Just So Stories

New South Press

9781742237800 / November 2025 / RRP $34.99

This is one of the rare reviews that I’m writing before I’ve actually finished reading the book – simply because it fits so neatly with the earlier post and the lovely kids’ non-fiction book. I confess that this is really slack, particularly because I had this book as an ARC and now have it as a release copy – and still haven’t finished it. My only defense is that it is though it is actually quite brief in size (actual text less than 100 and another 60ish of backmatter), the print is very tiny so there’s a lot packed into it. I’ve picked it up and perused a chapter at a time, but it took me a while to get even that far.

But trust me on this, it’s not due to any lack of truly excellent writing or absorbing information. I am finding out a lot that I didn’t know about Antarctica – well, basically, I knew about as much as the kids do and have read several bios or non-fiction on some of the explorers. But there is just SO much to discover.

And breaking with any protocol I’ve ever had, I read the last chapter first [come on, it’s not like it’s a murder mystery and I was cheating on working out the culprit!]. How could I resist a chapter called Leviathan? Especially when the whale season has not long finished here, and particularly given my family’s connection with Eden and Twofold Bay.

Author Joy McCann has drawn on history, science, personal accounts, explorers’ records and more to provide an all-encompassing broad and deep insight into the frozen south. The other chapter I’ve very much enjoyed thus far is the second, “Plateau”, with particular reference to the importance of the glaciers, declaring these the ‘lifeblood’ of Antarctica, and the snippets from Shackelton’s 1908 expedition. One can only wonder at the bravery of these early polar explorers, especially when we consider the lack of modern technology, equipment and even clothing.

Are you looking for a gift for an astute reader in your family? I know that had my Father Bear been alive, he would have revelled in this- exactly the kind of non-fiction he enjoyed greatly with it’s mix of history and contemporary accounts, science and adventure. You may have someone similar in your circle or perhaps just interested yourself. I also think I would have had some senior students, and, dare I say, particularly boys who would enjoy this [and not be bothered one whit that the print is quite small!]. Although I still have two chapters to go, I can confidently give this a 5 🐋🪨🐧❄️🥶rating for keen readers of non-fiction and the South Pole.