The Hedgehog of Oz by Cory Leonardo

The Hedgehog of Oz is a tribute to Oz from the perspective of a very small but determined hedgehog.

The Hedgehog of Oz by Cory Leonardo. Aladdin, 2021. 400 pages.

Reading Level: Middle Grade, ages 8-12

Recommended For: Ages 8-12

Marcel lives in a movie theater. He didn’t always live there, once he had somewhere to live. He had a SOMEONE, but now he is alone. Well, almost alone. He does have two old hens for company. Together they scrounge for dropped candy after hours, and every Saturday Marcel watches the theater’s re-run of his favorite movie: The Wizard of Oz. But then a series of unexpected events catapult Marcel onto an adventure that is eerily familiar and has echos of Oz. Joined by a unlikely group of friends, Marcel and his new companions set off on a quest to find their way home.

Young animal fantasy lovers and Oz enthusiasts will enjoy this middle-grade fantasy. Leonardo is descriptive and engaging with her characters and storyline. There is dramatic tension in the story, too, provided by an evil owl and one character’s obvious decline in health. (See our consideration below.) Still, there is hope at the end of the day and friendship, too. For readers who aren’t quite ready for Brian Jacques’ Redwall series, but ready to move beyond easy chapter books, this could be an excellent bridge.

Considerations:

• After much foreshadowing, one of Marcel’s friends dies near the book’s end. While it’s an excellent handling of death for this age, it might be hard for a sensitive reader.
• Marcel, Oz enthusiast that he is, names his hen friends Auntie Hen and Uncle Henrietta —this might seem like an agenda nudge, but knowing the author and the rest of the book, this is just another Oz connection that fell flat.

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5

• Worldview/Moral Rating: 4.5 out of 5
• Literary/Artistic Rating: 4 out of 5

Read more about our ratings here.

Related Reading From Redeemed Reader

• A Review: *The Simple Art of Flying —Cory Leonardo’s debut novel
• A Resource: Our Favorite Mice: A Booklist
• A Reflection: Don’t Take Yourself (or Your Reading) Too Seriously

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