Under the pen name "Edith Van Dyne," Wizard of Oz author L. Frank Baum created the memorable character Mary Louise, a spirited teenager with a knack for solving mysteries and righting injustices. In Mary Louise and the Liberty Girls, the heroine and her chums contribute to the war effort.

Set during WWI, ‘Mary Louise and the Liberty Girls’ is the fourth book in the popular children’s series by ‘Oz’ author L. Frank Baum. Mary Louise and her friends decide to form a group to help raise money for the war effort, calling themselves the Liberty Girls. When the group hears about anti-war sentiment being spread in the town, they task themselves with discovering whether it comes from a spy hidden in their midst. Lyman Frank Baum (1856 – 1919) was a prolific and well-known American writer. He is best known for his famous series of modern fairy tales set in the imaginary land of Oz. The first of the books, ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ is widely considered to be the first true American fairy tale and was the basis for the hugely popular 1939 classic musical ‘The Wizard of Oz’ starring Judy Garland. Born and raised in New York, Baum held a range of jobs including as a poultry farmer, clerk, and storekeeper before pursuing his talent for writing at the age of 41. He wrote 14 novels in the Oz series, as well as over 40 other novels and over 80 short stories. He died in California in 1919.

Book Excerpt: ...hem with scorn and opprobrium, which they'll richly deserve if they hang on till it comes to that. If the threats don't make 'em buy, we'll cry--and every tear will sell a bond!"The Colonel stirred his coffee thoughtfully."You might try it," he suggested. "I've read that in some cities the Boy Scouts have been successful in placing the bonds. It's an honorable undertaking, in any event, but--I hope you will meet with no insults.""If that rank pro-German, Jake Kasker, will buy bonds, there isn't a man in Dorfield who can give a logical excuse for not doing likewise," declared Mary Louise. "I'm going to use Kasker to shame the rest of them. But, before I undertake this job, I shall make a condition, Gran'pa. You must stay quietly at home while we girls do the work.""Oh, I could not do that, Mary Louise.""You're not fit to leave the house. Will you try my plan for one day--just for to-day.""I'll think it over, dear," he said, rising.She assisted him to the...

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