Just So Stories

Allen & Unwin

August 2023

ISBN:9781761068492

Publisher:A&U Children’s

Imprint:A & U Children

RRP: $17.99

In the ‘unprecedented times‘ of Covid, particularly in that first year or so, there was a seismic shift in the behaviours, attitudes and priorities of many people – and not solely for fear of infection. Undeniably there were folk who found the isolation traumatic and difficult, for very good reasons in most cases, but there were also a plethora of people who welcomed the chance to step aside from the hurlyburly of 21st century life and reclaim some serenity, creativity and ingenuity for themselves.

Aside from all those re-discovering the joy of growing fresh food, making/crafting, slower pursuits such as puzzles or reading (!!), I have been extremely interested in the number of creators, including quite a number in my own circle who found their mandated isolation a conduit for some superlative creativity – often with far more different results than their previous offerings.

In this new novel, master storyteller Wendy Orr explores the idea of the children,and families, who have experienced the isolation imposed by events such as the pandemic,and its impact on them, in a narrative that is tender, winsome and adventurous.

When Honey is four and her little brother still a baby, her parents and grandmother take the family away from both the terrible sickness raging across the world, and a society that is unravelling. They load up their converted ice-cream van/camper, and high in the mountains, they cross a bridge and follow a herd of horses into a secluded valley. As soon as they’ve crossed the river, the bridge disappears, but they are unconcerned, the valley has everything they need to be self-sufficient, and for the next seven years that is exactly what they do. Though they have solar power to keep their phones charged, there are no messages received throughout the entirety of their seclusion, and the narrative is punctuated by anxious texts and emails from, and between, family and friends that are never received in the valley.

The horses in the valley are mysterious and almost magical, and for Honey and Rumi, their connection with two of these is a strong bond of telepathy and unconditional love, and a joy and a privilege throughout their sojourn. The family’s self-imposed exile appears at first to be by choice, but as time goes on and it becomes clear that the valley is not prepared to let them go, the adults begin to question their choice. Though they are fearful that there is no life left outside their magical valley, there is still a longing for missed family and friends.

Then Honey’s dad falls dangerously ill, more than a first aid kit and a smattering of knowledge can fix. The family know he needs a doctor, and Honey is sure in her heart that there are still people outside the valley. It takes all her courage and resourcefulness, and the help of her special horse friend, Moongold, to find the way out of the valley and into the big, wide world beyond.

Honey’s complete ignorance of anything outside the valley, beyond the scanty information gleaned from her adults and a few books they had with them is worrying, but thankfully she comes to no real grief.

This is just a beautiful exploration of family relationships and values, and an examination of what is important in life, and certainly a wonderful reflection on how, for many of us, covid changed the way we view our world, our circle, our needs and our wants.

Any reader with an active and thoughful attitude will love this beautiful story and I highly recommend it to you for kiddos from around 10 years upwards. Stay posted as well for a Q&A with Wendy Orr.

****Update: I’ve just added a few ideas for classroom activities on the Freebies page.