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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
L. Frank Baum says trans rights.
Honestly, I didn't understand why people dislike this book so much, and then I realized it hits entirely different if you grew up queer. This book resonated with me so hard as a kid. I adored the characters, and L. Frank Baum's comedy skills really come out. Some scenes could straight up be Monty Python skits, and I love it. The handling of gender was, at times, outdated, but refreshingly even-handed and never seemed particularly snide. I see why this was always one of my favorites, and I remain devastated that w didn't get Tip or the Sawhorse in Return to Oz.
Honestly, I didn't understand why people dislike this book so much, and then I realized it hits entirely different if you grew up queer. This book resonated with me so hard as a kid. I adored the characters, and L. Frank Baum's comedy skills really come out. Some scenes could straight up be Monty Python skits, and I love it. The handling of gender was, at times, outdated, but refreshingly even-handed and never seemed particularly snide. I see why this was always one of my favorites, and I remain devastated that w didn't get Tip or the Sawhorse in Return to Oz.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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:
Yes
Another fun entry, but it didn't go by quite as quickly as the first one did, and I'm not entirely sure Then again, it's 1904, so your mileage may vary.
This also happened literally around the Wright Bros. first flight, which makes me wonder how quickly books went from greenlit to print in those days. Baum did pretty much make an airplane in here, though he never called it one, because it might not have actually had a name back then, but you've got to wonder who actually got to the concept first.
Spoiler
Tip getting turned into a princess against his will was handled as well as it could've been. I haven't read the third book yet, but he sure adjusts to that quickly. I'm not even sure I'd want to be turned into a girl if it made me instantly rich and famous when it happened. I guess magic can handwave away the PTSD from the culture shock.This also happened literally around the Wright Bros. first flight, which makes me wonder how quickly books went from greenlit to print in those days. Baum did pretty much make an airplane in here, though he never called it one, because it might not have actually had a name back then, but you've got to wonder who actually got to the concept first.
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Slavery, Kidnapping, Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Domestic abuse
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury
I always liked this one, although its paternalism gets tiresome.
If this wasn't part of a classic series I committed to reading, I would have DNFed this
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
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
For some reason, I'd never really thought to explore the Oz books beyond the first one, but this adventure story is whimsical and fun! I'm excited to read more about the characters of Oz and the adventures of Ozma and her friends!