suhbreenah's review against another edition
3.0
This book took me so long to finish. I liked it, but I personally didn't find it extraordinary. I might get around to finishing the series but it's not a priority.
thebeardedpoet's review against another edition
4.0
Ever day-dream about falling into a crack in the earth and finding strange communities of people living underground? Me neither! Nor did I ever imagine that I'd read about a kitty on trial for murder! This one is strictly for those who can approach it as a child . . .
Sorry. I confess right up front that I'm being completely uncritical here. If I were critical about the preposterous concepts, the lack of development of the new worlds visited, the flake-outs of the continuity of the series, or the shape of the plot, this one would not fare too well. Yet, I enjoyed it. I delighted in the wildly imaginative creatures, even if they were underdeveloped. I loved the unpredictability of what happens next and then what happens after that. Most of the book was a wacky "on the road" journey through cultures that exist underground. Near the end of the book, the cast arrives in Oz and has warm-fuzzy reunions with old friends-for the most part. Suffice it to say, some of the new members of the cast don't play well with others. Lastly there is court-room drama where a kitten is put on trial for murder. It's absurd, but if you can approach the book with the innocence of a child with wide surprised eyes, it's fun!
Sorry. I confess right up front that I'm being completely uncritical here. If I were critical about the preposterous concepts, the lack of development of the new worlds visited, the flake-outs of the continuity of the series, or the shape of the plot, this one would not fare too well. Yet, I enjoyed it. I delighted in the wildly imaginative creatures, even if they were underdeveloped. I loved the unpredictability of what happens next and then what happens after that. Most of the book was a wacky "on the road" journey through cultures that exist underground. Near the end of the book, the cast arrives in Oz and has warm-fuzzy reunions with old friends-for the most part. Suffice it to say, some of the new members of the cast don't play well with others. Lastly there is court-room drama where a kitten is put on trial for murder. It's absurd, but if you can approach the book with the innocence of a child with wide surprised eyes, it's fun!
cheeriospank's review against another edition
1.0
This is the one that finally made me stop reading the Wizard of Oz books. It was lame and I finally couldn't take Dorothy any more. GAH.
grace_ezri's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I've been reluctant to continue then OZ books because I hear they go downhill as the series progresses. Thankfully that wasn't the case with this book. I found this book filled with as much magic, fun, and imagination as the previous three books. I love how with each book so far we see this fairy land expanded upon and gain an insight into new lands and people while staying in contact with old familiar characters of Oz. Seeing the characters interact with each new people/land they came across was the best part of this book. It was so easy to get lost in the fun during those parts. Some of the new characters like Jim the horse and Eureka the Kitten I thoroughly enjoyed while others like Zeb fell flat. I will admit the ending of this one seemed rushed. One second they were in Oz while the next they were back in the real world with no real struggle. I don't know how much more I'll read in this series but I enjoyed this book!
shaekin's review against another edition
2.0
Eventually, I realized these books just don't have a point. They meet a lot of interesting creatures and people, but nothing ever happens. They don't learn lessons, they don't have a moral, it's just them going on an adventure. which isn't bad, but it gets old after one book. I'm not planning to read any more of these because it's just reading the same book over and over again.
aamccartan's review against another edition
4.0
Eureka the sassy kitten is the best new character yet!
zoemaja's review against another edition
4.0
our book - Aoife and I continue our way through the Oz series. I don't know how L. Frank Baum did it but just when I think they can't get any weirder they do!
jasonmar's review against another edition
2.0
When I finished book 3 (Ozma of Oz), which I enjoyed very much, I wondered if that might be the pinnacle of the series and book 4 makes me wonder that even more.
There wasn’t really a plot to this book—just a road trip with Dorothy and the Wizard and some new characters and a series of encounters with various people and creatures. The last five or six chapters were just padding—recapping the first three books and then random chapters about the new characters. I skimmed a good portion of that.
The most irritating part of this book was how Baum completely rewrote what had been established in book 2 about the Wizard’s involvement in Ozma’s kidnapping. I guess Baum decided he wanted the Wizard back as a character and decided to ignore the fact that the Wizard had conspired with a witch to kidnap Ozma so he could have the throne of Oz.
Also, and I feel sort of guilty saying this, but I think I don’t like Dorothy.
Ranked from favorite to least, up to this point in the series:
1. Ozma of Oz
2. The Land of Oz
3. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz*
4. Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
*I’m kind of relieved that I didn’t care for DatWiO. I’m happy that the original classic book isn’t at the bottom of my list anymore.
There wasn’t really a plot to this book—just a road trip with Dorothy and the Wizard and some new characters and a series of encounters with various people and creatures. The last five or six chapters were just padding—recapping the first three books and then random chapters about the new characters. I skimmed a good portion of that.
The most irritating part of this book was how Baum completely rewrote what had been established in book 2 about the Wizard’s involvement in Ozma’s kidnapping. I guess Baum decided he wanted the Wizard back as a character and decided to ignore the fact that the Wizard had conspired with a witch to kidnap Ozma so he could have the throne of Oz.
Also, and I feel sort of guilty saying this, but I think I don’t like Dorothy.
Ranked from favorite to least, up to this point in the series:
1. Ozma of Oz
2. The Land of Oz
3. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz*
4. Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
*I’m kind of relieved that I didn’t care for DatWiO. I’m happy that the original classic book isn’t at the bottom of my list anymore.
fauxpunk's review against another edition
5.0
Vegetable people. Invisible bears. Baby dragons. Just another day in the land of Oz.
crookedtreehouse's review against another edition
I only read about 25% of the book before I had to give up on it. None of the characters were interesting, it didn't seem to be going anywhere, and I was a few chapters in before I remembered reading it as a kid, and not enjoying it then, either.