Grampa in Oz

Grampa in Oz is the eighteenth book in L. Frank Baum's Oz series, written by successor Ruth Plumly Thompson in 1924. The story centers on the kingdom of Ragbad, where economic troubles plague the land and a storm carries away King Fumbo's head. Prince Tatters and Grampa, an old soldier, embark on a quest to find the king's head, secure wealth for their failing kingdom, and locate a suitable princess. Their journey gains an unexpected companion in Bill, a living weathercock from Chicago who was transformed by lightning. In a parallel story, Princess Pretty Good faces pressure to marry within four days to avoid a prophecy that she will wed a monster. The situation leads to her transformation into a flower fairy named Urtha. The book explores themes of loyalty, perseverance, and economic hardship while maintaining the whimsical nature of the Oz series. Thompson's contribution adds new dimensions to Oz's mythology by introducing concepts like monetary systems and economic struggles.

Readers view Grampa in Oz as one of Thompson's stronger contributions to the series. The book maintains an average 4.1/5 rating on Goodreads across 300+ reviews. Readers praise: - The character of Grampa, described as "endearing" and "memorable" - Fast-paced adventure sequences - Creative new locations and creatures - Humor that works for both children and adults Common criticisms: - Less complex plot compared to Baum's works - Some characters make choices that seem illogical - Middle section drags before picking up again - Prince Tatters comes across as passive Amazon reviews (3.9/5 from 42 ratings) note the book has more action than other Thompson entries. Several reviewers mention it serves as a good entry point for Thompson's Oz books. LibraryThing users (4.0/5 from 89 ratings) highlight the imaginative elements but some find the writing style less polished than Baum's.

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📚 Thompson became the second Royal Historian of Oz at age 31, writing 19 official Oz books - more than original creator L. Frank Baum himself 🏰 The kingdom of Ragbad in the book was inspired by real-world economic troubles during the Great Depression, making it one of the more topical Oz stories 🗣️ The plot point of finding the king's missing head was considered unusually dark for children's literature at the time, though it's handled with Thompson's characteristic humor 🌟 This was the eighteenth volume in the official Oz series and Thompson's fifth contribution, published in 1924 by Reilly & Lee 🐓 Bill the Weathercock represents one of the earliest examples in the Oz series of a character from modern America interacting with the fantasy realm, bridging the real and magical worlds