Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Taking Tom Murray Home – Tim Slee

    Harper Collins July 2019 ISBN: 9781460757864 ISBN 10: 1460757866 Imprint: HarperCollins – AU RRP $32.99 The inaugural Banjo Prize competition attracted 320 entries but it was Taking Tom Murray Home that took out the first prize with its truly authentic Australian voice. Tim Slee’s novel bristles with laconic wit, quirky characters and bitter-sweet emotions and underlines with eloquence Read more

  • The Curse of the School Rabbit – Judith Kerr

    Harper Collins July 2019 ISBN: 9780008352608 ISBN 10: 0008352607 Imprint: HarperCollins Children’sBooks   The late Judith Kerr’s final book, like all her glorious work, is quintessentially English, gently humorous and full of everyday adventure and family life. When Snowball the school rabbit needs to be rabbit-sat for a time, Tommy’s little sister, Angie, is ecstatic. Tommy is less Read more

  • Stuck in the Mud: Peski Kids #3 – R. A. Spratt

      Penguin Random House August 2019 ISBN: 9780143796350 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $16.99 The Peski kids have certainly encountered some bizarre events since their arrival in the backwater town of Currawong but perhaps the annual town Mud Run is one of the most strange – to their minds at least. Added to this is the even more repugnant Read more

  • Outback Wonder – Juliet M. Sampson

    Brolga Publishing 2017 ISBN: 9781925367935 RRP $19.99 Many of you will be familiar with Juliet’s recent picture book, Grace’s Mystery Seed, which has been widely praised and garnered considerable accolades – and rightly so. However you may not be so well acquainted with her earlier novels which have also been positively received. Outback Wonder is Juliet’s Read more

  • Toffee – Sarah Crossan

    Bloomsbury June 2019 9781526608147 Bloomsbury YA RRP $14.99 Exquisitely, compellingly poignant and haunting, I was so happy that I took this to the hairdresser’s yesterday. It meant I could read it one sitting without feeling guilty about neglected house chores! I am not who I say I am. Marla isn’t who she thinks she is. Read more

  • The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle – Sophie Green

    Hachette JUL 23, 2019 | 9780733641169 | RRP $29.99   If you missed The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club which was a runaway success a couple of years ago you must make certain not to neglect this new novel from Sophie Green! Once again readers become heavily invested in the lives of the main characters; Marie, Read more

Archived Reviews