Review: The Flight to Oz: Book II: Anusha of Oz

Note: The following review is non-naughty. Viewer discretion not required.

            JW Krych continued where he left off in Book I: Arrival and not only brings us back to Oz in Book II: Anusha of Oz, but also reaches out to familiar lands from Baum’s canon. We still have 21st Century gadgets, subtle pop culture references, and Bungle the cat, but now we uncover a new threat to Oz now that the Magic Barrier is gone.

            In this new volume, it has been only a few weeks since the end of Arrival and Oz is still recovering from the devastation left by the Evilons. On top of that, the citizens of the Emerald City and the cast of characters alike are adjusting to the new changes around them. Ozma has limited her magic use to only the most serious of issues, which has divided her subjects. Jonathan and David are still getting used to their new positions as generals in Ozma’s military, and Trot and Betsy are adjusting to married life to their respective husbands.

            While there are bumps in the road, these are smoothed over and they continue to make improvements. It’s a realistic approach to problem-solving that we don’t see in the tradition Oz canon; given this is a book written for adults, which works in its favor. As if these new changes to the kingdom aren’t enough, new surprises are revealed. Trot and David discover new abilities that they possess, Cap’n Bill and the Starling Queen have a long-kept secret, and Jonathan and Betsy decide they are ready to start a family.

            While at first, they are unable to conceive, the answer to Jonathan and Betsy’s wish comes in the form of baby Anusha, rescued by Lurline from the world of men, specifically India. As they raise her, with the help of their young friend Tina, they discover along with her magical ability to grow up rapidly, she also has Asperger’s Syndrome, a high-functioning form of Autism. However, Anusha’s autism is in no way portrayed as a handicap in this book, but instead as a powerful ability worthy of Oz and aids her friends and family in their adventures in Oz and beyond.

            As in the last book, the themes in this volume revolve around love. However, instead of romantic love, the focus is on the love from friends and family and is portrayed in numerous forms.

            Betsy and Jonathan can be seen as relatable to many couples who are incapable of having children and desire them. Like many of those real-life couples, they turn to adoption. Despite not being biologically related to their adopted daughter, they prove that you don’t have to give birth to your children to be a real parent. This is a new form of the reoccurring theme in many Oz books concerning how you don't have to be related to be a family.

            The love of friendship is also represented heavily as relationships are seen to progress during happy times and sad times. Jonathan finds friendship and comradery with Ixian veterans of an 85-year war. He also bonds with his newly formed team in the Oz Research Corp and their loyalty is proven time and time again throughout the narrative. Ozma finds comfort in David and Trot and learns to see Dorothy, her beloved companion, as her equal. We also see the effects of what happens when we push others away and refuse to seek comfort in our companions. Both the Wogglebug and a citizen of Ix depict the negative outcomes.

            Another major theme that we see throughout the story is the depiction of the Autism Spectrum. It is expected in every Oz book to meet beings with magical abilities different from our own such as people made of puzzle pieces or a boy with 20 legs. This book is no different except for the fact that our unique individual hails not from Oz, but from Earth. Anusha has Asperger’s and even though she becomes over-stimulated by loud noises and is prone to panic attacks, she can memorize complex patterns and master kinds of math that I’ve never even heard of (I took Calculus in high school and Physics in college, trust me). Her Asperger’s is valued by her parents and by Ozma. I applaud Krych in his depiction of this disorder because for one, he doesn’t even refer to it as a disorder, and two, it is the most positive depiction of any form of Autism I have ever seen. Not only does the audience get to witness the struggles that the parents of special needs children go through, but they also get to see what joys it can bring.

            Once again, JW Krych has brought us a fantastic science fiction-influenced Oz novel filled with familiar Oz magic and realistic emotion, humor, and drama. The charm from his first volume shines just as bright in this volume and the cliffhanger at the end will make you tear your hair out as you wait for Book: III to come out.