Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe


  • The Forever Horse – Stacy Gregg

    Harper Collins Australia October 2020 ISBN: 9780008332358 ISBN 10: 0008332355 Imprint: HarperCollins – GB List Price: 24.99 AUD Stacy Gregg’s horse stories have constantly been some of the most popular loans in my libraries, mostly primary but I also have several lower secondary girls who just love these books. This new stand-alone novel introduces readers to talented young artist…

  • Pages & Co #3: Tilly and the Map of Stories – Anna James

    Harper Collins Australia October 2020 ISBN: 9780008229948 ISBN 10: 0008229945 Imprint: HarperCollins – GB List Price: 19.99 AUD This series is so utterly charming and original that it has been such pleasure to read and review each of them. Tilly and Oskar continue their adventures with the ongoing quest to thwart the horrible Underwoods who have usurped the British…

  • The Fire Star: A Maven & Reeve Mystery- A. L. Tait

    Penguin Australia September 2020 ISBN: 9781760897079 Imprint: Penguin RRP: $16.99 Well-known globally for her adventure series The Mapmaker Chronicles and The Ateban Cipher, A. L. Tait brings another entertaining and engaging series to middle years readers with the introduction of Maven and Reeve. Maven, youngest daughter of an impoverished and dispossessed noble family, is companion and maid to…

  • Hollowpox: The Trials of Morrigan Crow. Nevermoor #3 – Jessica Townsend

    Hachette SEP 29, 2020 | 9780734418241 | RRP $17.99 Huzzah! It has finally arrived! We’ve all been waiting with great impatience but at last the next instalment is here. And what a corker it is! Not only is it gripping and full of new revelations but has most uncanny parallels to our current parlous circumstances. Morrigan is looking forward…

  • Rebel Gods: Monuments #2 – Will Kostakis – The Book Tour! with guest blogger Tiarna Georghiou

    What a double bonus for me! First to be part of the Book Blog Tour to launch Rebel Gods – the gripping conclusion of Will Kostakis’ Monuments series. Second to be able to introduce you all to an amazing young woman, Tiarna Georghiou – Year 12 student, blogger, reporter, talented performer, passionate reader and, I’m…

  • Never and Forever: Wizards of Once #4 – Cressida Cowell

    Hachette Australia SEP 22, 2020 | 9781444956627 | RRP $19.99 While it’s always sad when something wonderful, like this magical series, comes to an end it’s also exciting when the conclusion is so supremely satisfying. Just as she did with the magnificent How to Train Your Dragon series, Cressida Cowell has combined exciting magic, with dangerous and thrilling adventure…

  • The Silver Arrow – Lev Grossman

    Bloomsbury September 2020 ISBN 9781526629418 RRP: AU $14.99 NZ $16.99 In my opinion it’s a rare middle-age novel that can transcend reading interests, age groups and genders but this is most definitely one that can. Certainly your middle grade readers will love it but it is just as appealing for older readers, including adults, as…

  • The Enigma Game – Elizabeth Wein

    Allen & Unwin August 2020 ISBN: 9781526601650 Imprint: Bloomsbury Children’s Books RRP: $14.99 Elizabeth Wein continues her stellar historical novel series with another look at a fascinating aspect of World War II, this time weaving a wonderful tale around the famous Enigma code. This exciting story revolves around three very diverse main characters: Louisa, orphan…

  • The Wild Way Home – Sophie Kirtley

    Bloomsbury Australia 15th September 2020 ISBN: 9781526616289 Imprint: Bloomsbury Children’s Books This is one impressive debut novel with an unusual and interesting time-slip which will take readers into a rarely explored world of the past. Charlie Merriam and his parents have been eagerly awaiting the birth of little Dara and when the baby arrives just…

  • The Unadoptables

    Hana Tooke Penguin Australia July 2020 ISBN: 9780241453612 Imprint: Puffin RRP $16.99 There is something about stories set in Holland that I find particularly appealing. Perhaps it is just the vicarious sight-seeing but for some reason they are always engaging and often quirky. This one is no exception. Combining adventure and mystery, family life, loyalty and very…