Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Love and Other Perishable Items – Laura Buzo

    ISBN: 9781760112424 Australian Pub.: January 2015 Publisher: Allen & Unwin Imprint: A & U Children Subject: Young adult fiction Suitable for ages: 14-18 Originally this debut novel from Laura Buzo was published as ‘Good Oil’ and commended in the CBC Older Readers offerings of 2011.  It was further shortlisted in the 2011 Prime Minister’s Literary Read more

  • Holier than Thou – Laura Buzo

    Before I started this blog, I wrote this review of Laura Buzo’s second novel. I am reposting here as I’m about to review another of this terrific author’s books. Stay posted! Allen and Unwin, 2012. ISBN 9781741759983. Recommended for Year 11/12 students. Wonderfully funny, heartbreakingly poignant, undeniably bursting with life, Laura Buzo’s second novel Holier Read more

  • Six lessons on young adults’ literature from a 13-year-old

      To publishers, there are two kinds of young readers: children, and young adults. But in that extremely fluid period between 12 and 18, it is probably necessary to further separate young young adult readers from the the now-legendary YA segment. Welcome, then, to YYA readers. Whose brains and bodies are both changing furiously almost Read more

  • Zafir [Through My Eyes] – Prue Mason

    ISBN: 9781743312544 Australian Pub.: February 2015 Publisher: Allen & Unwin Imprint: A & U Children Subject: Children’s fiction Suitable for ages: 11-14 RRP $15.99 A carefree happy boy in Syria, on the cusp of becoming a young man, finds himself and his family caught up in the tragedy of Syria’s civil war. Prue Mason has lived Read more

  • The Spires of Kurrong -Malcolm Wells

    ISBN: 978-0-9942463-1-8 FORMATS: Paperback and eBook EXTENT: 244 pages AU RRP: eBook: $4.99 Paperback: $20.00 PUBLISHER: Morris Publishing Australia In the tradition of such writers as H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, Malcolm Wells has created a SciFi/Fantasy that takes the reader into a future world where conflicts, attitudes and social ills reflect many in Read more

  • Coming of Age: growing up Muslim in Australia – Amra Pajalic & Demet Divaroren [Edit.]

    ISBN: 9781743312926 Australian Pub.: January 2014 Publisher: Allen & Unwin Imprint: A & U Children Subject: Young adult non fiction RRP $18.99 As many in our nation continue to fear and abuse any of the Muslim faith and while even the global media whips this anti-Islam feeling into frenzy, this is an important book for Read more

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