Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe


  • Those Girls -Pamela Rushby

    Walker Books Australia April 2024 ISBN13:9781760657840 Australia RRP:$19.99 New Zealand RRP:$22.99 Pamela Rushby’s books are always a treat. For me though, it’s a given that those historical fictions set in Brisbane are the most fascinating. Because I didn’t grow up here, I knew a bare minimum of the city’s history prior to moving here in…

  • Anzac Ted -(10th Anniversary edition): Belinda Landsberry

    EK Books March 2024 ISBN: 9781922539755 RRP: $29.99 Sometimes appearances are misleading, as adults we know that. So for some children who see a battered, raggedy and worn-out teddy bear with missing parts, it would be natural to be dismissive or even contemptuous. My own Tedward is, after 67 years, in a pretty sad and sorry…

  • Silver Linings – Katrina Nannestad

    Harper Collins Australia I cannot begin to tell you how impatiently I have waited to post this review. When I was invited to write teaching notes for a new Katrina Nannestad book, I was absolutely thrilled. Then, when I read the manuscript for this beautiful, funny, poignant, life-affirming narrative, I realised how easy it would…

  • Our Country: Where History Happened – Mark Greenwood/Frane Lessac

    Walker Books Australia September 2023 ISBN13:9781760653576 Australia RRP:$26.99 New Zealand RRP:$28.99 This is the second in this stunning series from talented couple Mark Greenwood & Frane Lessac. I have previously reviewed the first (twice! hardback and paperback!) Ancient Wonders and I know that many people took that first title to their hearts. In this new…

  • 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…