The Four Dorothys

One of a series. A bit less well written than the ideas of the plot demand. But first time readers of a novel about H.S. drama clubs and members/geeks will love it. And, it is a good mystery story, too!

Paul Ruditis' THE FOUR DOROTHYS is a great read for anyone who loves drama. I found the narrator, Bryan (not "Brian) Stark to be a fresh character with a great voice. Definitely a recommended read! :)

The Four Dorothy's by Paul Ruditis is a book about a high school's production of the Wizard of Oz. This book is set in Orion Academy. The narrator of the book is a student at this school and his name is Bryan Stark and he plays one of the Scarecrows in the school's musical. He has a best friend named Sam who also goes to this school. Sam is a very talented girl and plays one of the Dorothy's. Sam and Bryan both have a friend named Hope who plays one of the Glinda's. This book is slow starting but gets more interesting as you read on. The Dorothy's start mysteriously dropping out of the play and Bryan decides to investigate. He knows someone is up to no good and he's going to find out who it is. Will there be any Dorothy's left by opening night. Read the book and find out. My favorite scene in the book is when Sam is about to have to drop out of the play. I like this scene because there's a lot of action and fighting between two of the Dorothy's. Bryan and Sam believe that she is being framed and they think they know who's behind it all. I thought this book was pretty good. Like I said it started slow but got better later on. I would recommend this book to friends because I know most of them would like it and it's about things that we do too. I thought that it was just the right reading level for me. It wasn't too hard and it wasn't too easy for me to read. I think that if I were to look back and try and remember this book that I would remember how the narrator acted and his personality. If you like realistic fiction and books about school life and things that you do a lot, then this the book for you.

Imagine a private school where beauty is a must. Imagine that the school musical is the coolest after-school activity. Imagine when everything goes wrong. Bryan Stark narrates the lives of himself and those around him as the school production of The Wizard of Oz draws nearer. This Wizard of Oz is one unlike many have seen. The play follows the traditional storyline of Dorothy and her dog, Toto, going over the rainbow to a magical world. The only twist is that there are too many characters. Four Dorothys? Two Scarecrows? Two Wicked Witches? Bryan already knows the play will be a disaster, but nonetheless, he will do his part as Scarecrow #2. When things begin to go wrong Bryan must do some detective work to find the real culprit behind all of the attacks on the play's participants. Follow Bryan and the unforgettable cast as questions are answered (is that one of the four Dorothys posing naked on the school website?), frowned-upon relationships are formed (a junior dating an underclassman?), and near death experiences are questioned (was that an accident?). Watch as the drama unfolds and find out if the biggest question of all is answered: Will there be an opening night? Paul Ruditis' novel is a story you won't soon forget. From the very first sentence you know that the book will be funny and will make you smile all the way through. Reviewed by: Jeremey