Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • The Enigma Game – Elizabeth Wein

    Allen & Unwin August 2020 ISBN: 9781526601650 Imprint: Bloomsbury Children’s Books RRP: $14.99 Elizabeth Wein continues her stellar historical novel series with another look at a fascinating aspect of World War II, this time weaving a wonderful tale around the famous Enigma code. This exciting story revolves around three very diverse main characters: Louisa, orphan…

  • A batch of board books

    My Best Friend is a Dragon – Rachael McLean Penguin Australia August 2020 ISBN: 9780593093993 Imprint: Penguin RRP: $13.99 The first of this batch of books for the tiniest reads is this delightful and gloriously vibrant lift-the-flap story. What could be better than having a magical dragon as your best friend? This little boy romps through the pages…

  • The Fire Never Goes Out: a memoir in pictures – Noelle Stevenson

    Harper Collins Australia April 2020 ISBN: 9780062278272 ISBN 10: 0062278274 Imprint: HarperCollins – US List Price: 34.99 AUD I have to be quite frank here. I’d never heard of Noelle nor her best-selling graphic novel Nimona which as attracted a legion fans around the world. My bad :'(. This is an insight into Noelle’s life between teen and now…

  • The Pony Question – Jackie Merchant

    Walker Books July 2020 ISBN: 9781760651640Imprint: Walker Books Australia Australian RRP: $16.99New Zealand RRP: $18.99 I’m not really a horse-y person and now that the Kid is no longer riding neither is she so horse-themed books are a little bit of uncharted territory for me. However many years ago Ruby Ferguson’s Jill’s Gymkana (#1 Jill’s Ponies) was a very…

  • Aussie Kids series – Books #5 & #6

    Penguin Australia July 2020 Get your little newly independent readers excited when you add these two new volumes to the Aussie Kids books! This is just a truly charming series as children take a vicarious trip around our beautiful country, learning a little about kids from other spaces, cultures and backgrounds as well as information…

  • The Wild Way Home – Sophie Kirtley

    Bloomsbury Australia 15th September 2020 ISBN: 9781526616289 Imprint: Bloomsbury Children’s Books This is one impressive debut novel with an unusual and interesting time-slip which will take readers into a rarely explored world of the past. Charlie Merriam and his parents have been eagerly awaiting the birth of little Dara and when the baby arrives just…

  • Don’t Read the Comments – Eric Smith

    Harper Collins Australia January 2020 ISBN: 9781489295705 ISBN 10: 1489295704 Imprint: HQ Young Adult – US List Price: 19.99 AUD Ok, I admit it, I’d kind of let this one slide because really my scan of the blurb made me think – oh, gaming online – so not my kind of thing. WRONG! Because, yes it does revolve around…

  • What Zola did on Tuesday – Melina Marchetta

    Penguin Australia August 2020 ISBN: 9781760895167 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $12.99 I reviewed the first in this joyful series a little while back and now we have the delight of the second instalment which is just as gorgeous! Zola and her cousin over the back fence, Alessandro, would love to get to meet their new neighbours – more playmates!…

  • The Constant Rabbit – Jasper Fforde

    Hachette JUN 30, 2020 | 9781444763638 | RRP $32.99 In my opinion there are simply not enough books with rabbits as main characters (as she looks down at her rabbit-patterned PJs and rabbit-y slippers – well, what did you expect with my surname?). Jasper Fforde has brought his amazing brand of satirical humour to this new stand-alone novel and…

  • Clementine Rose: Collection Five – Jacqueline Harvey

    Penguin Australia August 2020 ISBN: 9781760897437 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $19.99 Don’t wait around to get your hands on this fifth and final bind-up of stories about this delightful little girl! This collection contains Clementine Rose and the Wedding Wobbles, Clementine Rose and the Bake-Off Dilemma and Clementine Rose and the Best News Yet. In case you have been in iso for longer…