Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe



  • Pocket Potters: Little Guides to the Harry Potter Stories by J. K. Rowling.

    Bloomsbury Australia August 2025 RRP: $17.99 Oh my! These are just absolutely adorable! I have been eagerly anticipating their arrival. Each one covers a range of aspects of the given character, with some being common across all three e.g. Magic and Memories and The Last Wizarding Word (notable quotes). Let’s start with Harry! Harry Potter Read more

  • Kevin in a Stew – Jacqueline Harvey. Illustrated by Kate Isobel Scott.

    Penguin Australia All good things come to those who wait: like the box of books from Penguin that mysteriously arrived by camel train (seemingly) eventually ,or a slow-cooker lamb curry – NO!! sorry, that just slipped out by mistake. Do I look like the kind of person who would eat a poor innocent lamb?? [Perhaps Read more

  • Promises and Other Lies – Sue Whiting

    Walker Books Australia September 2025 ISBN13:9781760658649 Australia RRP:$17.99 New Zealand RRP:$19.99 This was absolutely a crackerjack read and I ate it up over two nights. Sue Whiting has such a deft hand with writing narratives that tackle difficult and emotive issues with grace and sensitivity, and this is a prime example. You will all, I Read more

  • The Disappearing Circus – Helen Edwards/Kate Gordon

    Riveted Press July 2025 Distributed by Simon & Schuster ISBN13: 9781763526099 RRP: AU$ 17.99 / NZ$ 19.99 I have taken my time with this, both the reading of it and the writing of the review. So much so, that I was strongly reminded of my Oddity review, four years ago, when I wrote: I read Read more

  • Song of a Thousand Seas – Zana Fraillon

    UQP September 2025 9780702266317 RRP: $14.99 I’ve made no secret of my admiration of and fascination with octopuses. Some will have read my review of A Journey Under the Water and also watched My Octopus Teacher, both of which increased my manifold interest in these amazing creatures. You may also have seen references to Octopolis, Read more

  • Indigenous Literacy Day

    It gives me such enormous pleasure to be able to showcase four new books from ILF to celebrate Indigenous Literacy Day – and if you’ve missed it on your calendar, don’t despair! Just schedule your own event when you can – I know only too well how hard it can be fitting everything into our Read more