Just So Stories

Penguin Australia

August 2025

• ISBN: 9781761345890
• Imprint: Penguin
• RRP: $17.99

I’m guessing there would be some who have NOT heard of Caleb Finn – but that’s very likely not any of your readers or indeed anyone under the age of 25 at least. From his early days on TikTok his popularity has soared as an iconic purveyor of short horror stories – as well as wacky dress-ups – becoming Australia’s most widely followed social media content creative. His reach is something like 17 million followers worldwide. Kind of hard to imagine him as an early childhood teacher as he once was, but I’m guessing that makes him a pretty cool dad actually.

Anyway, to the book. It’s being touted as 14+ plus but I’m suggesting that younger, and discerning mature-minded readers not easily spooked, would just as easily handle it – and love it.

I’m no horror fan, as I’ve previously mentioned, but I enjoyed this for its similarity in one way to The X-Files vibe [anyone else a fan there?]. The format is that of after a containment of Anomaly-8281 and the reinstatement of former employee (YOU, the reader) there are some anomaly incidents from a town called Pleasantville which still need to be processed, assessed and ratified. So, over the course of 15 short stories each one accompanied by a profile/report, the reader is invited to assess and digest the contents.

Actually, I found it quite fun. I mean, I wouldn’t think it’s fun to wake up with some of my body parts missing while a hideous mould takes over my physical form and replicates my whole persona and appearance. And I sure as hell have enough dealing with my own local shopping centre without the trauma of the Stay’N’Spend complex fiasco. But I did enjoy it, despite it not being my personal preference in genre.

This is another one that The Kid has pounced on [because it really IS her genre!] so I think it would still appeal to your older readers, all the way through secondary but, with due caution (and there is a disclaimer for guidance), I would allow my upper primary kids to try it out. I’m giving it a 5 😱😱😱😱😱rating for those kiddos who are not afraid of the dark – or other creepiness – from around 12/13 upwards.