Just So Stories

Pan Macmillan

September 2026

ISBN: 9781761776670

RRP: $16.99

If I’m strictly honest about it – and you should know by now that I am – I’m a little ‘over’ the post-apocalyptic style narratives but there are exceptions. Believe me, this is one of them.

From the first page to the last I was utterly invested in Leif’s story which is, in its own way, both terrifying but also comforting. Leif is the first child to be born with CIA (Climate Induced Anomalies) – Patient Zero. As his sister comments, he’s almost like a rockstar in the scientific community because of the multiplicity of investigations into the way climate change has affected him physically.

Yes, while Leif is far from a ‘perfect’ physical specimen – almost 12 and barely over a metre in height, terrible eyesight, many ongoing complications and issues with his body….his brain? Bigger than a bus really. He is a walking scientific encyclopedia.

He’s also a walking compendium of every conceivable phobia. But his biggest problem is his lack of friends. No, actually, his biggest problem is that because of his lack of friends, he has buddied up with just one who is as toxic a friend as you can possibly imagine. If you were to create the worst possible friend to have, it would be Albie.

While Leif’s parents and sisters rail against Albie and want Leif to disengage from the friendship, he is equally determined to keep his one and only friend. After all, his life is pretty crap in many ways. Not his family – they’re great. But being a complete misfit even among other misfits sucks basically.Then when Leif sets fire to the school science block it’s more than the accelerant needed for the inferno to start. It’s a catalyst to Leif’s entire dilemma around friendship, being so different and his overwhelming sense of isolation.

In this future world, so many places have become completely inhabitable including the town where Leif’s family originally lived. At the expense of government (and Leif research) they now live in a sheltered and protected place while others around the country are not so well provided for.

But this is not enough for Leif. And when he digs his tiny heels in and refuses to give up his one and only friend, a whole train of events is set in motion which creates a real domino effect. I’m making a huge effort here to let you know what the book is about without letting you know what the book is about! because you don’t want the spoilers! It’s a fabulous read and to leaven the seriousness, there is a lot of humour. Leif’s professorial way of talking is hilarious as his sister Holly’s ongoing commentary.

I pretty much inhaled it in two settings. We know already how skilful Maryam’s writing is and she has truly excelled herself with this one. It is both timely and on point regarding what is happening to our world because of greed, corruption and governments with no conscience [don’t get me started on what’s happening in Queensland!]. The fact that people like that redhead fish&chip cook and others of her ilk are completely willing to throw the entire environment under a catastrophic bus, completely regardless of consequences is appalling.

Let’s get our kids motivated enough to step up and prevent the impending doom that awaits if things are not halted. This a perfect – and I mean PERFECT – shared read especially for classes from around year 4 upwards. I’d go as far as Year 7s. Some useful teaching ideas to support it as well. It’s a great fit for curriculum studies but also a wonderful springboard to philosophical and moral discussions in Socratic circles and similar. And, as icing on the cake, the accented cover art is just fab! I’m giving it a big-as-Leif’s-brain 5 🌏 🌡️🌏 🌡️🌏rating – it’s a must for any collection.