Customer Reviews

The Lost Princess of Oz

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Like the previous Oz book, "Rinkitink in Oz," this was an outing by Baum that scores by deviating a bit from the standard Oz formula. The characters in the book are on a journey, as usual, but instead of trying to get to the Emerald City, the characters are departing that city to find the missing Princess Ozma who, along with most of the powerful magical objects in Oz, has vanished. Furthermore, Baum puts together one of the largest primary casts ever in an Oz book, including Dorothy and Toto, the Wizard, the Patchwork Girl, the Sawhorse, the Cowardly Lion, Betsy Bobbin and Hank, Trot and Button-Bright and the Woozy, as well as adding the Frogman, Cayke the Cookie Cook and the Big Lavender Bear and the Little Pink Bear.

While it's nice to see to many characters, it does hurt the book somewhat -- it shows really how superfluous Besty and Trot are with Dorothy around, and it includes a bizarre little subplot with Toto that doesn't really add much. Furthermore, the ending is really syrupy and saccharine, even for an Oz book.

The addition of the Frogman is a major plus, though -- he is easily the most entertaining new character added to the series since Scraps the Patchwork Girl, and it was nice to have a book that for once didn't rely on the old villains like the Nome King or the old deus ex machina of Ozma's magic picture and Glinda's magic book. In fact, I kind of wish those two items had stayed lost -- other Oz books rely on them entirely too much for their resolution.

The Lost Princess of Oz is one of L. Frank Baum's most imaginative books. It begins with a serious problem, Ozma's disappearance, and with many of the favorite characters. Yet in a parallel story, an early chapter takes us to the Winkie Country and introduces us to some delightful new characters, The Frogman and Cayke the Cookie Cook. We know that Cayke's stolen magic dishpan is somehow related to Ozma's disappearance.

I love the role that Scraps, the Patchwork Girl, plays in this book. We meet some whimsical new villages and the beings who inhabit them. We pay attention to small details that are nonetheless important to those most affected by them, such as Toto's missing growl. Illusions are turned upside down and inside out, making us think. It's a delightful journey, all in all, one that I highly recommend.

While charming enough to delight children, The Lost Princess Of Oz is not one of the more exceptional books in L. Frank Baum's Oz series. The problem lies with both writer and illustrator; Baum's cast of characters has been poorly chosen, and John R. Neill's usually masterful, visionary illustrations are in many cases merely serviceable.

The book features four child protagonists - Dorothy, Trot, Betsy Bobbin, and lone male Button-Bright - which is three interchangeable child protagonists too many (in several chapters, Trot and Betsy, though ostensibly present, do not speak and play no part in the action). As in most of the Oz books, the plot revolves around a journey, and those chosen in this case to undertake the search for the kidnapped Ozma are simply too bland a group. Colorful eccentrics the Woogle Bug and Jack Pumpkinhead are missing, and while Scraps the Patchwork Girl is included, she ambles about on the periphery of the story for most of the book with little sign of her trademark intrusive spark and spunk. There are also too many talking animals -whether of `meat' or magical origin - the Cowardly Lion, Hank the Mule, Toto, the Woozy, and the Sawhorse (and later, the Big Lavender Bear and the Small Pink Bear). Though several interesting conversations arise from their differing philosophical viewpoints, the characters - which also include the `Little Wizard' of the original title - are portrayed too homogeneously, and thus the tension and flair usually found in Baum's stories and dialogue are absent. Baum does score with the introduction to the series of the Frogman, a fun, imaginative character rivaling the Woogle Bug, the Gnome King, Tik-Tok, and Jack Pumpkinhead in pleasant absurdity, vibrance, and potential. But Baum's descriptive portrayal of his fairyland is sadly pedestrian throughout, as if these as - yet undiscovered kingdoms in the marvelous landscape of Oz are simply to be taken for granted.

All of which may explain Neill's largely uninspired, functional illustrations. Neill's usual genius is almost entirely missing, though careful readers may notice the dramatic and humorous illustration of the wizard standing before a walled city, addressing the heads of numerous giants who stare him down from the other side. All are grisly, bearded, and fierce, except one, who resembles a breathless, slightly overweight, slightly effete matinee idol of the period. Another chapter features a mechanical, jeweled dragon, which Neill inexplicably ignores.

Baum surprises with a hilarious scene in which the traveling assembly is anxiously ushered past a gauntlet of giants to meet a king rumored for his cruelty, only to find him delicately combing his eyelashes. The evidence and subtext in The Lost Princess Of Oz suggest, as many other titles in the series do, that women are by far the stronger and more spiritually refined sex. The Wizard is a well-known humbug, the Lion is a coward, the Frogman is a pompous fabricator, and Button-Bright, in behavior and dress, is in no way significantly different from Dorothy, Betsy, and Trot, who form a kind of juvenile triple-faced goddess. Glinda the Good, Oz's lone sorceress, and Ozma, the kingdom's child ruler, are strong, wise, and fundamentally incapable of error or even ungracious behavior. The Patchwork Girl is clever and indomitable under any circumstance. Was Baum slyly poking fun at his adult audience and critics? Considering Neill's strangely out - of - place, sissy-faced giant, is it an accident that the kingdom of the bears is ruled by the Big Lavender Bear and his constant companion, the sooth-saying Little Pink Bear?

Adults desiring to introduce children to the Oz series should start with the first three books, The Wizard of Oz, the better The Marvelous Land Of Oz, the odd, sometimes bizarre Ozma Of Oz, and then progress through the rest of the titles. Little Wizard Stories Of Oz, beautifully illustrated and colored by Neill, and specifically written for a younger audience than the regular titles, is also an excellent choice. The optimistic series, with its beautiful evocation of a better world and happier days, are perfect for today's children, who, as the success of the Harry Potter books show, are starved for imaginative, magical, and archetypal fare.

Before Tolkien, before C.S. Lewis, before Robert Jordan, before T.H. White, I asked my mother to help me get "The Lost Princess" off of the top shelf in the children's section.

Now I'm 12, and I read Dean Koontz, J. V. Jones, and Terry Goodkind. But I still remember all of my friends from Oz.

I think all kids will love following the journey of Dorothy & Co. from the Emerald City to find their good friend Queen Ozma of Oz. It's the greatest book ever written, so if you haven't read it, get it now

When Ozma and all the magic of Oz gets stolen everyone is upset, so the Ozites form search parties to find her.The book goes with Dorothy's group when they go on many adventures.You will be amazed at where Ozma is and who stole her.

I am a huge Oz fan and have fallen in love with every Oz story L. Frank Baum wrote. As much as I love all the stories in the series the Lost Princess of Oz is my absolute favorite. The Lost Princess is much like all the other stories written by Baum, rich characterization can be found, fantastic adventures across the land of Oz is included and a feel good sensation is created but what makes it stand out is its intrigue. The Lost Princess of Oz is like a Who Dunnit mystery story that has you wondering till the end as to who could have stolen Ozma of Oz. Enchanting and mysterious a wonderfully exciting adventure through Oz. The Lost Princess of Oz is a must read of the series, if they all are not.

A man named Ugu of the Winkies kidnapps Ozma along with her magic picture and Glinda's magic book. The Land of Oz will never be the same without them. Join Dorothy, Betsy Bobbin, Trout, Buttons, Scraps, and their friends as they go on a suspenful journey to bring back Oz's rightful rulers and restore peace to the land.

When Cayke the Cookie Cook discovers that her diamond-studded dishpan has gone missing, she and the Frogman journey out of the land of the Yips to search for it in the great wide world of Oz. Although neither of them had ever heard of the Emerald City and its sweet girl ruler, Ozma, their paths soon cross with Ozma's friends. It becomes apparent that whoever has stolen the diamond-studden dishpan has also stolen Ozma and the rest of the magic in Oz!

The biggest issue in this book, as already noted, is that Baum sends a huge group of characters to look for Ozma. Betsy and Trot particularly get lost next to Dorothy and Button-Bright. The little interaction we get from the characters is not really enough to give us more than a scrap of action or interaction.

On the other hand, there are a lot of terrific elements in the book. I like the Lavender and Pink bear characters very much (stuffed with curled hair!), and the reformation of Ugu the Shoemaker is a classic Oz moment.

The Lost Princess of Oz was the 11th book in the series, and written in 1917. It may not be the best book in the Oz books, but I honestly cannot bring myself to give any of the Baum books less than four stars. The Oz books are all pretty self-contained, so you do not need to read them in order. However, if you or your child is new to the series I would not begin with The Lost Princess since there are so many characters from earlier works.

The Lost Princess of Oz (Books of Wonder) by L. Frank Baum is the 11th book in the oz series and tells the story of when ozma is missing from oz and the subsequent hunt to find her. Here is an all-star cast from the "olde" oz books and we get to follow Dorothy, Trot, Betsy Bobbin, Hank, the hungry lion and new friends like the frogman. The story is quite exciting and the plot is awesome with many twists and turns and the hunt for the lost ozma is thrilling and filled with marvelous adventures and I must say that it is one of the best book in the series so far. The illustrations are stupendous and the illustartor truly captures the spirit and essence of oz. I love this series and will read all of the oz books written by Baum and can not wait for the next book in the series.

this is one of the best books of all.i like the lavender & pink bears best. i dont like the frogman at first,though.try it!