The Patchwork Girl of Oz by L. Frank Baum #Ozathon24

Title: The Patchwork Girl of Oz
Author: L. Frank Baum
Illustrator: John R. Neill
Publication: Dover paperback, originally published in 1913
Genre: Juvenile fantasy/series

Description: The seventh Oz book features Ojo, a Munchkin boy who lives in an isolated part of the magical realm with his taciturn Unc Nunkie. When their food supply runs out, they realize they must leave home, and head to their closest neighbor, the Crooked Magician, who was responsible for the magic powder that Ozma (then Tip) used to bring Jack Pumpkinhead and the Sawhorse to life back in The Land of Oz. Margolette, Mrs. Crooked, in an attempt to secure reliable household help, has made a life-size doll out of a patchwork quilt and wants her husband to bring it to life with his Powder of Life. He already animated their glass cat, although they aren't delighted with those results. Unfortunately, when the Patchwork Girl comes to life, she knocks over another concoction, the Liquid of Petrifaction, which spills on Margolette and Unc Nunkie, who become statues. 

Distraught, Ojo sets off on a quest to collect the ingredients necessary to reverse the spell, accompanied by two incredibly annoying companions, the Patchwork Girl and the Glass Cat. In their wanderings, they rescue a Woozy, a block-like creature of value primarily because the three hairs at the end of its tail are an ingredient for the spell. Then they meet the Shaggy Man, which is fortunate because he suggests they go to the Emerald City for help. On the way, they encounter the Scarecrow, who is immediately smitten with the Patchwork Girl. Complications arise when they reach the Emerald City: Shaggy has warned Ojo that it is forbidden to pick a six-leaved clover, another key ingredient, but promised to ask Ozma to make an exception. Ojo thinks this is unfair and picks one anyway. After he is arrested, Ozma conducts his trial. She explains why the law protects her subjects and Ojo is ashamed of his actions and apologizes, so is forgiven and allowed to resume his quest with the purloined plant – and with Dorothy (and Toto), who graciously accompanies this motley crew. Although they are unsuccessful in collecting what is necessary for the spell reversal, they have many adventures and ultimately Glinda tells the Wizard how to restore Unc Nunkie and Margolette to life and how to remove the Crooked Magician’s magic, so everyone can live peacefully in Oz.

My Impression: I had really forgotten how annoying the Patchwork Girl and her incessant doggerel is, and equally irritating is the Glass Cat, which is obsessed with its pink brains. It is a huge relief when the Scarecrow and Dorothy appear. The two best parts of this book are the possibly fateful meeting between the two stuffed creatures and Ojo’s theft of the six-leaved clover and subsequent trial, which reveals an unusual approach to justice:

“Allow me, Miss Patchwork,” said the Shaggy Man, “to present my friend, the Right Royal Scarecrow of Oz. Scarecrow, this is Miss Scraps Patches; Scraps, this is the Scarecrow. Scarecrow – Scraps; Scraps – Scarecrow.”

They both bowed with much dignity.

“Forgive me for staring so rudely,” said the Scarecrow, “but you are the most beautiful sight my eyes have ever beheld.”

“That is a high complement from one who is himself so beautiful,” murmured Scraps, casting down her suspender-button eyes by lowering her head.

Ojo’s arrest shocks everyone in Oz because there is no crime there and no previous offenders. He is detained but his prison is pleasant and comfortable. His jailer tells him the treatment is kind because “otherwise he would become hard and bitter and would not be sorry he had done wrong.” The idea is to make the prisoners strong and brave so they are good and loyal citizens upon release. This explanation softens Ojo’s anger (which was born out of fear for his uncle) and he is receptive to Ozma’s wisdom and compassion when he is put on trial before her. The Patchwork Girl does not have a heart (real or otherwise) but she has some loyalty or fellow-feeling to Ojo so hides his six-leaved clover and cheerfully lies on his behalf. No one is impressed but she is not punished for her insolence to Ozma.  I suppose they think she doesn't know any better.

This is not the most satisfying installment of the Oz books as the new characters are annoying (and I didn’t even mention the phonograph!), Baum's tone is lecturing, and the random/quirky creatures encountered by our adventurers seem to exist just to fill up chapters (none of them impressed me enough to mention, which tells its own story). As a sometime quilter, I can appreciate Scraps but, in my opinion, she is practically charmless. 

The Patchwork Girl of Oz is this month’s Ozathon entry for Lory at Entering the Enchanted Castle and Deb at The Bookstop.  There was also a silent movie in 1914, based on the book and created by Baum's own film company, but it was not successful.

Source: Library