Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Alice-Miranda Keeps the Beat (#18) – Jacqueline Harvey

    Penguin Random House 9780143786030 June 4, 2019 Puffin   RRP $16.99 Jacqueline Harvey knows exactly how to reach those high notes with her readers and the overwhelming popularity of her series, and certainly Alice-Miranda, is proof of that. The tiny girl with the big heart always plays her part in helping others, redressing injustices and…

  • The Lily in the Snow: Book #3 Miss Lily – Jackie French

    Harper Collins March 2019 ISBN: 9781460753842 ISBN 10: 1460753844 RRP 29.99 AUD We devotees of Miss Lily have been waiting fairly impatiently for her return and I was thrilled when my copy arrived and immediately started immersing myself once more into the world of Sophie, Nigel and Miss Lily. However packing and moving house followed up by three…

  • Detention – Tristan Bancks

        Penguin Random House Imprint: Puffin July 2019 ISBN: 9780143799 RRP: $16.99   Just wow! Once again Tristan has crafted a sensational narrative with high-impact tension and thought-provoking themes which will keep readers eagerly turning pages. Two young people are both, each in their own way, prisoners of sad circumstances. Sima, with her family,…

  • Nullaboo Hullabaloo – Fleur Ferris

    Penguin 9780143787143 May 7, 2019 Puffin   RRP: $14.99   We could all use some more fairy dust in our lives. Whether it’s because of the gloom and doom of daily news reports or if (like me packing up house) because of some personal issues. I maintain that a liberal sprinkling of fairy sparkle would…

  • Alex Rider #12 : Secret Weapon – Anthony Horowitz

    Walker Books April 2019 ISBN: 9781406387476 Imprint: Walker Australian RRP: $16.99 New Zealand RRP: $18.99   I’m pretty certain that I’m not the only one who’s so excited that Anthony has his Alex mojo back J – and with the talk of the forthcoming movie there are bound to be many more readers added to the fold of fans.…

  • The ANZAC Billy – Claire Saxby/Mark Jackson & Heather Potter

      Walker Books ISBN: 9781925126815 Imprint: Black Dog Books Release Date: April 1, 2019 Australian RRP: $24.99 New Zealand RRP: $27.99 As thousands of Australians and New Zealanders pay homage to those who have given to our countries in service, often with the ultimate sacrifice, this is not only a timely release for this time of year but for all…

  • Grace’s Mystery Seed – Juliet M Sampson/Karen Erasmus

    Ford St Publishing March 2019 $16.95 Have you ever had your children (or grandies) garden with you? I used to garden with my girls and now I have my beautiful granddaughter growing up here also loving planting and watching things grow. She especially loved planting radish seeds to spell her name and only having to…

  • Holiday Hiatus

    Normally, the school holidays are an opportunity to really power on with my reading and reviews. However, two days before the end of term I found out that my lease of six years is not being re-offered. This means I’m spending my holidays sorting, packing, house hunting and all the blah that goes with all…

  • This is Home: Essential Australian Poems for Children – Selected by Jackie French, Illustrated by Tania McCartney

    Publisher:   National Library of Australia ISBN:   9780642279385 01 April 2019 RRP: $34.99 Why yes, some readers of this blog will already know that not only am I non-fiction nerd since childhood but also a poetry nerd. I openly admit this to the children at school who are sometimes a little (?!) resistant to poetry. Of course,…

  • All Are Welcome – Alexandra Penfold/Suzanne Kaufman

    Bloomsbury Australia February 2019 ISBN: 9781526604071 Imprint: Bloomsbury Children RRP: $14.99 I deliberately saved this one to time with Harmony Day since it is a perfect expression of what we want to convey to our children as they grow up in a world where so many adults are blindly ignorant of the true meaning of…