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triniredreading's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
acoffia's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
3.75
bargainbookquest's review against another edition
4.0
4*
Finally a book where the title is not misleading even though the character in question doesn't appear until the last couple chapters. Did the author suddenly realize he was going way off with his titles or something?
One morning, Dorothy goes to find Ozma to only realize that she isn't there and is actually nowhere to be found. Not only that but her magic picture has also disappeared so it's not easy to find Ozma as this picture shows what any person is doing at any time anywhere in the world, even if you're not in Oz. One other option is to go find Glinda but she is helpless as her magic book is also gone. So they start a search party and they end up meeting with a bunch of other characters who have lost their beloved items that are, in turn, magical. By the end, everything is well and resolved and everyone lived happily ever after (j/k!)
One thing I didn't quite get however is that even though the author was able to really put mystery in this one with Ozma and magical things having been stolen, he actually takes a whole chapter about halfway through to tell us exactly who did the deed and why he did it. That, to me, is a complete turn off and I almost didn't want to finis it because after that, I was starting to be able to tell what was gonna happen once the group would get to meet him. And it was reminiscent of what the group had to do with the Nome King in one of the earlier books.
Another thing: what was the point of Toto losing his growl? Did I miss the fact that it's a magical growl or something? Surely it isn't at all. Maybe the author wanted to put some sort of humor into this. It did permit us to finally hear Toto speak and he was fun.
Also? Why is it always Dorothy who "saves the day?" Can't it be anyone else for a change?
This is why I am not giving this book 5 stars because it would have deserved it. I really enjoyed this book otherwise and I was trying to figure out who could have done such a thing and it was fun to have a plot-driven book for once. As much as I did enjoy the previous ones, I did mention in my review of book 10 that I was starting to feel like the author was getting tired of writing these stories because it started to show. It's like he turned a new leaf with this one or something.
Finally a book where the title is not misleading even though the character in question doesn't appear until the last couple chapters. Did the author suddenly realize he was going way off with his titles or something?
One morning, Dorothy goes to find Ozma to only realize that she isn't there and is actually nowhere to be found. Not only that but her magic picture has also disappeared so it's not easy to find Ozma as this picture shows what any person is doing at any time anywhere in the world, even if you're not in Oz. One other option is to go find Glinda but she is helpless as her magic book is also gone. So they start a search party and they end up meeting with a bunch of other characters who have lost their beloved items that are, in turn, magical. By the end, everything is well and resolved and everyone lived happily ever after (j/k!)
One thing I didn't quite get however is that even though the author was able to really put mystery in this one with Ozma and magical things having been stolen, he actually takes a whole chapter about halfway through to tell us exactly who did the deed and why he did it. That, to me, is a complete turn off and I almost didn't want to finis it because after that, I was starting to be able to tell what was gonna happen once the group would get to meet him. And it was reminiscent of what the group had to do with the Nome King in one of the earlier books.
Another thing: what was the point of Toto losing his growl? Did I miss the fact that it's a magical growl or something? Surely it isn't at all. Maybe the author wanted to put some sort of humor into this. It did permit us to finally hear Toto speak and he was fun.
Also? Why is it always Dorothy who "saves the day?" Can't it be anyone else for a change?
This is why I am not giving this book 5 stars because it would have deserved it. I really enjoyed this book otherwise and I was trying to figure out who could have done such a thing and it was fun to have a plot-driven book for once. As much as I did enjoy the previous ones, I did mention in my review of book 10 that I was starting to feel like the author was getting tired of writing these stories because it started to show. It's like he turned a new leaf with this one or something.
saroz162's review against another edition
5.0
There's a very real chance that this is the best book in the entire series: it's adventurous, funny, reflective, strange, and just a tiny bit meta-fictional ahead of its time. If the Oz books had stopped here, it certainly would have been L. Frank Baum's crowning achievement. Regardless, though, it is far and away better than any sequel written by any of his successors, as well as most of his own both before and afterward.
If your kid has never read an Oz book, give them this one.
If your kid has never read an Oz book, give them this one.
paperrhino's review against another edition
4.0
One of the most interesting thing to observe during my journy through all of Baum's Oz books was watching him mature as an author. Of all of the Oz books thus far, The Lost Princess of Oz was the most even paced and well written by almost any measure. The characters were well described and there was even some character development. For the first time, Baum had two nearly completely plot threads that came together quite well later on. And finally, the conflict is not resolved via a deus ex machina like so many of the previous books.
If a person were to read only one Oz book, this is the one I would recommend.
If a person were to read only one Oz book, this is the one I would recommend.
jamcbride's review against another edition
4.0
Cute and whimsical, a good read with no emotional investment.