Wicked: Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of sexual violence.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Maguire’s book creates a complex alternative backstory for an antagonist in Frank L. Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Have you read Baum’s book, and if so, how did it prime your expectations for this novel?

2. Wicked is followed by several sequels and spin-off books. Did this novel pique your interest enough to read them? Why or why not?

3. Maguire has written several other retellings of popular children’s literature, like After Alice and Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister. If you have read these, how does Wicked compare to them? If you have not, did Wicked make you want to read them? Have you read any other retellings of classic or children’s literature? For instance, Marissa Meyer’s Heartless, or Cinder and its three sequels?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Elphaba is stereotyped and judged based on her green skin.