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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
hopeful
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
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Really enjoyed this book more than I expected!
adventurous
funny
hopeful
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:
Yes
I hadn't read this book since I was 10, but I recently kickstarted an illustrated edition and so it was time to revisit! 3.5 stars, with Evan Dahm's illustrations bumping it up to 4.
L. Frank Baum wrote that this book was his attempt at "a modernized fairy tale, in which the wonderment and joy are retained and the heartaches and nightmares are left out." But to me, the nightmarishness is part of the appeal of a good fairy tale, and so as an adult I found The Wonderful Wizard of Oz to be a lovely but ultimately toothless story.
Which isn't to say it's bad! The colorful characters and places are as endearing today as they were in 1900, and though the meandering plot takes a few too many detours on its way back to Kansas, Dorothy and Toto's adventures are fun to read about. And the illustrations really do bring Oz to life.
I'd absolutely recommend this book to younger readers--it's friendly and accessible and part of the American canon. I remember falling in love with all the characters as a child. But it lacks any major conflict, making it more of a romp or series of small events rather than one big adventure.
L. Frank Baum wrote that this book was his attempt at "a modernized fairy tale, in which the wonderment and joy are retained and the heartaches and nightmares are left out." But to me, the nightmarishness is part of the appeal of a good fairy tale, and so as an adult I found The Wonderful Wizard of Oz to be a lovely but ultimately toothless story.
Which isn't to say it's bad! The colorful characters and places are as endearing today as they were in 1900, and though the meandering plot takes a few too many detours on its way back to Kansas, Dorothy and Toto's adventures are fun to read about. And the illustrations really do bring Oz to life.
I'd absolutely recommend this book to younger readers--it's friendly and accessible and part of the American canon. I remember falling in love with all the characters as a child. But it lacks any major conflict, making it more of a romp or series of small events rather than one big adventure.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
THE book that brought me into reading in the first place when I was 10. The one that brought me to fantasy. It will always have a special place in my life, and no matter how much better books I have read or will read, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz will always be my irreplaceable.
adventurous
hopeful