Just So Stories

Penguin Australia

• ISBN: 9781760148515
• Imprint: Puffin
• RRP: $16.99

This is often a very funny book. This is often a very moving book. I ate it up in one sitting because Jimmy’s story is one that demands to be read.

Jimmy is not so good with school stuff, and he has a kind of innocence in his thinking that completely reminds me of The Kid when she was younger. He is surprised when his mum’s friend Mrs Jessop drives them away for a holiday – at night, with both he and Mum curled up on the back seat – but accepts the ‘secret camping’ explanation. Mrs J leaves the pair in a little house with enough food to savour and be comfortable, with magpies warbling in the garden and happy yellow curtains.

But this holiday only lasts until Jimmy’s dad turns up on the doorstep, drunk and violent, giving his mum a black eye to go with her hurt arm. When Jimmy realises what’s happening, and gives his father the biggest hit he can serve up, and, as a result, vomits over his shoes – the despicable excuse of a man leaves. And so do Jimmy and Mum – Jimmy takes charge, packs their things and finds the bus stop – off to find a safer spot. Mungo Hill, at the end of three bus journeys, is remote and quiet and no one knows them – especially with a change of name and hair colour.

But even so, it’s still a tough road for Jimmy. His new teacher is lovely, so is Debby, his new friend, but there is still bad-at-school brain to deal with, and a bully named Duke. Then Mum stops going to her new job, and stays in bed, won’t eat and doesn’t seem to care about Jimmy eating either. The only bright spot is meeting crusty old Mac, and Elvis. Jimmy’s resilience, ingenuity and determination is so heart-warming that no reader can fail to be moved by it. His love and fierce protection of his mum is the key to his strength, even when there is no food in the fridge and no money to buy it.

We all know someone who has been touched by domestic violence – some of us with first-hand experience – and it is an excalating and shaming blight in our country. For those fleeing it, often with nothing but the clothes in which they stand, it can be a degrading and frightening experience, and children are inevitably caught up in it.

So while I think this is a terrific novel to share, to talk about, to learn from – please be cautious about the triggers it might have for kiddos in your care. It was so easy to fall in love with Jimmy, his mum and their new-found circle of friends-who-become-family. The themes threaded throughout of family, resilience, mental health/depression, learning difficulties, bullying, friendship and generosity of spirit will give rise to many fruitful conversations.

Highly recommended for readers from around ten years upwards (in my libraries it would have a disclaimer inside the cover to warn of potential triggers).