Just So Stories

the story of an extraordinary friendship

Harper Collins Australia

ISBN: 9780008658588

ISBN 10: 0008658587

Imprint: HarperCollins GB

RRP: $17.99

This one I will say was at times, a bit too close to the bone for me. That being said, it is truly a special book that will touch the hearts of sophisticated primary readers and, I would suggest, also bring a tear or two to their eyes.

Rhys lives with his Mam in Wales, with his much-loved grandparents close by. He has not seen his father since he was about four, and Dad lives in London with a new wife and a new baby. Rhys’ mum is a school librarian (Yayy!) but is also gravely ill (Noooooooo!) and things are not looking good at all.

When Rhys visits her in the hospital where she has been for some time now, while his father has come from London in case of the worst scenario, he is mystified but also very excited to see a black Labrador under his Mam’s bed. How can this be? Is it someone’s assistance dog? Why else would a dog be in a hospital? But when he goes to leave, the dog has slipped away and is nowhere to be found.

Rhys would love a dog of his own but he’s also worried about this one so the next day he rings the hospital to talk to the nurse who now knows him, and asks her to look out for the dog. The nurse is as baffled as he is. Imagine the boy’s surprise when he finds the same dog as if it’s been waiting for him. He hides it in his den, which used be the garden shed, and hopes that no one will claim the dog and he can keep it.

Then things go completely awry. HIs mum dies. His father, after a tug-of-war with the grandparents, takes Rhys to London. And here it is that Rhys has to not only deal with his grief but also homesickness, a new family, new school and making friends. The only thing that sustains him is the hidden dog, Worthington – his own special friend and comfort. He just doesn’t understand why the dog doesn’t want to eat anything or why he sometimes just disappears.

Just as Rhy is starting to settle a little, there is more drama. This time when his stepmother is not well, and there is a huge schism in his new friendships, and Rhys is caught in a complete web of deceit.

When Worthington disappears utterly after some harsh words from Rhys, the boy thinks he must have made his way back to Wales. And really, that’s where he wants to be as well. Rhys’ running away is fraught with tension but when his frantic father finally finds him, there is a conciliation that proves the solid foundation of a new start, a newfound family, still with the loving memory of his mam and a dog who appeared to him as saviour at exactly the right time.

It is both moving and dramatic. It touched my heart as it was so close in many ways to the scenario when we lost The Kid’s mum, and the absent father who tried to take her over (and failed). But the ending is sweet without being saccharine and children, especially those in blended families, no matter what the reason will find much that resonates. I give it a solid 5 🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶 rating for readers from around 10/11 years upwards to even Year 7/8.