I just read the first book in The Wizard of Oz series

By glimmerGarden

I’m probably not going to pick up the next ones, but wow—did people really stop writing kid books like this? If you’re curious, it feels like Frank Baum made this for children on purpose. Like, it’s trying really hard to not drag the kids into all the gloomy stuff. So when Dorothy ends up causing some really grim things, or when the Tin Woodsman is cutting up wolves, it’s played more like “yay, we’re getting to the next part,” not as this heavy, lingering thing. The story just keeps moving and doesn’t sit there and stare at what just happened. That’s also what I noticed about the pacing. I kept telling myself “okay, it’s for kids,” because in a couple paragraphs they’re sleeping, then they’re out adventuring, then they’re eating, and then suddenly they’ve arrived somewhere. I don’t really see this kind of style anymore. Maybe because I don’t read a lot of children’s books? I don’t know. I did like the message though. That idea that you’ve already got what you need inside you the whole time is honestly pretty solid, even for adults. No clue what I expected from this book, but it definitely wasn’t what I got. It was interesting, and I’m glad I read it… I just don’t think I could handle another full set of like ten of the same thing.