Lucky Bucky in Oz

Oz Continued #36

by John R. Neill, L. Frank Baum

After an explosion blows Lucky Bucky sky-high, he meets Davy Jones, a wooden whale who helps him voyage to Oz.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Childrens, Classics, Adventure, Juvenile

289 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1942

About the author

John Rea Neill (November 12, 1877 - September 19, 1943) was a magazine and children's book illustrator primarily known for illustrating more than forty stories set in the Land of Oz, including L. Frank Baum's, Ruth Plumly Thompson's, and three of his own. His pen-and-ink drawings have become identified almost exclusively with the Oz series. He did a great deal of magazine and newspaper illustration work which is not as well known today.

(Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Davethorson · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the weaker entries in the original Oz series, Lucky Bucky in Oz was written by John R. Neill, whose illustrations grace all the books in the original series but the first and most famous of them "The Wizard of Oz," which was illustrated by Denslow. While Neill is never short of ideas, there is little in the way of unifying themes or underlying message to his narrative. Strange, whimsical, sometimes grotesque characters appear suddenly and just as suddenly leave the story, never to return. Neill's illustrations - and obviously his imagination - are still masterful, but if anything the story is so plot driven and so filled with confrontations between the lead character, Lucky Bucky, and the other protagonists and villains that it's just hard to stay focused. The book is just too busy, the action too frenetic, the confrontations too quick to occur and too easily dissipated. There's little tension or through line, and the book becomes tedious after a while.

The only characters to whom Neill breathes some life into are Bucky and the wooden whale, Davy, with whom Bucky travels. Davy manages to be an endearing character by the end of the story.

Still fun to read just for the whimsy and colorful prose, but overall a disappointing story which lacks the gentle humor and grace of the original Baum books.

[Orion · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished rereading Lucky Bucky and found myself laughing throughout the text. Neill does not write as tight a story as L. Frank Baum, but he does create characters as delightful as any developed by Ruth Plumly Thompson. Davy Jones, the wooden whale who befriends Bucky Jones and starts him on his quest, is one of the best. As with all Oz stories, getting there is all the fun. Bucky and Davy have a great time and so will you. Neill was the illustrator of Oz books for 40 years and this book contains the last views that he gave us of this magical land. If you love reading Oz books, this one will not disappoint you. From the Volcano Bakery to the Emerald City, go along for the ride. You won't regret it.

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neill, who illustrated a great chunk of the Oz books, tries his hand at writing one.

It's fun, and imaginative, but it's also a mess.
Neill creates some memorable and likable characters, especially the two leads, there are a ton of clever ideas and solid dialogue, but Neill seems to have no idea what to do with any of it.

Not that most Oz books have intricate or dense plots, but this one is paper thin and just stumbles along and Neill doesn't ever actually resolve any of the plot threads he introduces.
They all just kind of peter out to a vague, unsatisfying ending.

The art is very pretty and I'd love to see more adventures of Bucky and Davy Jones, just with a stronger writer.

[Steve Shilstone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, how I yearned to be Lucky Bucky and live in the head of a wooden whale.

[Elena · Rating 2 out of 5]

The best of John R. Neil's Oz books