Just So Stories

Walker Australia

February 2024

Imprint:Walker Books

ISBN13:9781529506112

Australia RRP:$18.99

New Zealand RRP:$21.99

I have loved this series – I guess, firstly, because I’m a bird nerd – but also because the whole friendship aspect, and the teamwork of this bunch of kids working together, each to their own strengths, has been a joy.

Although I still say it is very English, in the sense that I can’t really imagine a bunch of Aussie kids creating their own secret birdhide and swearing to protect the birds in their environs – individuals, yes, but a Twitchers club, not so much, it would still have enormous appeal for our kids.

This is the final in the series and the Twitchers find themselves embroiled in not only a significant theft, but on the trail of a gang of dangerous museum/rare artefact thieves, who are both ruthless and, in one instance at least, murderers.

When Ava is visiting a natural history museum with her class as an end-of-term excursion, she happens to witness what turns out to be a daring and well-executed robbery of rare, vintage bird ‘skins’ – presumably for the value of their feathers. Clues include her sighting of a raven, and a strange girl waiting in a bus stop opposite the museum.

Naturally, the Twitchers are straight onto this, not only because of their keen detective history but because it involves rare and historically important avian specimens. Saving Rae and Caliban becomes as important a mission as solving the crime for these intrepid youngsters. I love the compassion and empathy – as well as the sense of justice – in these narratives, and I believe that young readers will also appreciate this.

It would be a superb series to kick off with Book #1 and let them loose on the rest of their own volition, so would make a great read-aloud. If you chose to, you could time it for the great Aussie Bird Count later in the year, and encourage your kiddos to take part. I know in my first year of teaching we did this in rural Queensland (I think back then, it was something the Courier-Mail put up??) and my Year 5 kids, both farm and town, loved sharing their spotting and tallies.

I’d highly recommend this series for your readers from around Year 4 upwards. While not strictly necessary to start from the first, it would be helpful for knowing the various characters and background to their group.