Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Country Town – Isolde Martyn and Robyn Ridgeway. Illustrated by Louise Hogan.

    Ford St Publishing September 2023 ISBN: 9781922696359 RRP: $19.99 I have always loved those English books that explored ‘Through Time’ e.g. A Street Through Time – the history nerd in me just revels in the minutiae from days gone by to the present. While this book doesn’t cover 12, 000 years as such, it does…

  • Ancient Wonders – Mark Greenwood/Frané Lessac

    Walker Books August 2023 ISBN13:9781760658083 Australia RRP:$16.99 New Zealand RRP:$18.99 Now in paperback, this is the first in the Our Country Series by this very talented couple (both of whom I’ve had the pleasure of meeting). I have no doubt you would be well acquainted by the many outstanding collaborations Mark and Frané have produced, and…

  • Eat My Dust! – Neridah McMullin & Lucia Masciulla

    Walker Books August 2023 ISBN13: 9781760654191 Australia RRP:$26.99 New Zealand RRP:$28.99 After many months of hearing of the progress with this new book from Neridah McMullin, I was tremendously pleased to finally hold it in my hands, and enjoy the narrative account of two remarkable Australian women. I freely admit I had never heard of…

  • The Welcome to Country Handbook: a guide to Indigenous Australia – Professor Marcia Langton

    Hardie Grant June 2023 ISBN: 9781741178227 Publisher: Hardie Grant Explore RRP: $32.99 Professor Langton’s Welcome to Country, now in its 2nd edition, was hailed as a major comprehensive work on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia: culture, customs, history, etiquette, performance and more. Now we have this fantastic companion volume which draws on the information…

  • Ming & Hilde Lead a Revolution (The Girls Who Changed the World #3) – Jackie French

    Harper Collins Australia June 2023 Yesterday, I did a relief day with Preppies. I hadn’t intended to work as I was a bit ache-y, combination of arthritis with the colder weather and possibly, the covid booster but after knocking back four offers, I took the fifth because a) private school I’d never visited b) the…

  • Becoming Mrs Mulberry – Jackie French

    Harper Collins Australia When this arrived, I was, as you would expect, tremendously excited – given my love of Jackie’s books, both for kids and adults. I had great plans to relish reading it over the Easter break but then the whole pesky moving house thing intervened. Last Saturday it was three weeks since the…

  • Drover – Neridah McMullin/Sarah Anthony

    Walker Books April 2023 ISBN13: 9781760653910 Australia RRP:$16.99 New Zealand RRP:$18.99 This is the remarkable story of an unusual woman and perhaps, for many, a previously uknown history. Edna Jessop was one of a kind. She is considered to be the first woman to lead a droving team and she did this, with passion, tenacity…

  • Evie and Rhino – Neridah McMullin. Illustrated by Astred Hicks.

    Walker Books October 2022 ISBN13:9781760654207 Australia RRP:$18.99 New Zealand RRP:$19.99 It’s no secret to regular readers of this blog that I love historical fiction. I love it even more when it has its basis in fact, and doubly so if it is Australian history. Neridah McMullen stumbled upon a curious story from the past and,…

  • Last Man Out – Louise Park

    Wild Dog Books April 2023 RRP: $24.99 Sometimes a book comes along that just has the most profound impact on you, as a reader and, in this case, also as an avid history nerd. Louise Park’s new publication is just such a book. In the sort of way that makes one tingle – not to…

  • Dorrie – Tania McCartney

    Harper Collins Australia February 2023 Well you know my high opinion of the hugely talented Tania McCartney with her stylish flair for presenting her young readers with inspirational and engaging narratives, which also incorporate factual tidbits of the most fascinating kind. I grew up reading Blinky Bill along with all the time-honoured Australian classics, but,…