Just So Stories

Harper Collins Australia

June 2023

• ISBN: 9781460763445
• ISBN 10: 1460763440
• Imprint: HarperCollins AU
• RRP: $16.99

Yesterday, I did a relief day with Preppies. I hadn’t intended to work as I was a bit ache-y, combination of arthritis with the colder weather and possibly, the covid booster but after knocking back four offers, I took the fifth because a) private school I’d never visited b) the poor deputy sounded in real need and c) I could have taken my pick of four different grade levels. Why do I mention this at the start of a review you wonder? Because I came home pretty well whacked, and found this in my book parcel and despite my exhaustion, read half of it last night (forced myself to stop) and finished it off resting on my bed this afternoon.

Yes, it is THAT good!

When I reviewed Ming & Flo Fight for the Future it was my certain belief, that this series would be well received by both educators and readers, and that has certainly been the case. Jackie’s great skill in creating authenticity in both characters and settings in her historical fiction continues to draw readers in, enabling them to become spectators in whichever scenario they find themselves. Additionally, her talent for uncovering and fleshing out little-known historical information always fascinates.

In this instance, much to Ming’s surprise, a rather ungainly German girl and a sheep are the ones to change the course of events. When Herstory comes visiting again with the offer of another adventure to the past, Ming is keen but not so much that she wants to risk danger and near-death again, and is happy to have a promise of “safe and comfortable” for this new excursion to former days.

When Ming opens her eyes and thinks, at first, she’s on a sinking ship, she panics but quickly recovers composure and realises that it is just the rolling of an old-fashioned sailing ship. But who is she? Her cabin smells of sailing ship (as well as sweat and rats), but she appears to have luxury personal items. And, then there is Hilde, a much older girl with broken English who is, it appears, acting as Hilde’s maid in return for lessons in English, when she is not crooning calming words to a very impressive looking ram.

Ming’s travel in time has transported her to the young but fast-growing “gentleman’s colony” of Adelaide/South Australia, and to a wealthy widower who has engaged his old friend’s orphaned daughter as governess for his little son. It soon becomes apparent that Ming is also being sized up as a new wife, and that Hilde is about to teach the master and his men, just how proper sheep breeding, shearing and care is done.

The history of the contribution of Saxony sheep and the women who were expert in their care was well-known at the time, but pretty much completely obliterated when the Great War provoked so much antipathy to all things German, that much was scrubbed from the archives. As a result, few would be aware that the long held “Australia rides on the sheep’s back” mantra (with which, I certainly grew up!) with the huge success and recognition of our wool industry globally, was largely down to these experts.

Many of the German – and often, Lutheran- immigrants to this country brought revolutionary methods in farming and husbandry to the new established colonies, and, to be honest, while I knew a little about this, having now worked at three different Lutheran schools, there is clearly a whole chasm of missing knowledge in my repository!!

As usual, Jackie has provided me with a veritable wormhole down which to explore about the ‘erased’ history of our German settlers. I’m no slouch when it comes to history (of certain periods) and shared a real interest in colonial history with my father but truly, Jackie always teaches me something new!

In addition to this hidden history, Jackie’s (well known) sensitivity for our dispossessed First Nations people, her passion for our razored landscapes and eradicated species (especially wombats!!), and her delight in highlighting the hitherto poorly (read NIL) represented achievements of ordinary women doing extraordinary things underpins the story of Hilde and the Saxon royal sheep.

What an amazing and inspirational narrative for our young readers – many of whom, let’s face it, have or are experiencing doubt, and a feeling of hopelessness in a future for themselves. As you can readily ascertain, once again I’m giving this the biggest thumbs up I can. I would be gobsmacked if you hadn’t already taken up this series for your readers but, just in case – get onto it without delay. Not only is this a fabulous historical series for keen kiddos but perfect for ‘read around your topic’ for readers from mid-primary to early secondary in HASS/History studies.

P.S. I had a lovely suprise when I finished reading this superb new book – as below!