Just So Stories

Text Publishing

April 2026

ISBN: 9781923058835

AU Price$16.99

NZ Price$21.00

In 2045 life is familiar but also not. If we think technology and AI is pervasive now, in the near-future that Emily Gale has conceived it’s inescapable, compulsory and deeply rooted within society.

Eddie’s world is one filled with ‘smart’ technology from the smart windows in his bedroom because there is no ‘outside’ view for him to the smart scales that can be used to tell everything about a person’s health and well-being to the mica – tiny AI bot in his ear, something that everyone has. He lives with his parents and older brother Jude, in what might appear to be a normal older house except that the entire row of these are now in a cavity underneath a huge new multi-occupancy building – hence no outside view and no sky view either – well, the backyard does have a skyview but it’s another artificial one.

And you would think given the level of surveillance over the entire city and even within homes, that the disappearance of a young boy would not be a mystery for long. But apparently, it is exactly that and then he’s listed as presumed dead.

Eddie doesn’t really know Theo, the missing kid, but Jude does and so do their friends, Kit and Romi. When Eddie and Kit find some clues in the last known location of Theo, the four start investigating on their own terms. But why does Eddie feel so strange after the dunk in the river that he and Kit both had, chasing those bits of evidence? It’s almost like he’s becoming part-animal, able to run so fast and see things at night clearly, and even feathers sprouting!

Things start to get really complicated and quite threatening, as they slowly piece together small facts – some seemingly unrelated at first: the rise of a political party consisting of dead prime ministers, the involvement in two of their teachers in some kind kind of activist group, the mystery of an abandoned factory, other kids being affected like Eddie and the anonymous player in the online game Jude and Eddie play, Ethereal Kingdoms. Is Theo really dead? and if he’s not, then why can’t he be found?

It’s certainly a twisty mystery that will keep astute readers on their toes and quickly turning pages for the next exciting incident. As with others of Emily’s I have readThese characters are really engaging and likeable and readers will easily be able to relate to them.

As a shared read, it would catapult into so many debates and lively discussions about technology and the ‘smart’ future. It also has really solid themes of friendship, family, coming of age, some strong environmental themes and societal values that would also provide rich fodder for Socratic circles or personal reflections.

I can’t finish up without a mention of that sensational cover art which really screams ‘future’ to me – great work, Imogen Stubbs (designer) and Carolina R. Fuenmayor (illustrator). Top job all round and a fantastic, gripping read for around upper primary-mid secondary. I have no problem with giving this one a 5 🤖🤖🤖🤖🤖rating.