Ojo in Oz

Last updated
Ojo in Oz
Ojo cover.jpg
Cover of Ojo in Oz.
Author Ruth Plumly Thompson
Illustrator John R. Neill
LanguageEnglish
Series The Oz Books
Genre Children's novel
Publisher Reilly & Lee
Publication date
1933
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (Hardcover)
Pages304
Preceded by The Purple Prince of Oz  
Followed by Speedy in Oz  

Ojo in Oz (1933) is the twenty-seventh book in the Oz series created by L. Frank Baum and his successors, and the thirteenth written by Ruth Plumly Thompson. It was illustrated by John R. Neill. The novel was followed by Speedy in Oz (1934).

Contents

Plot

Ojo (from The Patchwork Girl of Oz ) is captured by wanderers who plan to turn him over to a mysterious enemy who has offered to pay a large reward to anyone who captures and delivers Ojo to his stronghold at Moojer Mountain. Ojo befriends the gypsies' captive dancing bear Snufferbux (whose full name is Snuffurious, Buxorious, Blundurious Boroso). The gypsies are in turn captured by Realbad, the leader of a gang of bandits, who carries a secret that is connected to the Munchkin boy and his habitually closemouthed guardian Unc Nunkie. [1] Realbad learns about the reward and resolves to collect it himself by delivering Ojo to Moojer Mountain. Separated from the bandit gang, and hopelessly lost, Ojo and Snufferbux reluctantly agree to travel with Realbad (who is a resourceful survivalist) until they either get to the Emerald City or to Moojer Mountain. While traveling, they face various dangers together and gradually develop a genuine friendship.

Meanwhile, Dorothy, Scraps, and the Cowardly Lion set out to rescue Ojo, but get lost themselves, and visit Dicksey Land and other strange places. Everyone is menaced by a fearsome wizard, and Ojo learns who his parents are.

Reception

The Los Angeles Times said, "What with unicorns and a dancing bear and a frightful gentleman whose face is made up of gearwheels, there are plenty of interesting people in this eventful story." [2] The Minneapolis Star Tribune agreed that the book's adventures "are as fantastic as anything that ever happened in Oz." [3]

In A Brief Guide to Oz, Paul Simpson notes, "Ojo in Oz has attracted some negative attention from recent scholars for the highly stereotypical way in which Thompson describes the Gypsies who feature heavily within the story, and for their eventual fate — others who commit the same crimes are simply transformed into other creatures, but the Gypsies are banished to Southern Europe." [4]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Road to Oz</i> 1909 novel by L. Frank Baum

The Road to Oz is the fifth book in L. Frank Baum's Oz series. It was originally published on July 10, 1909 and documents the adventures of Dorothy Gale's fourth visit to the Land of Oz. It was followed by The Emerald City of Oz (1910).

<i>Rinkitink in Oz</i> 1916 novel by L. Frank Baum

Rinkitink in Oz is the tenth book in the Oz series written by L. Frank Baum. It was published on June 20, 1916, with full-color and black-and-white illustrations by artist John R. Neill. It is notable that most of the action takes place outside of Oz, and no character from Oz appears in the novel until its climax; this is due to Baum's having originally written most of the book as a fantasy novel unrelated to his Oz books over ten years earlier, in 1905. It was followed by The Lost Princess of Oz (1917).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruth Plumly Thompson</span> American author of childrens books (1891–1976)

Ruth Plumly Thompson was an American writer of children's stories, best known for writing many novels placed in Oz, the fictional land of L. Frank Baum's classic children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its sequels.

<i>Kabumpo in Oz</i> Book by Ruth Plumly Thompson

Kabumpo in Oz (1922) is the sixteenth book in the Oz series, and the second written by Ruth Plumly Thompson. It was the first Oz book fully credited to her. It was followed by The Cowardly Lion of Oz (1923).

<i>The Giant Horse of Oz</i> 1928 novel

The Giant Horse of Oz (1928) is the twenty-second book in the Oz series created by L. Frank Baum and his successors, and the eighth written by Ruth Plumly Thompson. It was illustrated by John R. Neill. The novel was followed by Jack Pumpkinhead of Oz (1929).

<i>The Yellow Knight of Oz</i> 1930 book by Ruth Plumly Thompson

The Yellow Knight of Oz (1930) is the twenty-fourth book in the Oz series created by L. Frank Baum and his successors, and the tenth written by Ruth Plumly Thompson. It was illustrated by John R. Neill. The novel was followed by Pirates in Oz (1931).

<i>The Purple Prince of Oz</i> 1932 book by Ruth Plumly Thompson

The Purple Prince of Oz (1932) is a children's novel, the 26th book in the Oz series created by L. Frank Baum and his successors, and the 12th written by Ruth Plumly Thompson. It was illustrated by John R. Neill. The novel was followed by Ojo in Oz (1933).

<i>Speedy in Oz</i> 1934 book by Ruth Plumly Thompson

Speedy in Oz (1934) is the twenty-eighth book in the Oz series created by L. Frank Baum and his successors, and the fourteenth written by Ruth Plumly Thompson. It was illustrated by John R. Neill. The novel was followed by The Wishing Horse of Oz (1935).

<i>The Wishing Horse of Oz</i> 1935 novel

The Wishing Horse of Oz (1935) is the twenty-ninth book in the Oz series created by L. Frank Baum and his successors, and the fifteenth written by Ruth Plumly Thompson. It was illustrated by John R. Neill. The novel was followed by Captain Salt in Oz (1936). This entry marked the point at which Thompson had written more Oz books than Baum.

<i>Captain Salt in Oz</i> 1936 book by Ruth Plumly Thompson

Captain Salt in Oz (1936) is the thirtieth book in the Oz series created by L. Frank Baum and his successors, and the sixteenth written by Ruth Plumly Thompson. It was illustrated by John R. Neill. The novel was followed by Handy Mandy in Oz (1937).

<i>Handy Mandy in Oz</i> 1937 book by Ruth Plumly Thompson

Handy Mandy in Oz (1937) is the thirty-first book in the Oz series created by L. Frank Baum and his successors, and the seventeenth written by Ruth Plumly Thompson. It was illustrated by John R. Neill. The novel was followed by The Silver Princess in Oz (1938).

<i>The Silver Princess in Oz</i> 1938 book by Ruth Plumly Thompson

The Silver Princess in Oz (1938) is the thirty-second book in the Oz series created by L. Frank Baum and his successors, and the eighteenth written by Ruth Plumly Thompson. It was illustrated by John R. Neill. The novel was followed by Ozoplaning with the Wizard of Oz (1939).

<i>Ozoplaning with the Wizard of Oz</i> 1939 book by Ruth Plumly Thompson

Ozoplaning with the Wizard of Oz (1939) is the thirty-third book in the Oz series created by L. Frank Baum and his successors, and the nineteenth and last written by Ruth Plumly Thompson until 1972's Yankee in Oz. It was illustrated by John R. Neill. The book was followed by The Wonder City of Oz (1940).

<i>The Scalawagons of Oz</i> 1941 book by John R. Neill

The Scalawagons of Oz (1941) is the thirty-fifth book in the Oz series created by L. Frank Baum and continued by his successors; it is the second volume in the series both written and illustrated by John R. Neill. The novel was followed by Lucky Bucky in Oz (1942).

<i>The Loves of Carmen</i> (1948 film) 1948 film by Charles Vidor

The Loves of Carmen is a 1948 American adventure drama romance film directed by Charles Vidor. The film stars Rita Hayworth as the gypsy Carmen and Glenn Ford as her doomed lover Don José.

<i>The Patchwork Girl of Oz</i> (film) 1914 American film

The Patchwork Girl of Oz (1914) is a silent film made by L. Frank Baum's The Oz Film Manufacturing Company. It was based on the 1913 book The Patchwork Girl of Oz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry Love (lawman)</span> California Ranger (1810–1868)

Harry Love was the head of California's first state-wide law enforcement agency, the California Rangers, and became famous for allegedly killing the notorious bandit Joaquin Murrieta. The California Rangers were also considered to be part of California's early state militia, the predecessor to the current California Army National Guard, with Love holding the rank of Captain within the state.

<i>Yankee in Oz</i> Book by Ruth Plumly Thompson

Yankee in Oz is a 1972 novel in the Oz series by Ruth Plumly Thompson. It was the first published by The International Wizard of Oz Club. The novel was originally written in 1959, but because the Oz books were not selling, it was not published. A letter from the Henry Regnery Company, which bought Reilly & Lee, is reproduced in the front indicating the publisher's blessing for the new Oz book to appear.

References

  1. Jack Snow, Who's Who in Oz, Chicago, Reilly & Lee, 1954; New York, Peter Bedrick Books, 1988; pp. 148, 177.
  2. "Books for Girls and Boys Add Much to Holiday Joys". Los Angeles Times. November 12, 1933. p. 36. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  3. "Oz Again". Minneapolis Star Tribune. October 8, 1933. p. 11. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  4. Simpson, Paul (2013). A Brief Guide to Oz. Constable & Robinson Ltd. pp. 54–55. ISBN   978-1-47210-988-0 . Retrieved 10 February 2024.
The Oz books
Previous book:
The Purple Prince of Oz
Ojo in Oz
1933
Next book:
Speedy in Oz