence known in Oz. This little girl is named Elphaba, and she was born with emerald-green skin. Her skin color makes living in a land like Oz—where famine and natural disasters are common—challenging. Despite it all, Elphaba is smart, and by the time she enters Shiz University, she becomes one of Oz's most promising young citizens.

However, this version of Oz is no utopia, and the Wizard's secret police are everywhere. Animals are creatures with voices, souls, and minds and are being threatened with exile. Young Elphaba is determined to protect the Animals, even if it means battling the mysterious Wizard. Well-versed in guilt and sorrow, she feels almost grateful when the world declares her a witch.

Okay, so up front, let me warn you that "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" is nothing like the musical or the movie. My oldest teen received a copy for Christmas, so we decided to read it together on our vacation last week. I don't censor what my teenagers read, but if you're concerned about content for young or sensitive readers, know that this version of the story is very dark and full of adult themes.

It's a great story and told so well, but it is not for young kids—despite what the musical or the movie might lead you to believe. Maguire's take on what made the Wicked Witch so wicked is a twisty, turny, gritty modern classic that my teen and I both enjoyed. But it may not be for every reader, and we agreed this is one of those rare cases where the movie is better than the book.

Have you read the books that started the Wicked craze? Pop over to my Instagram, @allison.the.reader, to tell me what you think and if you agree!