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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
A bit of more of the same from the first, although I really liked the female soldiers and their knitting needles and the reveal at the end of Ozma's identity.
I enjoyed this sequel even more than the Wizard of Oz.
Tip is not what he seems, and Jack and Sawhorse shouldn't be alive at all, but together they are a team. The Scarecrow is deposed by an army of girls and the men are forced to do 'women's work' and realise how hard it is.
It's all wonderfully progresive - although probably not intentionally. What a romp.
Tip is not what he seems, and Jack and Sawhorse shouldn't be alive at all, but together they are a team. The Scarecrow is deposed by an army of girls and the men are forced to do 'women's work' and realise how hard it is.
It's all wonderfully progresive - although probably not intentionally. What a romp.
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
My kid brain absolutely loved this one. I was never not engaged in the story, and it made me laugh at every turn. The Woggle-Bug's puns and the need for an interpreter. 😂😂😂
Spoilers beyond this point 👉
I always try to view the books I read through the lens of the age group the book was intended for. As a kid I know I would have enjoyed the humor in this, but I also think my kid brain would definitely take issue with the continuity issues throughout. The real stand out for me was the spectacles. The Scarecrow was present for the conversation where the Wizard tells them all the spectacles make everyone believe everything the people see appears green. However, in this book he doesn't stop the practice. The gate guard is still placing glasses on everyone before they enter the city. Why does the Scarecrow keep this going? And after the revolt, no one questions any of it. No mention of everyone removing their glasses or wondering why the group doesn't need them. It's just odd to put back into the story at all only to drop it, seemingly forgotten. I guess it could be argued Jinjur's army pulled all the emeralds down, so no need to address it because they all see the "blinding" gems have all been removed. Whatever the reason I definitely feel like kid brains might fixate on something like that. I feel like I certainly would have.
“But why need I wear spectacles?” asked Jack.
“It’s the fashion here,” said the Soldier, “and they will keep you from being blinded by the glitter and glare of the gorgeous Emerald City.”
"The queer Thing they had called the Gump flopped its palm-leaf wings and rose into the air, carrying the party of adventurers high above the walls. They hovered over the palace."
My modern 90's girl feminism really tried to be offended by Jinjur's revolution. The underestimation and the depiction of frivolous reasoning was irritating, but it's clear the author and the characters can be reasonable and come to some understanding and respect for one another.
"May I ask why you wish to conquer His Majesty the Scarecrow?"
"Because the Emerald City has been ruled by men long enough, for one reason," said the girl.
"Moreover, the City glitters with beautiful gems, which might far better be used for rings, bracelets and necklaces; and there is enough money in the King's treasury to buy every girl in our Army a dozen new gowns. So we intend to conquer the City and run the government to suit ourselves."
"My Emerald City has been overrun by a crowd of impudent girls with knitting-needles, who have enslaved all the men, robbed the streets and public buildings of all their emerald jewels, and usurped my throne."
"I'm glad you have decided to come back and restore order, for doing housework and minding the children is wearing out the strength of every man in the Emerald City." "Hm!" said the Scarecrow, thoughtfully. "If it is such hard work as you say, how did the women manage it so easily?" "I really do not know" replied the man, with a deep sigh. "Perhaps the women are made of castiron."
"At once the men of the Emerald City cast off their aprons. And it is said that the women were so tired eating of their husbands’ cooking that they all hailed the conquest of Jinjur with Joy."
My last qualm, I thoroughly disagree with the idea that Ozma is a queer or trans icon. Ozma is stolen from her family and has her gender altered as a baby. He goes through his life as Tip and by all accounts is happy as such. Then he is told he's a girl and a princess and must be restored, basically whether he likes it or not that it doesn't matter what he wants, but will still be liked for who they are. This is bothersome and horrifying on so many levels. I love that Baum offers so many themes of acceptance throughout the series, and I understand seeing someone depicted in early children's literature might give some hope for tolerance in that time period, but when you think of the reality of what Ozma and Tip were put through with no choice, it's awful.
Quotable Quotations 🗣📢
“We must have an interpreter.”
“What is an interpreter?” asked Jack.
“A person who understands both my language and your own. When I say anything, the interpreter can tell you what I mean; and when you say anything the interpreter can tell me what you mean. For the interpreter can speak both languages as well as understand them.”
“That is certainly clever,” said Jack, greatly pleased at finding so simple a way out of the difficulty. “Won’t you take a chair while we are waiting?”
“Your Majesty forgets that I cannot understand you,” replied the Pumpkinhead. “If you wish me to sit down you must make a sign for me to do so.” 😂
“In an emergency,” he announced, “it is always a good thing to pause and reflect. Please excuse me while I pause and reflect.”
"I myself am Thoroughly Educated, and I say that puns display genius. For instance, were I to ride upon this Saw-Horse, he would not only be an animal he would become an equipage. For he would then be a horse-and-buggy.” 🤣
.........
Presently Jack Pumpkinhead became uneasy.
"I wonder if riding through the air is liable to spoil pumpkins," he said.
"Not unless you carelessly drop your head over the side," answered the Woggle-Bug. "In that event your head would no longer be a pumpkin, for it would become a squash." 😂
“Have I not asked you to restrain these unfeeling jokes?” demanded Tip, looking at the Woggle-Bug with a severe expression.
“You have; and I’ve restrained a good many of them,” replied the insect. “But there are opportunities for so many excellent puns in our language that, to an educated person like myself, the temptation to express them is almost irresistible.”
"That proves you are unusual," returned the Scarecrow; "and I am convinced that the only people worthy of consideration in this world are the unusual ones. For the common folks are like the leaves of a tree, and live and die unnoticed."
"As a matter of fact, we are none of us above criticism; so let us bear with each other's faults."
"Everything in life is unusual until you get accustomed to it."
"Do try to be more cheerful and take life as you find it."
"We all have our weaknesses, dear friends; so we must strive to be considerate of one another."
"All magic is unnatural, and for that reason is to be feared and avoided."
"Suppose we try kindness," suggested the Tin Woodman. "I've heard that anyone can be conquered with kindness, no matter how ugly they may be."
"You are both rich my friends ... And your riches are the only riches worth having, the riches of content."
"Why, when it comes to Law, I have nothing to say” answered that personage. “for laws were never meant to be understood, and it is foolish to make the attempt."
"I suppose I must start my brains working," replied his Majesty the Scarecrow; "for experience has, taught me that I can do anything if I but take time to think it out."
"I think," said the little Queen, smiling, "that your friend must be the richest man in all the world." "I am," returned the Scarecrow. "but not on account of my money. For I consider brains far superior to money, in every way. You may have noticed that if one has money without brains, he cannot use it to advantage; but if one has brains without money, they will enable him to live comfortably to the end of his days." "At the same time," declared the Tin Woodman, "you must acknowledge that a good heart is a thing that brains can not create, and that money can not buy. Perhaps, after all, it is I who am the richest man in all the world."
Spoilers beyond this point 👉
I always try to view the books I read through the lens of the age group the book was intended for. As a kid I know I would have enjoyed the humor in this, but I also think my kid brain would definitely take issue with the continuity issues throughout. The real stand out for me was the spectacles. The Scarecrow was present for the conversation where the Wizard tells them all the spectacles make everyone believe everything the people see appears green. However, in this book he doesn't stop the practice. The gate guard is still placing glasses on everyone before they enter the city. Why does the Scarecrow keep this going? And after the revolt, no one questions any of it. No mention of everyone removing their glasses or wondering why the group doesn't need them. It's just odd to put back into the story at all only to drop it, seemingly forgotten. I guess it could be argued Jinjur's army pulled all the emeralds down, so no need to address it because they all see the "blinding" gems have all been removed. Whatever the reason I definitely feel like kid brains might fixate on something like that. I feel like I certainly would have.
“But why need I wear spectacles?” asked Jack.
“It’s the fashion here,” said the Soldier, “and they will keep you from being blinded by the glitter and glare of the gorgeous Emerald City.”
"The queer Thing they had called the Gump flopped its palm-leaf wings and rose into the air, carrying the party of adventurers high above the walls. They hovered over the palace."
My modern 90's girl feminism really tried to be offended by Jinjur's revolution. The underestimation and the depiction of frivolous reasoning was irritating, but it's clear the author and the characters can be reasonable and come to some understanding and respect for one another.
"May I ask why you wish to conquer His Majesty the Scarecrow?"
"Because the Emerald City has been ruled by men long enough, for one reason," said the girl.
"Moreover, the City glitters with beautiful gems, which might far better be used for rings, bracelets and necklaces; and there is enough money in the King's treasury to buy every girl in our Army a dozen new gowns. So we intend to conquer the City and run the government to suit ourselves."
"My Emerald City has been overrun by a crowd of impudent girls with knitting-needles, who have enslaved all the men, robbed the streets and public buildings of all their emerald jewels, and usurped my throne."
"I'm glad you have decided to come back and restore order, for doing housework and minding the children is wearing out the strength of every man in the Emerald City." "Hm!" said the Scarecrow, thoughtfully. "If it is such hard work as you say, how did the women manage it so easily?" "I really do not know" replied the man, with a deep sigh. "Perhaps the women are made of castiron."
"At once the men of the Emerald City cast off their aprons. And it is said that the women were so tired eating of their husbands’ cooking that they all hailed the conquest of Jinjur with Joy."
My last qualm, I thoroughly disagree with the idea that Ozma is a queer or trans icon. Ozma is stolen from her family and has her gender altered as a baby. He goes through his life as Tip and by all accounts is happy as such. Then he is told he's a girl and a princess and must be restored, basically whether he likes it or not that it doesn't matter what he wants, but will still be liked for who they are. This is bothersome and horrifying on so many levels. I love that Baum offers so many themes of acceptance throughout the series, and I understand seeing someone depicted in early children's literature might give some hope for tolerance in that time period, but when you think of the reality of what Ozma and Tip were put through with no choice, it's awful.
Quotable Quotations 🗣📢
“We must have an interpreter.”
“What is an interpreter?” asked Jack.
“A person who understands both my language and your own. When I say anything, the interpreter can tell you what I mean; and when you say anything the interpreter can tell me what you mean. For the interpreter can speak both languages as well as understand them.”
“That is certainly clever,” said Jack, greatly pleased at finding so simple a way out of the difficulty. “Won’t you take a chair while we are waiting?”
“Your Majesty forgets that I cannot understand you,” replied the Pumpkinhead. “If you wish me to sit down you must make a sign for me to do so.” 😂
“In an emergency,” he announced, “it is always a good thing to pause and reflect. Please excuse me while I pause and reflect.”
"I myself am Thoroughly Educated, and I say that puns display genius. For instance, were I to ride upon this Saw-Horse, he would not only be an animal he would become an equipage. For he would then be a horse-and-buggy.” 🤣
.........
Presently Jack Pumpkinhead became uneasy.
"I wonder if riding through the air is liable to spoil pumpkins," he said.
"Not unless you carelessly drop your head over the side," answered the Woggle-Bug. "In that event your head would no longer be a pumpkin, for it would become a squash." 😂
“Have I not asked you to restrain these unfeeling jokes?” demanded Tip, looking at the Woggle-Bug with a severe expression.
“You have; and I’ve restrained a good many of them,” replied the insect. “But there are opportunities for so many excellent puns in our language that, to an educated person like myself, the temptation to express them is almost irresistible.”
"That proves you are unusual," returned the Scarecrow; "and I am convinced that the only people worthy of consideration in this world are the unusual ones. For the common folks are like the leaves of a tree, and live and die unnoticed."
"As a matter of fact, we are none of us above criticism; so let us bear with each other's faults."
"Everything in life is unusual until you get accustomed to it."
"Do try to be more cheerful and take life as you find it."
"We all have our weaknesses, dear friends; so we must strive to be considerate of one another."
"All magic is unnatural, and for that reason is to be feared and avoided."
"Suppose we try kindness," suggested the Tin Woodman. "I've heard that anyone can be conquered with kindness, no matter how ugly they may be."
"You are both rich my friends ... And your riches are the only riches worth having, the riches of content."
"Why, when it comes to Law, I have nothing to say” answered that personage. “for laws were never meant to be understood, and it is foolish to make the attempt."
"I suppose I must start my brains working," replied his Majesty the Scarecrow; "for experience has, taught me that I can do anything if I but take time to think it out."
"I think," said the little Queen, smiling, "that your friend must be the richest man in all the world." "I am," returned the Scarecrow. "but not on account of my money. For I consider brains far superior to money, in every way. You may have noticed that if one has money without brains, he cannot use it to advantage; but if one has brains without money, they will enable him to live comfortably to the end of his days." "At the same time," declared the Tin Woodman, "you must acknowledge that a good heart is a thing that brains can not create, and that money can not buy. Perhaps, after all, it is I who am the richest man in all the world."
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
"For I consider brains far superior to money, in every way. You may have noticed
that if one has money without brains, he cannot use it to advantage; but if
one has brains without money, they will enable him to live comfortably to
the end of his days."
that if one has money without brains, he cannot use it to advantage; but if
one has brains without money, they will enable him to live comfortably to
the end of his days."
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Jeezus, Tip is a little bitch. Were I the Tin Woodsman (who goes by his real name at seemingly random points), I'd have chopped up that kid by chapter 10. And Jack is far more neurotic than he is in the film.
Not as good as the first one, but still a captivating story
This was a fun little story! Baum’s writing is easy to get into and the story is just as strange and whimsical as the first book. I was genuinely surprised to see such female-empowered themes sprinkled in the book for its time period, and even though there were still some stereotypes about women mentioned, I think Baum was writing something ahead of its time and that was a nice surprise.