Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Lockwood & Co – Jonathan Stroud

    Penguin Australia Ten years ago I reviewed The Screaming Staircase and wrote: This new series from Jonathan Stroud is the first since the Bartimaeus Sequence which sold over six million copies, and was translated in over 35 languages. The fact that Universal Studios has already picked up the film rights to Lockwood & Co. is Read more

  • Willa and Woof 3: Grandparents for Hire – Jacqueline Harvey

    Penguin Australia January 2023 It makes me very happy that my first review for 2023 is for my lovely friend, and über-talented creator, Jacqueline Harvey for #3 in her latest sensational series. Jacqueline has a sublime knack for creating character with whom readers can immediately connect, empathise and love, and Willa – along with her Read more

  • January Give-away!

    The run-away sensation for tweens and teens in 2022 – my first give-away is Heartstopper Yearbook – there will also be some little surprises. To enter – just send a comment and tell us your favourite character in the series !! Winner will be selected by random draw by my able assistant on 31st January. Read more

  • Happy 2023 and 10 years of Just So Stories

    Greetings one and all !! Why yes, I have been AWOL while it’s been the school holidays. After a pretty shitty year, and still many unresolved issues I needed some recharge time. I’ve done a LOAD of reading – just haven’t actually written the reviews but now it’s looking like it could be time to Read more

  • Meerkat Christmas – Aura Parker

    Penguin Australia October 2022 Seriously, I’m always so in awe of creators who can do both the text and the illustrations – for someone who yearns to have even a smidgin of creativity it seems a little unfair -haha! This is another title I shared with numerous classes over the closing weeks of Term 4 Read more

  • Christmas Goodies

    Zola and the Christmas Lights – Melina Marchetta/Deb Hudson Penguin Australia October 2022 For the entirety of the delightful What Zola did On… series, Melina Marchetta consistently delivered such beautiful and meaningful messages to young readers around diversity, community, empathy, friendship and family, all without once becoming preachy or tedious. It truly was joyful to Read more

Archived Reviews