Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Bitsa – Andrew Daddo

    Penguin Australia February 2026 Who doesn’t love a heart-warming dog story? And this start of a new series from Andrew Daddo ticks a lot of boxes with both content and accessibility for your newly independent readers. When Jas finds Bitsa, alone and in need of a home, they form an immediate bond. Jasper knows she… Read more

  • Kid – Peter Carnavas

    UQP June 2026 – Pre-order now 9780702269257 RRP: $22.99 Peter Carnavas the Master [and yes, I did promise him I would use that epithet but I would in any case] of the gentle narrative that is packed with winsome subtleties. This one is just a delight from the first page to the last and your… Read more

  • Judy Blume: a Life – Mark Oppenheimer

    Scribe Publications March 2026 ISBN: 9781761380686 RRP: AUD$39.99 It’s a brilliant biography of one of the most notable, enduring, revered and ground-breaking writers, particularly of kid and teen fiction, and, as you might expect, quite a behemoth to cover the almost 90 years of Judy Blume’s life. It took me almost a week of night… Read more

  • Valerie: Australia’s Bravest Sausage Dog – Lucinda Gifford

    Allen & Unwin Imprint: Albert St Books February 2026 ISBN:9781761182594 RRP: $19.99 Valerie the dachshund reunited with owners after Kangaroo Island rescue There can’t be many people who didn’t hear Valerie’s story – not just in Australia … this little weiner became world-famous. Not many pampered pooches could survive in the wild for almost two… Read more

  • Green Cities: How Green Infrastructure Helps Heal the Planet – Sheila Boudreau. Katy Dockrill.

    UQP March 2026 ISBN: 9780702271175 RRP: A$32.99 A fortnight ago I wrote a detailed review of this gorgeous book which the blog promptly ‘lost’ and even after contacting support, couldn’t be retrieved. So let’s just start all over again. I loved this book at first sight. The whole mid-century vibe of the artwork just sang… Read more

  • 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… Read more

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