Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone 25th Anniversary edition – J. K. Rowling

    January 2022 Bloomsbury ISBN 9781408855652 RRP: $16.99 It seems hardly any time at all since I reflected on 20 years of HP and yet, here we are, at the start of a huge year of silver anniversary celebrations for what is, to my mind at least, the most successful fiction series of all time. Many…

  • Dear Greta – Yvette Poshoglian

    Penguin Australia March 2022 ISBN: 9781761043789 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $16.99 First of all, for their writing task, a collaborative project between library and classroom, Alice gets Greta Thunberg as her ‘significant person’ to whom she is meant to write fictional letters. Who wants to get a teen environmental activist to write to? Now a pop star, that would…

  • Hopping towards Easter (already!)

    It’s true that the start of this year has been fraught – not to put too fine a point on it. In my house: switch jobs on the last day of holidays, school is delayed by a week for The Kid, a week or so later The Kid is not well and after a couple…

  • The Little Wartime Library – Kate Thompson

    Hachette FEB 22, 2022 | 9781529395402 | RRP $32.99 So in essence, I should have known…I rarely request an adult title to review (and generally speaking, that’s a memoir/bio)… but the ‘library’ bit got me in. Really, I should have seen that, even though it’s based on real events, the sub-title was a give-away that it is more chick…

  • Happy Specky-versary!

    Following up on my review of Specky’s 20th anniversary edition – as the actual birthday is today – it was timely to kick off the 2022 footy season with not only a display to feature everyone’s favourite young AFL player, but the code itself. And of course, an opportunity to have a ‘win’ incentive to…

  • A Whale of the Wild – Rosanne Parry

    Harper Collins Australia January 2022 ISBN: 9780062995933 ISBN 10: 0062995936 Imprint: HarperCollins US RRP: $16.99 This is just a magical read – the lyrical text almost flows like the water Vega and her family inhabit – and was certainly for me last night, a really intriguing but also restful way to read myself ready to sleep. That’s not…

  • Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables Join Forces – Tim Harris

    Penguin Australia 1 March 2022 ISBN: 9781761044557 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $14.99 It seems incredible – or should I say remarkable – that is already four years since I had the pleasure of sipping Himalayan tea with the delicious Mr Bambuckle – sorry, I mean, sipping delicious Himalayan tea with Mr Bambuckle! And now everyone’s favourite teacher (up there…

  • That Cat – Jacqueline Harvey. Illustrated by Kate Isobel Scott.

    Penguin Australia 1 March 2022 ISBN: 9781761040702 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $19.99 When the delightful Jacqueline came to my place last year (dinner, lots of talk and loads of laughs!) she told me about her first picture book which was on its way. How excitement!! And really no surprise regarding the subject matter – given her great affection for…

  • Specky Magee- Felice Arena, Gary Lyons

    Penguin Australia 1st March 2022 ISBN: 9780143777168 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $16.99 Seriously, these anniversaries always give me such a jolt – “Whaddya mean 20 years of Specky?” she says with disbelief as she opens the parcel. Yep, face it, you have been doing this job a long time! I’m the first to admit (much to the disgust of…

  • The PM’s Daughter – Meredith Costain

    Penguin Australia March 2022 ISBN: 9781761046704 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $16.99 I’m well aware that many things just pass me by – especially when it comes to TV. To be fair, though The Kid is a teen, she would be way too engrossed with her horror movies to watch a show on the ABC but it appears that this…