Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
Year: 1908
Author: L. Frank Baum
Length: 148 pages
I appreciate that by the fourth entry in the Wizard of Oz series that most of the story beats have become mostly formulaic but that the interesting parts are more about which characters are with Dorothy for the adventure. This way, there are elements of the familiar combined with the newness of different character interactions. In this iteration, we get to see more of the titular Wizard of Oz, the likes of which we haven’t seen since the end of the first book.
You have to appreciate how Baum keeps having Dorothy transition to a new world through natural disasters in our own (almost Narnia-like). This time, she’s caught up in an earthquake that puts her in contact with strange creatures. Again, nothing new here. Once the Wizard shows up, it’s fun to see him interact with these fantastical beings since readers of the first book know he’s mostly just a magician who is good at presentation. Turns out, bits of sleight of hand are enough to gain influence in these types of other-worldly settings. I did like that he’s open to learning the real magic, though.
My one qualm is probably that there were a few too many moments that seemed too convenient for the cast of characters to escape their predicament. This is less clever than having Dorothy show her ingenuity and save the group that way. I know some consider this to be darker than the previous books, but as an adult, I didn’t find any of the imagery or plotlines too scary. Of course, that’s always something present in at least some amount in older children’s books, regardless.
A fun journey with the original Wizard, I give Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz 3.5 stars out of 5.
1/2
