Peter Brown (Oz) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Peter Brown |
|
|---|---|
| Oz character | |
| First appearance | The Gnome King of Oz (1927) |
| Created by | Ruth Plumly Thompson |
| Information | |
| Species | human |
| Gender | male |
| Nationality | American |
Peter Brown is an important character in the magical Land of Oz. He appears in several Oz books written by Ruth Plumly Thompson. She continued the exciting Oz series after the original author, L. Frank Baum, passed away.
Peter is the main hero in three of Thompson's books. These include The Gnome King of Oz (1927), Jack Pumpkinhead of Oz (1929), and Pirates in Oz (1931).
Contents
Peter Brown: A Hero from America
Peter Brown was the first boy from the United States to be the main hero in an Oz book. Before him, other boys like Button-Bright were only supporting characters. Peter is not just the main character, but he is also a true hero. His good actions and brave spirit help solve problems in the stories.
Peter's First Adventure
When Peter first appears in The Gnome King of Oz, he is nine years old. He lives in Philadelphia with his grandfather. Peter is like many characters in children's books who are orphans or seem to be.
His adventures in Oz give him chances to show how brave and loyal he is. He also learns to be independent. Unlike some younger characters, Peter makes a big difference in the stories.
At the end of The Gnome King of Oz, Peter gets a chance to become a prince in Oz. But he turns it down! He chooses to go back home because he is loyal to his friends and baseball team in Philadelphia. Peter even brings bags of gold home to his grandfather.
Peter's Personality
Peter has a relaxed and carefree attitude. In Jack Pumpkinhead of Oz, he calmly wonders if the Gnome King has caused more trouble. The Gnome King is one of the biggest villains in the Oz universe, but Peter doesn't seem too worried!
Peter's Age in the Books
In Pirates in Oz, Peter's age is a bit confusing. The book says he is eleven years old. However, it also mentions that five years have passed since The Gnome King of Oz. This would make Peter fourteen. It's possible the author meant four years in Oz, not on Earth.
Boys as Heroes
Ruth Plumly Thompson often preferred to write about boy heroes. This was different from L. Frank Baum, who usually focused on girl characters. Baum's main characters included Dorothy Gale, Princess Ozma, and Trot. Peter Brown is the most famous of Thompson's boy heroes.
