The Harry Potter of its time, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and the forty or so other books in the Oz series have become perennial sellers. There are Oz festivals, Oz fan clubs, Oz newsletters, and, of course, Oz Web sites and chat rooms. And now there"s Hard Road, a Cat Marsala mystery in which author Barbara D"Amato shares her own love of Oz. D"Amato"s father knew Oz author L. Frank Baum and as a child played with Baum"s children. Five generations of D"Amato"s family have been Oz aficionados, including her novelist son, Brian D"Amato, who in his essay gives us special insight into Baum"s world. The story begins at a big centennial Oz festival in Chicago"s Grant Park. Investigative reporter Cat Marsala rediscovers the wonderful world of Oz when she takes her six-year-old nephew Jeremy to meet Dorothy and the Tin Man and to explore the Yellow Brick Road, the Emerald City, and all the other Oz-inspired creations to be found at the summer festival celebrating a...