This is the second book I've read to my daughter in the OZ series this school year. While we both enjoyed it very much, she was disappointed by the way it ended. It was very nonchalant and just basically dropped off, but not unlike many of the other books: Welcome to Oz, let's have a party, happily ever after, etc.

Most of the books have the same formula: Somehow someone gets lost or blown to Oz, adventures ensue, welcome to the Emerald City, happily ever after. So I guess the meat of it is not the how or the end but what happens in between; those are the good parts. And that is what was fun about this story.

New characters Trot, Cap'n Bill and the Ork; along with the return of the Scarecrow and Button Bright. Of course there are more in here but those are the main events; so to speak.

The highlight for me was the return of the wicked witches. It's great to see they have not been completely eradicated from Oz.

I have to keep reminding myself that these books were written for children. It does get somewhat tiresome that there is very little tragedy that befalls the characters and they seem to be written to cater strongly to little girls who love fairy tale endings with princesses.

What really keeps me coming back to these tales with anticipation is the cannon of characters. When the protagonist(s) turn(s) a corner and there is Tik-Tok or Billina or The Tin Man it's just plain fun and puts a smile on both Avery's and my faces. Great stuff!