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tregina's review against another edition
2.0
I vividly remember the first time I read this book, because it was the first Oz book I ever read other than the first and as soon as I opened it up and started reading I was like "WTF? Who are these people?" (Only probably not literally WTF because I was still in single digits at the time.) Having read them in sequence now I'm a little less WTF, but still: Oz doesn't even show up until halfway through the book, and plays a very small role overall. At least there is a plot with rising action &c. this time, but Mr. Baum sure wasn't a person worried about continuity at all, was he? And Dorothy, Ozma and Betsy kind of come off as sociopaths, which is probably not what he was intending. Probably.
outcolder's review against another edition
4.0
after the awesomeness of patchwork girl and tik tok, this was a bit of a comedown. baum's politics suck. he's pretty much a fascist.
anator10's review against another edition
Don't know any of the characters because haven't read any of the inbetween books. Also don't want to any of those books.
victoriafrost1991's review against another edition
2.0
A bit better developed then the previous four, or more, Wizard of Oz books in the series for its plot. Yet, it seems it is the same story line template over and over again with a set of new characters that come together, an issue they get stuck, an Emerald City character saves them and they all go back to the Emerald City to celebrate. This is getting boring after a while.
blondierocket's review against another edition
3.0
The ninth book in the Oz series, another which does not really focus on the title character, Scarecrow, but more on Cap’n Bill and Trot who journey through Oz, are captured and rescued by the Scarecrow.
I also enjoyed this one very much. I’m loving Dorothy gaining new friends to play with in the Emerald City. I look forward to continuing the journey and finishing out the series next year.
I also enjoyed this one very much. I’m loving Dorothy gaining new friends to play with in the Emerald City. I look forward to continuing the journey and finishing out the series next year.
cowmouflage's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
lexxluthor's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
skochara's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
mrdent's review against another edition
5.0
The Scarecrow of Oz is a great Oz book. It’s also not an Oz book, in a lot of ways. The protagonists of this book, Trot and Cap’n Bill, are the leads of another Baum series, which he had hoped would succeed and replace Oz in terms of popularity. Well, those books were nice enough, but clearly that didn’t happen. Their third and final adventure is also their introduction to the Oz series, and what they’ll wind up being remembered for above all else.
They’re great characters and their introduction is better than some original Oz characters I can think of. Button Bright, one of my other favorite Oz characters, comes back, and the new characters introduced in this book are all very fun and strange too. I like it a lot when Baum writes villains into his stories, and this book in particular has a whole European fairy tale pastiche baked into it. Complete with an evil king, a scheming courtier, a princess in distress and a wicked witch. It’s a funny but gentle parody, and he writes it better than most children’s fairytale writers.
They’re great characters and their introduction is better than some original Oz characters I can think of. Button Bright, one of my other favorite Oz characters, comes back, and the new characters introduced in this book are all very fun and strange too. I like it a lot when Baum writes villains into his stories, and this book in particular has a whole European fairy tale pastiche baked into it. Complete with an evil king, a scheming courtier, a princess in distress and a wicked witch. It’s a funny but gentle parody, and he writes it better than most children’s fairytale writers.