Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • The Girl and the Ghost #3 Grand Opening – Jacqueline Harvey

    Penguin Australia May 2026 ISBN: 9781761349430 RRP: $16.99 There will be plenty of delighted fans when this one hits the shelves [my advice is to buy multiple copies] as this fabulous series continues. Josephine, often known as Jet, and her family are gearing up for the grand opening of their restored chateau hotel but there is… Read more

  • The Night Tiger – Sherryl Clark & Hannah Summerville

    Allen & Unwin March 2026 ISBN:9781760113421 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:A & U Children When I was a kid I was one who was afraid of dark so I think a book that empowers Smalls to feel more comfortable with the nightime and embrace the magic of moonlight, stars and night creatures is a welcome addition to… Read more

  • A short blog break…

    All in all, it’s been a busier first term than if I had been working full-time still. The Kid’s 21st of course. Around a dozen sets of teaching notes, plus two editing jobs. My first Books in Homes gig. Upping my involvement with Kids Book Review. And there was that other highlight with my first… Read more

  • The Private Side of Friendship – Alexander McCall-Smith

    New South Books Publisher: Polygon 9781846977299 February 2026 AUD$39.99, NZD$44.99 This a stand-alone novel from A M-S that is utterly typical of his gentle story-telling with expert characterisations and with small details that bring his narratives to life. Travelling in time back to the 80s, 24-year-old Julie recalls the happy times spent in a shared… Read more

  • Making Trouble (A Good Kind of Trouble #2) – Brooke Blurton. Melanie Saward.

    Harper Collins Australia March 2026 Following up last year’s A Good Kind of Trouble, Brooke Blurton continues the journey of the Noongar girls from the bush, this time with the focus on Stella as she and Jamie head to the big smoke to continue their education under the auspices of Melbourne Indigenous College. Jamie is… Read more

  • Gross Things Animals Eat – Dr Claire Stevens. Adele K. Thomas

    Yucky, icky and utterly hilarious, take a deep dive into the bizarre and disgusting world of animal facts with vet Dr Claire and her cute dog Frankie! Harper Collins Australia March 2026 Although I didn’t know her name, I’m sure many others will know of or have seen Dr Claire Stevens, vet/presenter/author who has turned… Read more

Archived Reviews