Customer Reviews

The Four Dorothys (Drama!)

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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.

Bryan Stark attends Orion Academy where all the students are talent-filled and ego-ridden. When the school puts on only one theatrical performance per year and is jam-packed with skilled kids (or at least, powerful parents), how do you make sure every kid shines? Naturally, you have multiple kids play each part. Orion is putting on the Wizard of Oz, with two Glinda's, two Scarecrows, and most importantly, four Dorothys. But when the girls playing Dorothy start being sabotaged, Bryan has to figure out who is sabotaging the Dorothys before his friend Sam becomes the next victim.

When i first saw this book, all I could think was, Glee? My friend and I joked about how it must be the same story until I became curious enough to actually find out. Glee turned out to be superior. There is more heart behind the stories of Glee than there are here. These are sort of fun, mindless stories that are good to kill a bit of time.

Bryan is a closeted gay teen, but the story is hardly about this. In fact, he is mostly a bystander in this entire book, which is a little irritating. His gay storyline could be interesting but since it is a non-player in the book it ultimately doesn't do much. (I'm fine with there being no drama surrounding the fact that he is gay, but he has kept this fact a secret which means there is, at least in his mind, some issues with it which go unaddressed.)

My biggest complaint is that there was no real twist. It became clear who the culprit was very early on and we were never surprised to find that the person we (and Bryan) expected was innocent. Sure, the lesson you can take from that is that some people are exactly as evil as they seem, but it doesn't make for a great story.

Ultimately, it isn't a book that I would recommend but I've read worse.

I spent the last 20 years as a middle school teacher and administrator and I still pepper my reading with a piece of adolescent literature now and then. I bought this book for that reason and also because it was tagged as gay literature also. I'm always interested to see if there is another piece of admirable and inclusive literature for teen readers. This book is one. Definitely will appeal to kids with some sense of wit and sas and drama kids will like it. It does a nice job of telling part of their story. Nothing to raise any eyebrows (although - I am not the best judge - it takes a lot to raise my eyebrows). No sex, drugs, or rock and roll. The references to music all are sourced in the world of theater and one who is up on their contemporary musical theater (Defying Gravity from Wicked is one of the teen's ring tones)as well as references to Shelly Winter's in the Titanic. I only know two groups of people who can traverse these worlds... and as teens. Theater kids and gay kids. Fact is the high school drama world is a safe haven for gay teens (see When the Drama Club is Not Enough: Lessons from the Safe Schools Program for Gay and Lesbian Students). There is a gay character but his sexuality is a minor player in the drama of Drama. The book really is just a fun romp through the teen world - much like one might expect on an episode of one of Disney Channel's for teen and pre-teen comedies like (I'm about to date myself - as there more be more current titles ) That's so Raven (that was a Disney show.. right) or from back in the day "Saved by the Bell." The book is witty and fun and presents a plot that is fairly predictable. It touches on a few social issues (why does a kid who fully accepts his gayness not come out of the closet and will the girl without all the money be able to prosper in a school full of highly privileged and wealthy kids?) I know there are at least four books in this series. I've got the next one and I'll read it soon... Everyone's a Critic (Drama!)). Mr. Ruditis is quite a nice writer of teen fiction.

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! :)

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