Mary Louise Solves a Mystery

"Mary Louise Solves a Mystery" by L. Frank Baum is a story set in the early 1900s, about a young girl named Alora, who is the only child of Mrs. Jones. The story explores themes of family, neglect, and finding oneself after her mother's sickness and passing. Alora tries to understand her relationship with her father, Jason Jones, who she doesn't know well. Alora is waiting for news about her mother's health, and we learn about Mrs. Jones' illness and her issues with her husband, who is an artist. The novel then shifts to Alora's complicated relationship with her father, setting up mysteries about her future.