Long before the names Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo graced the lyrics of “Defying Gravity,” there existed the magnificent Broadway musical “Wicked.” And prior to that, there was “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” by Gregory Maguire, which drew inspiration from L. Frank Baum’s characters in “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.”

Unraveling the Mystique of "Wicked"

The “Wicked” phenomenon, whether in the form of the movie, the Broadway musical, or the book, has crafted Dorothy’s arch-nemesis as a fully developed (and green) character with a poignant backstory. This book serves as a prequel to L. Frank Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” The name Elphaba, given to the Wicked Witch of the West, is derived from the initials of the original creator. Let’s explore – L, F, B.In “Wicked,” we witness a friendship blossoming between Glinda the Good Witch and Elphaba as they study sorcery together at school, long before their paths cross with Dorothy and her companions.Check out: USA TODAY’s weekly Best-selling Booklist

The Appropriate Audience for the "Wicked" Book

In a nutshell, the “Wicked” book by Gregory Maguire holds significant differences from the stage adaptation. One of the opening scenes features puppets engaged in a rather unconventional act. When we are first introduced to Elphaba in the book, she is a wild infant who bites off people’s appendages and is subsequently muzzled. The book is rife with elements such as drinking, drugs, sexual assault, prostitution, crime, and even wild sex parties involving humans and animals.In an interview with MassLive, Maguire explained that while the main themes translate, his book is a “tragedy” whereas the stage production is a “bittersweet drama.” He said, “I purposely included some raunchy material in the first few pages of ‘Wicked’ the novel to showcase what people were getting into and to make them realize they would have to leave behind their notions of an all-singing, all-dancing chorus line of flying monkeys.”

The Release Timeline of the "Wicked" Books

Maguire’s “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” made its debut in 1995. Known for his unique reimaginings of fairytales, Maguire went on to create an entire series centered around Elphaba and the other characters from “Oz.”There are three sequels to “Wicked” in the “The Wicked Years” series:“Wicked”“Son of a Witch”“A Lion Among Men”“Out of Oz”His “Another Day” series features three stories about Elphaba’s green-skinned granddaughter:“The Brides of Maracoor”“The Oracle of Maracoor”“The Witch of Maracoor”He also penned a prequel to “Wicked” titled “Elphie,” which delves into Elphaba’s childhood.

The Origins of "The Wizard of Oz"

The original source material for “Wicked” is the beloved children’s book “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” which was published in 1900. L. Frank Baum went on to publish 14 books in the “Oz” series over the next 20 years.In 1939, this classic was famously adapted into a movie starring Judy Garland, marking a significant revolution in the use of color in cinema.A Parent’s Guide to “Wicked”: Is the PG Movie Suitable for Young Audiences?“Oz” Books in Order: The Original L. Frank Baum SeriesThere are 40 canonical works in the “Oz” series, affectionately known by fans as the “Famous Forty.” Most of these were not written by Baum; after his death in 1919, his publishers commissioned dozens more “Oz” books from other authors.Here are the 14 books in Baum’s original series:“The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”“The Marvelous Land of Oz”“Ozma of Oz”“Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz”“The Road to Oz”“The Emerald City of Oz”“The Patchwork Girl Of Oz”“Tik-Tok of Oz”“The Scarecrow Of Oz”“Rinkitink In Oz”“The Lost Princess Of Oz”“The Tin Woodman Of Oz”“The Magic of Oz”“Glinda Of Oz”He also released a book of short stories featuring the Oz characters – “Little Wizard Stories of Oz” – in 1913.From Broadway to the Silver Screen: “Wicked” Movie’s Biggest ChangesLooking for your next great read? USA TODAY has you covered.Taste is highly subjective, and USA TODAY Books offers a wide range of genres to recommend. Craving a buzzy new literary fiction title? Read our review of “Intermezzo” by Sally Rooney. Are mysteries your forte? Try titles similar to “Verity” by Colleen Hoover or test your bravery with one of our favorite horror novels. Or if you prefer something with lower stakes and loveable characters, explore “cozy mystery” or “cozy fantasy” books. If you want the most popular titles, don’t forget to check out USA TODAY’s Best-selling Booklist.Contributing: Patrick Ryan

This is the first part of a two-part series that delves into the complex issue of technology use among kids in juvenile detention facilities. These facilities, which are intended for educational purposes, are being misused by incarcerated youth, raising concerns about supervision and the overall well-being of these young individuals.

Uncovering the Truth Behind Juvenile Detention Technology Use

Part 1: Misuse of State-Provided Laptops

Kids in juvenile detention facilities are exploiting state-provided laptops meant for education. Agency disciplinary reports and those who worked in the system have revealed that these laptops are being used to post on Instagram, screen movies, and view pornography. Alyssa Richardson, a behavior analyst at the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), has witnessed this firsthand. "Every kid got put on a computer at taxpayer dollars," she said. "The first thing we started noticing... was the use of those computers. We noticed that the kids were watching movies all day, they were on social media, they were talking about social media, they were talking about what they were talking about on social media."Since the department launched a new educational model in July, there has been unprecedented access to technology but a lack of attention to the kids, including personalized education plans for those with learning disabilities or other needs. "Essentially, if there was no teacher, no computer, or the kids chose to watch a movie or pornography or message their friends all day, that’s what they’d do," Richardson added.When asked about students accessing unauthorized content, program administrators at the Florida Virtual School (FLVS), which oversees the program, said they take it seriously and are working closely with partners to ensure a distraction-free learning environment. They investigate all allegations of misuse and have taken additional security measures but cannot disclose specifics due to cybersecurity concerns.Last year, the state reorganized education programs for juvenile offenders, creating the "Florida Scholars Academy." This program administers online instruction to 38 residential centers housing DJJ students. The academy, operated by Florida Virtual under the direction of Superintendent Julian Cazañas Jr., delivers instruction remotely and in person in classrooms year-round.

Part 2: The Impact on Students and Staff

Youth in DJJ facilities range in age from 10 to 21. Exposure to porn while under the state's watch is a cause for concern. Heather Beaven, CEO of the Florida Endowment Foundation for Florida's Graduates, which has a presence in the DJJ system, emphasized this. "It’s not like you’re talking about a bunch of 16-year-olds who have already engaged in sex or, you know, have already seen porn or whatever. You’re talking about somebody’s baby being exposed to this, which is just all kinds of interesting given everything else going on in Florida."The program was serving about 1,900 students across Florida at the start of October. Residential juvenile detention facilities are operated by nonprofits but are subject to state law. Since education is separate from facility staff responsibilities, they may not be equipped to oversee classroom operations.When the program launched, FLVS hired 186 teachers, instructional leaders, paraprofessionals, school counselors, and registrars. The expectation was a 15:1 student-to-teacher ratio and 30:1 student-to-paraprofessional ratio, despite 60% of students having learning disabilities. In October, 85% of positions were filled.In classrooms, it is unclear who is supposed to enforce discipline, even with adequate staff. In minimum security facilities, floor staff may not monitor school activities if there is no teacher present.A mother, Nyitecka Burden, whose 17-year-old son lived in Kissimmee Youth Academy, described a lack of supervision. Her son didn't receive his individualized education plan accommodations until the final weeks and received only 3.5 high school course credits instead of the expected 9 to 12. "He’s been angry for a long time, honestly, because he wasn’t learning, he wasn’t getting the things that he needed," she said.When teachers are not available to supervise computer use, monitoring is supposed to be done using filters and content screeners. The school touts its roots and constantly monitors its systems but cannot disclose specifics due to cybersecurity concerns.Beaven has called the implementation of the program "educational malpractice." DJJ officials said safeguarding students is a top priority and take immediate action when incidents occur. They continue to work with contracted providers and local school districts to enhance protections.Tomorrow: Juvenile Justice education program facing financial difficulties.Let us know what you think...