Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • The Colourful World of Poppy Starr Olsen: A novel inspired by the life of the Australian Olympic skateboarder – Poppy Starr Olsen & Jess Black

    Penguin Australia From the opening pages this is just a joyful experience and one that I binged in just two sessions. I’ll be honest here. I didn’t know of Poppy (I don’t watch or follow the Olympics) and I know – well knew – zilch about skateboarding so I didn’t really know what to expect. Read more

  • Guardians: Wylah the Koorie Warrior 1- Jordan Gould/Richard Pritchard

    Allen & Unwin May 2022 ISBN:9781761180033 Imprint: Albert Street Books RRP: $15.99 This is definitely something different and a series to be watched. These two creators have drawn their narrative from all quarters: speculative fiction in its broadest sense – fantasy, sci fi, larger than life events, incorporating adventure, humour, and drawing on First Australians Read more

  • Astonishingly Good Stories – R. A. Spratt

    Penguin Australia August 2022 Now with a day off at my disposal, due to having no voice left with which to teach, I am trying to catch up with reviews, and really it is dead lucky I had already read this latest volume, because there is no doubt that strenuous laughing of the Spratt-induced kind Read more

  • Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade: Enola Holmes #8 – Nancy Springer

    Allen & Unwin August 2022 ISBN: 9781761066245 Publisher: A&U Children’s Imprint: A & U Children RRP: $16.99 As we all eagerly anticipate the new forthcoming Netflix adaptation, what better way to feed our love of Enola and her adventures than by reading this newest in the series? (In this house we are both fans of Read more

  • The Golden Swift – Lev Grossman

    Bloomsbury July 2022 ISBN 9781526647634 Imprint Bloomsbury Children’s Books RRP: $14.99 A couple of years back I enthusiastically endorsed The Silver Arrow and I am very pleased to say that this second instalment is equally as enchanting for your middle school readers. A year after they first encounter The Silver Arrow and begin their mission Read more

  • Spark – M.G. Leonard

    Walker Books September 2022 Imprint:Walker Books ISBN13:9781406389388 Australia RRP:$18.99 New Zealand RRP:$21.99 There is something quintessentially English about a group of children who are into bird-watching I think, especially when combined with all the other great things going on in this series. A diverse cast of characters, an appealing setting where the kids can roam Read more

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