Downton Abbey Clones
It’s no surprise that authors and publishers are trying to capitalize on the mega-popularity of this British television series. While there were already a few books set in the same time period with the same soapy feel, there have been at least three (YA) published since the series started airing that are pretty transparent in their attempt to win over the show’s audience. (It’s interesting to me that Downton Abbey is an adult show but these books are YA. I wonder how much of the publishing trend is capitalizing on adults who read YA, or if there are really that many teens watching Downton Abbey. I don’t work with teens much anymore, so am not in a great position to know.)

Wentworth Hall by Abby Grahame (2012)
Synopsis: It’s 1912, and eighteen-year-old Maggie and her
mother have just returned from a year abroad where Lady Darlington has
had a baby boy, James. But he is not the only addition to the house.
They have also brought back Therese, their new French tutor, as well as
welcomed the orphaned teenage twins, Teddy and Jessica, who have just
lost their father aboard the Titanic. This adds to an already crowded
house of Darlingtons and staff, all of whom have a penchant for
gossiping about their employers. [Amazon]


Part of the ad copy for this book on its Amazon page compares it directly to Downton Abbey, as if the synopsis weren’t enough of a dead giveaway: Can’t get enough of Downton Abbey? Visit Wentworth Hall. It’s one
of England’s oldest estates, and the Darlingtons are among the elite
class of British society. But under the wealth are secrets that must
stay hidden.

Cinders & Sapphires by Leila Rasheed (2013)
Synopsis: The intertwined lives of the prominent Averley family and the servants
of Somerton Court are forever changed when an old secret comes to light. [Worldcat]

I read this one and quite liked it. Its sequel, Diamonds & Deceit, was published earlier this month.

Manor of Secrets by Katherine Longshore (2014)

Re-imagining the Wizard of Oz
I think the resurgence of the Wizard of Oz in pop culture may be due (at least in part) to the fact that it’s been 75 years since the 1939 movie. Whenever a nice round number like that presents itself, media creators really run with it. Below are a few recent or upcoming things we can read or see on the screen:

 
Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige
Synopsis: My name is Amy Gumm—and I’m the other girl from Kansas. I’ve been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked. I’ve been trained to fight. And I have a mission: Remove the Tin Woodman’s heart. Steal the Scarecrow’s brain. Take the Lion’s courage. Then and only then—Dorothy must die! [Goodreads]     

This is a YA book that re-imagines Dorothy as the villain, a dictator ruling over Oz. It’s also a Full Fathom Five production. I’m not thrilled about either of these facts. The Oz books have a very special place in my heart and I have a hard time reading re-tellings of them that fundamentally alter characters. This one is also being described as “Wizard of Oz” meets “Kill Bill,” which makes me give it an even bigger No Thanks.

Oz Reimagined: New Tales From the Emerald City and Beyond edited by John Joseph Adams & Douglas Cohen
Synopsis: In this anthology, the adventures of Dorothy and her unforgettable friends are
refashioned and transformed in radical ways, to new times, new places,
and even new dimensions, all while remaining true to the spirit of Oz. [Worldcat]

This sounds like a book I could get behind. Some of its contributing authors include Rae Carson, Robin Wasserman, Jane Yolen, and Jonathan Maberry, all of whom have written for teens (though not all exclusively for teens). It’s published by 47North, an imprint of Amazon. A note on the item’s Amazon page recommends the collection for readers 13 and up.

Graphic Novels by Eric Shanower and Skottie Young
I love, love, love this comic book series, written by Shanower and illustrated by Young. They’ve adapted Baum’s books into graphic novels and they are true to the source, gorgeous, and a gift for Oz lovers. The comics are monthly and are then collected into lovely hardback volumes (one volume per Oz book). So far, the duo have completed up through the Emerald City of Oz, which is book #6. I’m not sure if there are plans to continue. Skottie Young has announced that he is done with the series, but I don’t know if that means the series is done or if it will continue with a different artist. These books are perfect for the same age group as the original story – which is to say, all ages.

Emerald City
This is a tv series (at least 10 episodes) ordered by NBC for the 2014-2015 season. The creators describe it as a dark re-imagining where Dorothy (aged up to 20) gets involved in a violent war in Oz. It sounds very much like an adult show; it’s being compared to Game of Thrones (what isn’t?). I have the same sort of qualms with this one that I do with Dorothy Must Die (I’m probably just not the right audience for a Wizard of Oz re-telling), but I can definitely appreciate the fact that it draws from the many (seriously overlooked and under-appreciated) Baum sequels in addition to the first and most famous book.

Warriors of Oz
The SyFy network has picked up this mini-series about a post-apocalyptic future Oz. It re-imagines the Wizard as evil (I guess that’s more believable than Dorothy as evil). It also features the scarecrow, tin man, and cowardly lion as warriors named Brainless, Heartless, and Coward. And as far as I can tell, Dorothy doesn’t exist at all. She’s been replaced by a male warrior from our own world/time as protagonist. Hmm.