The Scarecrow of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Title: The Scarecrow of Oz

Author: L. Frank Baum

Pages: 291

Finished: September 30, 2017

First Sentence: "Seems to me," said Cap'n Bill, as he sat beside Trot under the big acacia tree, looking out over the blue ocean, "seems to me, Trot, as how the more we know, the more we find we don't know."

Summary: Trot and Cap'n Bill get caught in a Whirlpool that takes them to wondrous lands. There they meet plenty of new characters including the Ork and Button Bright as well as the people of Jinxland. They fall on the bad side of King Krewl, but with the help of the Scarecrow, everything turns out right again.

Thoughts: So the interesting thing about this book and the last one we read is that Baum is introducing many of his characters from other books to the land of Oz. In this example, Trot and Captain Bill were part of a series that he had intended to carry on after he finished the Oz books. However, they never caught on, and kids instead asked that Trot and Captain Bill be brought to Oz. Thus this book. It also explains why they know Button Bright. He apparently showed up in that other series and talked to them. His character has definitely changed.

Overall, I didn't find this one quite as ridiculous as the others have been (though I did read that it was not well received). Trot was just as sweet as Betsy and Dorothy both are, so she'll fit in with the group quite well. Apparently Baum had a type. The Ork's tail works as a helicopter rotor which I found interesting as the helicopter hadn't been invented yet.

I find myself wanting to read some of Baum's other books. While this book was a step above some of the more recent Oz books, it does at times feel as though he's phoning it in.

Read for the Wizard of Oz Challenge.