Just So Stories

Penguin Australia

October 2025

• ISBN: 9781761349416
• RRP: $16.99

Officially, my blog break doesn’t finish until the weekend but how can I resist posting this one immediately, after gobbling it up over two nights! I was very excited to be back in France with Jet, Louis and Gabriel in another adventure.

There is an exciting opening event as the Mona Lisa is restored to her rightful place in the Louvre. Jet and Gabriel, who have been lauded far and wide for their part in the rescue of not just this precious artwork but many others, are thrilled to be acknowledged and honoured by the global art community and museums. They are also completely gobsmacked to be awarded an eye-watering amount of money as reward.

But it’s not all accolades and applause, as news breaks of the escape from custody of arch-nemesis Anastasia, who has sworn revenge on the two for their part in her downfall. But both teens and their families try to put the thought of any possible danger out of their minds, with the assurances of the gendarmerie, as they get on with enjoying Paris and then moving on with their respective plans.

Jet is super excited to be expecting the arrival of her bestie, Harriet, and she has finally told Gabriel about her ghost-friend, Louis, former Dauphin of France. Gabriel is pretty astounded, but also fascinated, about this piece of news, especially when he gets to meet Louis and another ghost, who was formerly in the royal employ of Marie Antoinette. Their visit to Versailles is a huge excitement for them all, in more ways than one.

When Harriet arrives, she finds it much more difficult to ‘see’ Louis but the Four Musketeers continue their group adventures, exploring the caves on the now abandoned neighbouring chateau – until some highly suspicious characters move in, plus those who have been lurking on the periphery of Jet’s sight.

And then, there’s Jet’s amazing discovery about her mum’s parentage – what a surprise is in store for readers there. A really neat plot twist!

For many readers, the greatest delight will be the burgeoning romance between Jet and Gabriel, including their first tentative kiss [yes, spoiler alert there!].

For some, it makes us long to be experiencing that whole French vibe [closest I get will be a croissant from the local bakery!] but fortunately we can all, both young and old, enjoy France vicariously with the vivid descriptions which certainly deepen the plot, especially via (again) the epistolary inserts of letters and diary entries.

Yet again, Jacqueline has woven a narrative that hits the sweet spot perfectly for her audience. With the generous mix of adventure, danger, intrigue, humour, family and friend relationships, romance and history – what’s not to love about this series?

Another great cover from Rebecca King is the icing on the cake. You will need more than one copy, I can assure you know, so get your orders in before your B.M. closes down your budget!!! It’s a must-have!

I personally really love the way this has bridged that gap from middle grade to new young adult with the slightly more ‘grown up’ concepts. Wonderful work, Jacqueline!

You know it’s a tres bien chefs’ kiss 5 🥖🥨🥐 🗼⚜ rating all the way for your readers from around Year 5 onwards.