Just So Stories

Allen & Unwin

March 2025

ISBN:9781761180743

Imprint:A & U Children

RRP: $17.99

I love Anna Ciddor‘s historical time-slip adventures, and this newest one speaks to me even more because of personal connections. I was instantly transported back to First Form at St George Girls High School, and sitting with the rest of my cohort, squashed in like sardines, watching the live feed of the moon landing on one not-so-big-screen TV. Ironically, our librarian’s name was Miss Moon, and while she was a bit daffy at times, she was very kind to me because, of course, I was a library monitor [surely, you’re not surprised?!😂]. My Father Bear was as fascinated as the rest of my family, and bought me a newly published book not long after Eagle on the Moon, plus a Super 8 film of the ultimate space adventure so we could watch it again.

It’s not that Letty doesn’t love staying with her grandmother. The real problem is that since her grandfather has gone into the old folks’ home, she misses him – but not just his physical presence. Because Grampa has dementia. And Letty finds that scary and disturbing.

But when she discovers a box of mementos kept by her grandfather since childhood in the bottom drawer in his old bedroom, something completely unexpected happens. Letty pulls on an old football jersey she’s found in the box amongst the newspaper clippings all about the moon landing, and suddenly, she’s not alone.

A boy called Keith demands to know why she’s in his bedroom. Letty has travelled back to 1969 and is meeting her grandfather at the same age as she is in the present day. This is WEIRD! But it’s also a wonderful and thrilling adventure for Letty, who decides from now she will be known by her proper name, Charlotte, and discovers, that she is able to manipulate the past – but thankfully, in a good way [because we all know how horribly wrong events can unravel when you mess with time!].

Charlotte doesn’t just get to know a whole lot more about life back in the late 60s e.g. free warm compulsory milk at school, but also gets to know her extended family, and comes up with a great plan to give her Grampa a great birthday in the present day, as well as the one he has in his childhood, back when his nickname was Moonboy, because of his obsession with the space race. She also finds confidence in herself, and her new persona – as well as a new, and very genuine friend.

And that’s the other part that tugged at my heart. My darling Mummy, in her last years, who had been so robbed of her mind and in the nursing home as she needed full-time care was full in my mind as I read. I am so grateful she knew us right to the end, even when she knew nothing else.

Readers will be fascinated with Charlotte’s story. They will no doubt, have heard about the moon landing but with all the marvels of technology they see every day, it’s hard for them to grasp just how bedazzled we all were back then. And they will certainly be intrigued by Keith’s family, living behind their corner shop – all those lollies!!

This is not just historical fiction, nor time-slip adventure, it’s a warm and moving story about the connection between granddaughter and grandfather, and how the littlest reminder can trigger a whole big wonderful explosion of joy and love. Able readers from 9 years upwards will thoroughly enjoy this one and I happily give it an out-of-this-world 5 🌑🌑🌑🌑🌑rating. Watch an excerpt from the original footage.