Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Shower Land #1: Break the Curse – Nat Amoore/James Hart

    Penguin Australia February 2024 ISBN: 9781761342523 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $14.99 Well, I’ve read a lot of ‘portal’ books. Portals that were books. Portals that were a piece of jewelry. Portals that were doorways…or mirrors…a wardrobe…a grandfather clock.. a railway platform or a board game – so many different types of portals. But, I have to say, I’ve…

  • Scar Town – Tristan Bancks

    Penguin Australia August 2023 ISBN: 9780143791812 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $16.99 I’ve been a fan of Tristan’s work since back in the Mac Slater days, especially after attending one of his presentations on making book trailers (can’t even remember which event that was, it was so long ago!) and I’ve particularly loved his ‘crime/thriller’ books – like a…

  • Becoming Mrs Mulberry – Jackie French

    Harper Collins Australia ISBN: 9781867243502 ISBN 10: 1867243504 Imprint: HQ Fiction AU List Price: 32.99 AUD 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…

  • The Mud Puddlers – Pamela Rushby

    Walker Books Australia April 2023 ISBN13:9781760655808 Australia RRP:$16.99 New Zealand RRP:$18.99 This ticks all my boxes in one fell swoop and I absolutely loved it. Mudlarking has long been a source of fascination for me and I would truly have loved the opportunity to explore it for myself. Now Pamela Rushby has combined this iconic…

  • Kensy and Max #10: Time’s Up – Jacqueline Harvey

    Penguin Australia May 2023 ISBN: 9781761043307 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $16.99 Fasten your seatbelts for one last rollercoaster ride with the intrepid twin spies, in their most difficult and worrying adventure/mission yet! When their closest family members begin disappearing – apparently kidnapped – the twins become increasingly isolated and anxious. With no ransom notes or other explanations, the snatching…

  • A Message Through Time – Anna Ciddor

    Allen & Unwin April 2023 ISBN:9781761180125 Imprint:A & U Children RRP: $18.99 For those who love time-slip adventures, and particularly, are keen on ancient history this is a desirable addition to your shelves. I loved The Boy Who Stepped Through Time and after book talking it to my ChocLit kiddos, it was on a regular…

  • The Last Whale – Chris Vick

    Bloomsbury Australia November 2022 Imprint: Head of Zeus ISBN: 9781803281612 RRP: AU $26.99 NZ $29.99 WhtT This is a terrific read which combines a lot of very topical issues into a passionate call to arms in a vital environmental crisis. Spanning three generations the story of the Kristensen family and their close connection with the…

  • The Lorikeet Tree – Paul Jennings

    Allen & Unwin January 2023 ISBN:9781761180095 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:A & U Children The Master returns, proving yet again that he can still enthral readers of all ages with the most marvellous narratives. It would seem that being almost an octogenarian is no bar whatsoever to remaining a writer as brilliant as the titular birds in…

  • The Silence that Binds Us – Joanna Ho

    Harper Collins Australia October 2022 ISBN: 9780063059344 ISBN 10: 0063059347 Imprint: HarperCollins US List Price: 34.99 AUD Many of us fell in love with Joanna Ho’s exquisite writing with Eyes That Kiss in the Corners and Eyes That Speak to the Stars. Now it becomes apparent that her talent is not confined to lyrical picture books. This, her first…

  • Well, That Was Unexpected – Jesse Q. Sutanto

    Harper Collins Australia November 2022 ISBN: 9780008501464 ISBN 10: 0008501467 Imprint: Electric Monkey List Price: 19.99 AUD In actual fact, this is hands down the most enjoyable YA novel I’ve read in a long time. Coincidentally, it is one of a posse of recent YAs that are Asian-focused in one way or another. Even more interesting perhaps is that…