Just So Stories

Walker Books

Imprint: Walker Books Australia

February 2026

_{ISBN13:9781760659936}

_{Australia RRP:$17.99}

_{New Zealand RRP:$19.99}

Kate Foster has become such a leading light in middle grade novels featuring neuro-diverse characters. In this, she brings her own personal experience, so always there is such authenticity and such wonderful voice. With this new series she hooks into the ever-popular mystery genre, and more especially, kid investigators which will have great appeal for such a wide readership.

Along with that, this new narrative also has a strong family theme and, in particular, the connection between quirky grandchild and equally quirky grandmother. Freddie Jones is autistic and quite matter-of-fact about that. He is very self-aware and is generally able to self-regulate. His great asset in this is Hobnob, his assistance dog. 

It’s a very exciting time for Freddie as he is about to go on his first holiday ever. This time his  parents, who are trouble-shooters for hotels and resorts, are taking both Freddie and Grandma Lilly with them on their new job. And they couldn’t be choosing a more desirable holiday destination. Far North Queensland and the Daintree Rainforest is a drawcard for many. Freddie cannot wait to see the wildlife and is really hoping to at least catch a glimpse of a cassowary. 

With his parents busy trying to solve the mystery of strange, fast-growing trees appearing in random places all over the resort, Freddie and Grandma Lilly conspire to do their own style of investigations. This often has humorous results as Lilly’s modus operandi is often spectacularly unusual to say the least.

The pair of amateur sleuths begins to piece together some seemingly random pieces of information: fast-growing trees, stinky black stuff at their base along with a fruit farmer who appears to be producing extraordinary fruit while his neighbour is complaining loudly about her horses acting up after eating some of the windfalls. Then there’s the flashes of yellow eyes at night, as well as speeding movement through the forest.  The excitable group of cassowary enthusiasts are also a bit baffled about the recent behaviours of the local giant birds.

It’s all very confusing and worrying. But while Freddie’s autism means some triggers and stresses for him, it is also a strength in his ability to note facts, and make connections between apparently unrelated events.  It all adds up to one rather extraordinary first-time holiday and Freddie has plenty of photos, diary entries and anecdotes with which to recall the adventure when it comes to an end. Of course, as well as all the detective work, Freddie is thrilled by boat rides, crocodiles, Ulysses butterflies [all some of my favourite things about the Daintree as well].

This is a hugely entertaining read for your middle-graders and one that will also provide excellent insight into autism as it is for one individual. The second instalment will be out in September, so readers of this first will be happy to know that as well. There is a discussion guide to use for a keen book group and a chapter sampler available, which would be great for sharing for First Chapter Fridays or similar. I confidently predict that your readers from Year 3 to Year 6 will be instant Freddie fans. It gets a tropical vibe 5 🌴🦋🌿🐊🍃rating from me.