Noted as L. Frank Baum's personal favorite of the Oz novels, The Scarecrow of Oz is one of only two books in the series to feature a romantic element in the plot. This romance between Gloria and Pon has been attributed by critics as one of the reasons for the book's limited success in the series as it may have conflicted with audiences' expectations of the books. This novel was also the last to feature the journey of an American child into the land of Oz. Perhaps advised by his publishers after the decrease in sales for this ninth volume, Baum never included another child in his Oz series again.
