I was mostly a Good Dog until they sold me out to animal control, okay?

But if it's a choice between Oz, with its creepy little singing dudes, and being behind bars in gray old Kansas, I'll choose the place where animals talk and run the show for now, thanks.

It's not my fault that the kid is stuck here too, or that she stumbled into a tug-of-war over a pair of slippers that don't even taste good. Now one witch in good eyeliner calls her pretty and we're off on a quest? Teenagers.

I try to tell her she's falling in with the wrong crowd when she befriends a freaking hedge wizard made of straw, that blue jay with revolutionary aspirations, and the walking tin can. Still, I'm not one to judge when there's the small matter of a coup in the Forest Kingdom....

Look, something really stinks in Oz, and this Wizard guy and the witches positively reek of it. As usual, it's going to be up to a sensible little dog to do a big dog's job and get to the bottom of it.

And trust me: Little dogs can get away with anything.

From the second I read, Toto by A. J. Hackwith, I found it funny and charming. The tone of the story was immediately engaging and I liked the twist of seeing the story through the eyes of Toto. I especially loved all the references to the original Baum novels, how the characters were revealed and even how the names were changed. Using Toto was not only original but gave a fresh perspective to the narrative.

What especially works is that the story is lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek and fun but it also uses a ton of references to power and revolution and is surprisingly complex for a humorous novel. It delves into the dynamics of power in Oz and how the wizard has abused that power. It also gives an interesting view of Glinda and the Wicked Witch of the West. It was a wonderful story to read and I felt the ending had a ton of heart.

If you like fresh twists on The Wizard of Oz and perhaps are a fan of Wicked, I highly recommend this novel. Not only is it a new perspective but the insight is funny, lighthearted but with heart and complexity. It was simply a delight to read.

Rating: 5 out of 5 glass slippers. ~~ Andrea Rittschof

For more titles by A.J. Hackwith click here