The sequel that became a series. In 1904, Baum expanded his Oz universe with a story stranger and more subversive than the first. Meet Tip, a boy who escapes his guardian - the unscrupulous witch Mombi - by building Jack Pumpkinhead, a man with a vegetable head brought to life through magical powder. They journey to the Emerald City, now ruled by the Scarecrow, only to find his kingdom under siege by General Jinjur and her army of rebellious girls seeking to overthrow him. What follows is a tale of magical mishaps and political upheaval that only Oz can deliver - where boys become princesses, pumpkins gain consciousness, and an army of women challenge the established order. The book introduced Princess Ozma to the series and contains one of the most delightful gender-bending twists in early children's literature. It is weird, whimsical, and surprisingly sharp about power and transformation.
