Just So Stories

Penguin

July 2024

RRP: $12.99

Yarn Quest 1: The Search for the Story Realm

ISBN: 9781761345227

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This is an exciting new series that has evolved from a highly-successful First Nations led children’s podcast, incorporating stories written by the Awesome Black team. Author Brooke Scobie is, herself, a queer, auDHD, First Nations author, and this has shaped her as “passionate about creating stories and worlds where weird, wonderful kids of all shapes and sizes can see themselves in magical places on extraordinary adventures”.

The series kicks off with readers meeting Tane and Sibyl (characters based on real-life kids), their friendship and their discovery of a ‘story spirit’ who has been long trapped away from her home and her parents.

Fable is a quirky and somewhat mischievous spirit but is fast losing her entire energy because of her interminable exile from her homeland in the story realm. There is allegory here of the destruction of bush and the natural environment, as well as the invasion and the impact that this had on Country and all it encompassed.

Tane has stories to tell but has trouble formulating them and this causes him great anxiety at school. He also struggles to separate story from untruth and this adventure enables him to see that distinction and to be able to conclude a story successfully. Jade Goodwin (whose work is always great) adds some real interest with her intermittent illustrations.

While it is a relatively easy read there are some interesting themes and layers that could be unpacked in teaching environments. There are already two more in the series as below and this is going to be an excellent addition to any collection, particularly to enable First Nations jarjums to see themselves reflected fantasy adventures. Definitely a deadly 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating.