Just So Stories

Bloomsbury

May 2023

ISBN	9781526653925
Imprint	Bloomsbury Children’s Books

I had missed release info on this one, but as soon as I found out about it, I especially requested it (thank you Bloomsbury!) because I have been in love with Brian Conaghan’s writing since Cardboard Cowboys (do yourself a favour and read it!). This is every bit as good and readers from upper primary to lower secondary will not only enjoy it but many, I’m sure will relate to one or more of the themes.

Anna and Anto (Anthony) are twins and like two peas in a pod, despite being non-identical, not just by gender, but also neuro-typical/neuro-diverse. Just because Anto doesn’t speak, instead using his Lego bricks to communicate, and carries around a coathanger like it is a precious friend, doesn’t stop these two being best of friends.

So when it seems like their parents are going to split up, Anna is aghast, and terribly concerned that she and Anto will be split up, after overhearing fragments of the arguments that are raging. When Anna finds out she and her mates will be going to Italy for a dance competition, she comes up with a brilliant plan to reshape her fractured family. A exotic and exciting holiday will work wonders she thinks.

But then she finds out exactly why her parents are splitting up,and her entire world starts to crumble. Then Anto goes missing, and everyone and everything is in uproar. Despite all the turmoil, Anna is able to reconcile her feelings about change, as well as supporting Anto. After all ‘that’s the thing about families as well, you might be in separate places, doing separate things, having separate experiences, but you’ll never be able to chop down that family tree. You can’t hack away their love.‘

It’s a fabulous read, and I think there would be a lot of kiddos who would only too easily be able to make connections. In spite of the quite serious themes, there is also plenty of humour to leaven the seriousness, and Anna and Anto’s relationship is so special and endearing that many will be moved by its tenderness.

Highly recommended for readers from around Year 5 upwards. I so look forward to more from this author.