Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • The Wearing of the Green – Claire Saxby

    Walker Books April 2022 ISBN: 9781760653583Imprint: Walker Books AustraliaAustralian RRP: $18.99New Zealand RRP: $21.99 It is certainly no secret that I love historical fiction, and colonial Australian history is a particular favourite of mine. I loved this exciting new narrative from Claire Saxby – whose prowess with picture books is already so well established. Set just two years before…

  • Ceremony: Welcome to Our Country – Adam Goodes & Ellie Laing. Illustrated by David Hardy.

    Allen & Unwin April 2022 ISBN: 9781761065064 RRP: $24.99 Oh David Hardy, you have excelled yourself! I think we have all been eagerly anticipating the next title in this Welcome to Our Country series, the joyful introduction to First Nations history for younger readers, especially given the triumph of the first title Somebody’s Land. For…

  • The Unstoppable Flying Flanagan – Felice Arena

    Penguin Australia 29 March 2022 ISBN: 9781761044366 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $16.99 In a completely genius move, Felice Arena has combined his love of football (the AFL kind) and his skill with bringing lesser-known history to life. Set in Melbourne in the later years of WWII, this is the story of Maggie Flanagan who loves the game of football,…

  • Ming & Flo Fight for the Future: (The Girls Who Changed the World #1) – Jackie French

    Harper Collins March 2022 A brand new series from Jackie French is always cause for great excitement, and this one is going to be a corker, given this fabulous start! We have all been awed by Jackie’s wealth of historical novels and her indomitable female characters over the years. Now younger readers have the opportunity…

  • No Hearts of Gold – Jackie French

    Harper Collins December 2021 ISBN: 9781460757925 ISBN 10: 1460757920 Imprint: HarperCollins AU List Price: 29.99 AUD If you’ve read this blog before no doubt, you have noticed my immense admiration for the talent of Jackie French and, in particular, her outstanding historical fiction. Her seemingly effortless recreation of the past always has the power to transport the reader into…

  • Searching for Charlotte: The Fascinating Story of Australia’s First Children’s Author/s-Kate Forsyth, Belinda Murrell

    Paperback | Nov 2020 | National Library of Australia | 9780642279699 AUD$34.95, NZD$39.99 I had hoped to review this when it was released – sadly, the publicists did not get the memo and I missed out. But it was always going to find its place in our collection given both its subject matter and the…

  • Took the Children Away – Archie Roach/Ruby Hunter

    Simon & Schuster Australia October 2020 ISBN13: 9781760857219 RRP: $24.99 What a privilege to be asked to provide a review for this fabulous 30th anniversary edition of Archie’s book. This great man, 2020 Victorian Australian of the Year, member of the Order of Australia and recipient of countless other awards for his music, is one…

  • The Fighting Stingrays – Simon Mitchell

    Penguin Random House 9780143784104 July 31, 2017 Puffin (AU YR) RRP $17.99 This is, in old parlance, a ripping yarn – a real Boys’ Own adventure. Charlie, Alf and Masa are the best of mates who go to school together, fish, swim and most of all are ‘The Fighting Stingrays’ determined to beat all imaginary…

  • The Hero Maker: A Biography of Paul Brickhill

    The Hero Maker: A Biography of Paul Brickhill The Australian behind the legendary stories The Dam Busters, The Great Escape and Reach for the Sky By Stephen Dando-Collins Penguin Random House ISBN 9780857988126 August 29, 2016 Imprint : Vintage Australia RRP: $34.99   As the daughter of a Lancaster wireless operator/air gunner growing up in the…

  • Yong : the journey of an unworthy son – Janeen Brian

    ISBN: 9781925126297 Imprint: WALKER BOOKS AUST Distributor: Harper Collins Distribution Services for Australia and New Zealand August 1, 2016 RRP $16.99 There have been many accounts of the Chinese coming to Australia in the gold rush era both for adults and children but this is the first I have read which explores the history of some of these…