The Runaway in Oz facts for kids
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| Author | John R. Neill |
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| Illustrator | Eric Shanower |
| Cover artist | Eric Shanower |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Oz Books |
| Genre | Fantasy |
| Publisher | Books of Wonder |
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Publication date
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1995 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 242 |
| ISBN | 978-0-929605-39-5 |
| OCLC | 34360375 |
| LC Class | PZ7.N4287 Ru 1995 |
The Runaway in Oz is an exciting Oz book written by John R. Neill, who was famous for drawing pictures for many Oz stories. He wrote this book in 1943, and it was supposed to be the 37th book in the popular Oz series. However, Mr. Neill passed away before he could finish editing it or draw all the pictures. Because of World War II, the publisher, Reilly & Lee, decided not to print it at that time.
Years later, in 1995, a special publisher called Books of Wonder finally released the book. Another artist, Eric Shanower, drew new pictures and helped finish the story. There's also a different version of the book that was printed privately, edited by Fred M. Meyer.
Contents
The Story of The Runaway in Oz
Scraps Runs Away
The story begins in the Emerald City, where a big ceremony is about to happen. Scraps the Patchwork Girl has been causing more trouble than usual. After arguments with Jellia Jamb and Jenny Jump, Scraps decides to run away. She uses her "spoolicle," which is like a bicycle made from thread spools!
First, Scraps visits Jinjur's farm in Munchkin Country. But Jinjur wants Scraps to work, so Scraps quickly leaves.
The Air Castle Adventure
Next, Scraps goes to Professor Wogglebug's Royal Athletic College. There, she meets Alexample, a very smart 12-year-old. They are amazed by a floating air castle that the Professor dreamed up for his vacation.
Accidentally, Scraps knocks the rope holding the air castle loose. The castle floats away with Alexample still holding on! Scraps quickly runs away from the angry Professor Wogglebug.
Meeting New Friends
Scraps then meets a magical Repairman. He fixes all the damage and stains she got from her adventures. Scraps wishes she could leave Oz entirely, but she doesn't know how to cross the dangerous Deadly Desert.
The Repairman tells her about a Weather Witch who lives on the highest mountain in Oz. This witch makes all the weather for Earth from her windmill. Scraps decides to ask the Weather Witch to blow her across the desert with a strong wind.
On her way to the mountain, Scraps meets Popla. Popla is described as "the one and only power plant...the most powerful plant in the world." She looks like a large bush with a beautiful young woman's face. Popla is tired of staying in one place and eagerly joins Scraps by transferring herself into a flowerpot. Popla's strength and cleverness become very helpful.
Despite strong winds, Scraps and Popla reach the top of the mountain. Fanny the Weather Witch agrees to help them cross the desert. But Scraps' clumsiness causes them to get stuck on a windmill blade, which throws them high into the sky!
The Search Party Begins
Meanwhile, Professor Wogglebug is stomping towards the Emerald City to complain to the Wizard about Scraps. He meets Jenny Jump and Jack Pumpkinhead, who are already looking for Scraps. The Professor decides to join them, hoping to find his air castle too. The story then switches between Scraps' adventures and the search party's journey.
Adventures in the Sky
Scraps and Popla land on a friendly cloud, which takes them to a nearby star. This star is like a special vehicle, controlled by Captain Batt, who is made of wires and electric parts. Of course, Scraps gets into a fight with him! She punches his button nose, which turns out to be his on-off switch.
With Captain Batt turned off, they meet the Twinkler, who maintains the star. Popla tries to fly the star, but she crashes it into the missing air castle! They find Alexample inside. They spend a few peaceful days there, meeting sky fairies, air sprites, and cloud sheep. Scraps and her friends even fight off some sky pirates!
Trouble Below and a Sooty Return
Things go badly for the search party on the ground. They get caught in a storm, and Jack Pumpkinhead loses his pumpkin head! Jenny and the Professor have to carry or drag his headless body. They wander into a magical orchard, where they face an army of rebellious quinces (a type of fruit).
By this time, the Professor's vacation week is over, and the air castle's magic runs out. It melts, cracks, and falls apart, sending its occupants tumbling down! They land right on the enchanted orchard, near the search party and the quince army. In a final battle, the quince soldiers shoot their sooty stems at Scraps and then all die. Scraps becomes so covered in soot that she tries to hide from everyone.
The others convince Scraps to return to the Emerald City, where she can be magically cleaned up. Scraps agrees, but she hides under a sheet as she walks through the city, like Ojo in The Patchwork Girl of Oz. This causes a panic because people think she's a ghost! But Ozma easily restores Scraps to normal using her Magic Belt. Popla and Alexample are welcomed into Ozma's ever-growing group of friends.
