Just So Stories

Allen & Unwin

September 2024

ISBN: 9781761180552

Publisher: A&U Children’s

Imprint: Albert Street Books

RRP: $16.99

I can never resist a good mouse hero – Matthias of Redwall, Mrs Frisby, Desperaux, Hermelin the Detective Mouse, William Brambleberry, Stuart Little, Hermux Tantamoqor [Time Stops for No Mouse] or Herbert from The Book of Wondrous Possibilities. All of these and more are dear to my heart which has always leaned towards to the rodentia order.

And now, here comes Bravepaw – not only a mousekin but out of all the above (and others) the only doe mouse hero aside from Mrs Frisby. And she is adorable.

Titch is a small mouseling with big dreams. She loves the old stories of Bravepaw the warrior mouse and yearns to make her own mark as a hero. Instead she’s safely on the Plateau herding pufflings. But all that changes swiftly when Prince Vetiver of the Gilded Vale crashes down in a glider, beset by fearsome curseworms. In the fracas that follows, Titch uses the Prince’s gem-set staff and somehow destroys all the worms.

As the Prince heals, and there is more danger with which to deal, it becomes apparent that Titch is the only one able to wield the Heartstone, the powerful gem set in the staff, and therefore, she is the first Bravepaw since Thistle Straightwhisker of the old tales.

What follows is an adventure like no other, as Titch and her loyal friend, Huckleberry, take on the responsiblity of getting the Heartstone to safety and thereby save Alluria. Despite many dangers including villains known as Grabbers and with the unexpected aid of a Eaglebear they befriend and a tiny puffling who is a pocket stowaway, the pair take on their mission with courage and determination.

From start to finish this was exciting and filled with great themes of loyalty, self-belief, good v evil, self-sacrifice and courage. Your younger readers will gobble up this fantasy adventure and be eager for the next instalment. Wonderful stuff and a 5 🐁🐁🐁🐁🐁 rating.