I started a book called Wicked this week. The main character is named Elphaba, and was born in Munchkinland. Her "father" Frex is a minister, and her mother is the beautiful Melena (once a rich Gillikin courtier). Her mother tends to sleep around, so no one really knows if Elphaba's green skin is hereditary. By the end of the first section of the book, you find out that Melena is going to have another girl.

I think that the perspective of this story is pretty cool. It takes the plot of the Wizard of Oz, and makes it more realistic. Instead of the flat characters in the Wizard of Oz, both the villain (Elphaba) and Dorothea are shown on an even playing field. The book shows the Wicked Witch of the West as a persecuted child, who has grown up in poverty. Galinda is still show as just a pretty face. I think that she will develop more character throughout the rest of the story though.