Customer Reviews

The Scarecrow of Oz

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

All the Books of Wonder Oz books are fantastic recreations of the originals with all their color plates and cover art. Even the typeface and page counts are the same. If you're a collector and can't afford to drop $300 on a beat-up copy of the original, this series is a must!

In the pantheon of L. Frank Baum's brillian Oz series, I'm afraid I've got to mark this book down as just a so-so entry. It probably would have appealed to me more were it not for the grossly misleading title, "The Scarecrow of Oz." The titular character doesn't appear until about page 150 of a 260-page book, for starters, and while he certainly plays an important part in the events that follow, the book is not really about him at all. Instead it's the story of Trot and Cap'n Bill, two of Baum's non-Oz characters, being swept away to the land of Oz for the first time. For much of the book the story follows the formula of the most lackluster Oz books -- characters get lost in a magical fairy land and meet lots of strange and interesting creatures -- but it picks up when they enter Jinxland and are forced to face down King Krewl.

The plus for this book would be that I'm now more inclined to go back and read the two Trot and Cap'n Bill books that preceded this one. I do admire the way Baum laced his various characters together into a cohesive universe of his own, even if he was practically forced to by the demands of his young readers. I just wish he'd found a way to express what this book was really about a little better.

The Scarecrow of Oz was chiefly a way for Baum to introduce readers to another one of his book series (The Sea Fairies and Sky Island) to his more lucrative Oz readership. The story itself is a bit uneven, but is easily digested by younger readers as separate segments can be treated as stand-alone stories with a single unifying theme of moving Cap'n Bill and Trot from California to Oz.

Synopsis: Cap'n Bill and Trot (a relationship which probably would not find its way into modern kiddie lit) go for a recreational row and get caught in a whirlpool. The whirlpool transports them to a fairy land which they escape with the help of an orc (a magical flying creature, not the nasties in Tolkein) and some magical shrinking berries. They spend a little bit of time in the Land of Mo (another Oz series) before escaping once again with recurring character Button-Bright (from the Road to Oz), the help of some adventuresome birds and magical growing berries. They land in Jinxland, a semi-autonomous region within Oz, where they accidentally insert themselves into the nuptial politics of the local ruler, an elderly but wealthy courtesan, the daughter of a deposed king, and the son of another deposed king. The three characters are unable to do anything other than get into serious trouble with a local witch and are eventually bailed out by the combination of the Scarecrow's planning, a sudden re-appearance of the original orc with an army of his friends, and a bit of lucky timing. After restoring the king's daughter to her rightful throne and true love, they make their way back to the Emerald City where they meet everyone. The story abruptly ends at this point - the reader can assume Capn' Bill and Trot have found a home in Oz although the story's beginning did not make it seem as if Trot's family was either lost or worth leaving.

When I was a young Oz zealot, this was one of the books that I found the most disappointing--only because my beloved Scarecrow was not in the book enough for my taste. After all, the title promises that this book will be all about the Scarecrow--but it's not (unlike "The Tin Woodman of Oz," which is completely focused on the title character). Alas, our stuffed man only comes in towards the end of this book to save the day. Of course, as usual with any story written by Baum, there is plenty to recommend this tale. I particularly enjoyed the return of a wicked witch to the series (in the form of Blinkie) and John R. Neill's illustrations are excellent and, as is so often the case with the Oz books, really contribute to the story. I just wish we had a bit more of our Scarecrow in this one!

After 1914's lackluster Tik-Tok of Oz, L. Frank Baum knew he had to come correct with the ninth installment of his beloved Oz series. The following year saw the publication of The Scarecrow of Oz. In the book's preface, Baum acknowledges the children who've begged for non-Oz characters Trot and Cap'n Bill (from the novels The Sky Fairies and Sky Island respectively) to travel to everyone's favorite fairyland. Granting that wish wasn't easy, but The Royal Historian of Oz has come through:

"Meantime, I am deeply grateful to my little readers for their continued enthusiasm over the Oz stories, as evinced in the many letters they send me, all of which are lovingly cherished. It takes more and more Oz Books every year to satisfy the demands of old and new readers... All this is very gratifying to me and encourages me to write more stories. When the children have had enough of them, I hope they will let me know, and then I'll try to write something different."

The tale begins in sunny California with a girl named Trot and her friend Cap'n Bill, an ex-sailor with a wooden leg who's also a mate of her father's, setting out on a leisure ride in their rowboat. The lovely weather turns stormy and the two friends are sucked into a whirlpool, finding themselves in an underwater cave where they befriend the Ork, a funny-looking but sensible creature with four balloon-like wings, stork's legs, the head of a parrot, and propeller for a tail. With his help, they manage to escape their dingy surroundings to find their way back home.

They encounter Pessim the Observer, a man consumed by his negative attitude, eat light lavender berries that shrink a person and dark purple ones that make them grow, and travel to the magical land of Mo. In Mo it snows popcorn and rains lemonade and who should be found in the snow but little Button-Bright. With the help of some native birds, the group is able to cross the Deadly Desert into Jinxland, a small kingdom isolated from the rest of Oz by mountains and gorges. It's there that the story really picks up with a face-off with the aptly named King Krewl and wicked witch Blinkie (who's reminiscent of The Wicked Witch of the West with her eye patch). The Scarecrow is sent by Glinda to lend a helping hand and make sure the travelers make it to the Emerald City safely.

Although The Scarecrow of Oz follows the same formula of past Oz books (a group of travelers find themselves in a strange land or two and set out on a quest for Oz), it's light years better than its predecessor Tik-Tok of Oz.

First of all, both Trot and Cap'n Bill are lovable, intriguing characters. I like that Little Trot has her own individual personality. She isn't as headstrong and spunky as Dorothy (whose poor knock-off was Tik-Tok of Oz's Betsy Bobbin), but a bit more serious and mature. As for the Cap'n, what lies behind the rugged, gruff exterior lies a heart of gold. He's so loving and protective of his young friend. Like a second father. Trust me, those two alone won't make you mind that the Scarecrow doesn't appear until the middle of the story. The only downside about the tale is how lackluster and bland the ending is. Baum tries to make the journey to the Emerald City exciting, but the suspense petered out after the King Krewl/Blinkie showdown.

Baum's book sales picked up again after the release of The Scarecrow of Oz and the author himself claimed it was one of his favorites in the entire series. I have to agree. Now that's how you get your groove back!

I really enjoyed reading this book I couldn't put it down. This book is a classic I LOVED it it really feels like I am having adverntures right along with the characters.

This book was a gift to my sister who loves the Wizard of OZ. She did have some of the books and this was one that she didn't have in her collection yet.

I love L Frank Baum books, I love the Wizard of Oz books in particular. I love the Books of Wonder series, reprinting the original books, by a great author and wonderfully illustrated by artists...not like new books, with ugly drawings and messy pictures. John R Neill's art work is sublime. A bit like Art Nouveau, and so sensual. This purchase was ordered twice, once it came with out a dust jacket and that would not do, so I got another one and it is perfect.

I read it when I was a young girl, and this edition is just the way I remember it. Illustrated just as the earlier edition, and beautifully bound. My three grandchildren look forward eagerly to each new OZ book (only five or six they haven't read yet). A keepsake that I hope will remind them of me.

Trot and Cap'n Bill are in trouble -- their boat has been pulled down into a giant whirlpool! When they finally land in a mysterious cave, there seems to be no escape....until they meet a strange creature. Where in the world are they?