I read this book when I was about thirteen and remember really enjoying it, and didn't recall all of the so-called scandalous scenes that everyone on the internet has been crowing about since the hype for the Wicked movie began. My hot take after this re-read: this is a book "not for kids" in the same way that literally any book written for adults is "not for kids". It has an adult reading level and is much more overtly about politics and anti-fascism and racism than the musical. But the pearl clutching about "tHe OrGiEs" is extremely overblown since there actually is barely any sex at all in this book. If you've got a kid who sticks with it to make it through this book, I say power to them honestly. I was hoping to be engaged enough with the story to want to read the sequels but I feel kind of meh about that. I found the beginning of the book to be really interesting and compelling, the middle to sort of drag, and the end to be engaging but also a little head-scratch-y because it seemed like Elphaba was not really behaving consistently to how she had been in the first 4/5 of the book in order for her to match the characterization and plot beats of the Wizard of Oz. Even with that though, I did enjoy the book and am glad I re-read it for the first time probably in almost 25 years.