Barnes & NobleThe Wizard of Oz (Children's Collectible Editions) by L. Frank Baum

Great Book

The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum is a fictional story mainly set in the mystical land of Oz. It has 224 pages and was published on May 17, 1900. It is told in third person Omniscient with it mainly focusing on the main character. The main character is a young girl named Dorothy, who travels through Oz in an attempt to get home to Kansas, and meets many people and creatures along the way. The Wizard of Oz is set in Oz, with fantastical people and creatures, but also evil witches and huge dark forests. There are cities with people made of china, or lands filled with Munchkins. The story is told around Dorothy, although the point of view is the narrator. Dorothy is the main protagonist, and the Lion, The Scarecrow, and the Tin Woodman, Oz, and Toto are all major protagonists. On the other hand, the Kalidahs and The Wicked Witch of the West are antagonists. The tone is fairly light, but punctuated with serious and/or sad moments. After Dorothy lands in Oz,, she begins on a journey to get home. On the way, she meets many new people and creatures, some good and some bad. She ends up traveling with Toto, her dog and her three other companions. As they travel, they come across a city of people made of china, a field of deadly poppies,and vicious beasts. We can see some foreshadowing from the beginning, as Glinda the Good Witch discusses the last witch, The Wicked Witch of the West. The way the Wizard of Oz is written is quite classic, and it almost sounds like poetry much of the time. I found the book extremely interesting, although at some points the length of speech can get dull. I would recommend this book to others, as it is an amazing classic piece of literature. However, this book should only be for kids in second grade or up, as there is death and deep sadness. Younger kids may not be able to understand much of the language, since of the time the book was written in. Most kids will enjoy the story, as although it is a tale of bravery and hope, it is also filled with magic, adventure, and friendship. The Wizard of Oz is ultimately an amazing story that truly shows the strengths of perseverance and bravery. The book left a good lasting impression, as the underlying tones of the story truly showed that no matter who you are or where you are from, kindness goes a long way. Although Dorothy had to go back to Kansas, the lesson she taught will not be forgotten.