Prepare for a Magnificent Return to Oz with Galinda: A Charmed Childhood! In the wake of the highly successful film release of Wicked: For Good (Part Two), HarperCollins has announced a monumental literary event: Galinda: A Charmed Childhood, the brand-new novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author Gregory Maguire, is officially set to arrive on September 29, 2026!
The announcement comes on the heels of the Wicked film series’ global success, which, with the release of Part Two, earned strong box office returns and even garnered Oscar nominations, proving that “Wicked mania” is far from over. With the film’s opening firmly behind us, Maguire and publisher HarperCollins (under the William Morrow imprint) have confirmed this highly anticipated new addition to the Oz literary universe.
The author of the iconic novel Wicked is finally completing the origin story pair fans have been clamoring for, exploring the life of the pink-clad, effervescent, and immensely popular favorite character, before she became Glinda the Good.
“Who was Glinda the Good Witch before she floated down in her bubble to greet Dorothy? Who was Glinda before she became Elphaba Thropp’s magnetic and popular roommate at Shiz University? Well, before then, she was Galinda. With a ‘ga.'”
Galinda: A Charmed Childhood serves as the definitive companion, or “sister volume,” to Maguire’s previous work, Elphie: A Wicked Childhood.
- Elphie: A Wicked Childhood, published on March 25, 2025, chronicled the prickly, complex early years of Elphaba, detailing her life with her prominent family, the challenges of her green skin, and her first encounters with the political mistreatment of the Animal populations of Oz.
- Galinda now offers readers a richer, more complex glimpse into the life of the iconic character, revealing the girl behind the bubbly, shallow cliché.
Galinda: A Charmed Childhood
“The youngest of four children in a high-born family down on their luck, Galinda is both pampered and ignored. Her natural grace promises to elevate her in the district dance competitions—but these efforts distract her from seeing the growing resentments of local merchants who disapprove of her family’s business strategies. Enmired in the self-satisfactions and unnamed timidities of childhood, Galinda finds in herself neither canniness nor the need to cultivate it. However, as her father deftly pivots around the snares and nets laid for him by his competitors, Galinda begins to dance toward a life that might lift her above her proud, if hardscrabble, childhood.
Galinda reveals the girl behind the bubbly, shallow cliché—offering fans of Wicked their first richer glimpse into the life of a beloved and iconic character.”
Galinda reveals the girl behind the bubbly, shallow cliché—offering fans of Wicked their first richer glimpse into the life of a beloved and iconic character. She is a noble girl who discovers dancing as a way to escape a comfortable yet troubled childhood, setting the stage for her eventual arrival at Shiz University. The book is the ninth novel set in Maguire’s Oz universe, serving as a narrative prequel to his initial Wicked Years series.
Limited Edition Collector’s Hardcover Revealed!
Fans are urged to act fast! A deluxe limited edition hardcover is available for pre-order only while supplies last. This special collector’s volume will feature premium details, including stenciled edges, designed endpapers, and more.
PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY! Keep an eye out for more details as we count down to Fall 2026!
Prepare for a Magnificent Return to Oz with Galinda: A Charmed Childhood!
