Just So Stories

Allen & Unwin

October 2023

ISBN:9781761067570

Publisher:A&U Children’s

Imprint:A & U Children

RRP: $22.99

Confession: this was the first Kingdoms and Empires book I’ve read 😳 but in my defence, this series has been so very popular with the readers in my libraries, that they were never on the shelf long enough for me to grab one. How very happy I am, that I finally had the chance to savour the deliciously quirky magic at last. And I can confirm that I absolutely see why my kiddos are so besotted.

This is magic of a different sort for one thing. No flashy sparks flying or potions brewing, this is a quieter sort of magic, the kind that one associates with nature (or is that just me?). I know, even without reading the earlier ones, that this is another chapter in the story of the Mettlestones and this time, involves a little girl with the unlikely name of Lillian Velvet.

Lillian has been raised by an uncompromising grandmother, with no affection, no physical contact and, without even the use of her own name. She is referred to as ‘Child’. She is perfectly well-cared for with adequate food, clothing and education but not allowed to go to school or even leave the house, except into her own backyard. While her grandmother goes out daily to work, Lillian works on her homeschooling, does her chores and practises piano. On her 10th birthday, the pattern of a lifetime is broken, when her grandmother gives her a present. Admittedly it’s a strange sort of present – a pickle jar filled with gold coins, along with a note saying ‘don’t go out, don’t open the door to anyone – and don’t spend all your coins at once’. It’s baffling to Lillia, to say the least.

It doesn’t take long for things to start happening. Lillian is ‘shoved’ into a completely different world, repeatedly and meets all sorts of people, and helps with all kinds of problems, and each time it costs some of her gold coins.

There seems to be no rhyme or reason to these visits, but gradually, bit by bit, like the pieces of a puzzle closing in on a complete picture, the whole impossible secret is revealed, changing not just Lillian’s life forever more, but also that of her new friends.

It is complex and intricate in its plot, and certainly I have kiddos as young as ten reading this series and lapping it up. But I would say they are my keenest and most astute readers. They also have excellent reading stamina because at over 500 pages, even some adults I know baulk at the commitment.

Along with the sparky narrative and intriguing twists, I love the illustrations which are (to me) a combination of comics and naive European folk art. There are strong themes here of kindness, compassion, altruism and self-discovery. It takes Lillian a long time to realise she is worthy of being loved, but when it comes to the glorious conclusion, you want to cheer for her.

If you have readers who are new to this series, there is no reason why they cannot start on this one, as they will easily pick up on flow-on from previous, and I would almost certainly guarantee, they will then go back to the start and read them all.

I think this is a superlative fantasy with and agree with the publishers’ call that readers from 10 to 14 will be the most enthusiastic to grab hold of it. I would recommend it very highly to you. At this length, it is probably too long for most classroom read-alouds but you may well find the teaching notes of some interest.