Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Good Young Men – Gary Lonesborough

    Allen & Unwin March 2026 ISBN:9781761182174 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:A & U Children RRP: $22.99 Once again Gary brings his own upbringing as a young gay Koori in a regional setting [from the same part of the country as my family] as well as his professional experience working with Aboriginal youth in a skewed justice system,…

  • I Know What You’re Hiding – Jack Heath

    Scholastic Australia May 2026 ISBN: 9781761526794 RRP: $17.99 My first introduction to Jack Heath and his amazing capacity for inventive and thrilling narrative was at the ASLA Conference Canberra [circa 2005 if I recall?]. I am quite sure his presentation was at The Shine Dome, which was great fun in itself but it’s been a…

  • Drawing Nudes While Making Other Plans – Zoe Gaetjens

    Penguin Australia Sometimes it’s just so refreshing to read something that’s different and this was one of those. It’s not that I don’t enjoy reading the YA cosy murder mysteries and so on, but when you get a book that gives you a slice of real life set in your hometown that combines self-belief, friendship,…

  • Shakespeare in the Orchard – Danielle Binks

    Hachette Australia Imprint: Lothian Children’s Books Jul 7, 2026 | 9780734421920 | RRP $17.99 It took me a while to get into this one as the first chapters seemed to move slowly but once it got going, I was thoroughly engaged with this fictionalised slice of history, hitherto unknown to me. That is to say, naturally I knew about…

  • Piper at the Gates of Dusk – Patrick Ness

    Walker Books Australia April 2026 ISBN13:9781529537581 Australia RRP:$29.99 New Zealand RRP:$32.99 I have never made any secret of the fact that Chaos Walking is my favourite dystopian of all time. And, in fact, Patrick Ness, is definitely in my Top 10 favourite authors as well. So not only was I panting with anticipation waiting on…

  • The Girl and the Ghost #3 Grand Opening – Jacqueline Harvey

    Penguin Australia May 2026 ISBN: 9781761349430 RRP: $16.99 There will be plenty of delighted fans when this one hits the shelves [my advice is to buy multiple copies] as this fabulous series continues. Josephine, often known as Jet, and her family are gearing up for the grand opening of their restored chateau hotel but there is…

  • Making Trouble (A Good Kind of Trouble #2) – Brooke Blurton. Melanie Saward.

    Harper Collins Australia March 2026 Following up last year’s A Good Kind of Trouble, Brooke Blurton continues the journey of the Noongar girls from the bush, this time with the focus on Stella as she and Jamie head to the big smoke to continue their education under the auspices of Melbourne Indigenous College. Jamie is…

  • Lila MacKay is Very Misunderstood – Gill Sims

    Harper Collins Australia December 2025 If you have followed and shrieked with laughter over Gill Sims’ FB posts Peter and Jane over the years or read her books e.g. the Why Mummy Drinks series , you will know instantly that this book is utterly hilarious. It is pure Gill Sims, with less sweary bits. Written…

  • Romeo V Juliet – R. A. Spratt

    Penguin Australia February 2026 Imprint: Penguin ISBN: 9781761349744 RRP: $16.99 If Hamlet is Not OK made you laugh a lot and cast Shakespeare into a different light altogether, verily forsooth! just wait till you get thy hands on this tome. I truly wish this had been around the last time I taught R&J [though I say…

  • Picture Book Month Bonus: Catching Fire – Suzanne Collins. Illustrated by Nico Delort.

    Scholastic Australia Last year it was the #1 illustrated Hunger Games that was a bonus for Picture Book Month, now it’s equally sumptuous Catching Fire. This trilogy and its numerous spin-offs remains a favourite with so many around the world, myself included. There is just so much to love about it and quite frankly, as…