Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • A Good Kind of Trouble – Brooke Blurton and Melanie Saward

    Harper Collins Australia January 2024 This is another great novel coming from WA with fresh new voices and perspectives, and one of my most enjoyable reads of last year [I was reading the proof to write the teaching notes]. Jamie is a lively and intelligent girl who is very at ease with both her Aboriginality…

  • My Big Secret – Felice Arena

    Penguin Australia ISBN: 9781761349706 RRP: $19.99 As he well knows, I didn’t have a clue who he was back in the days of Neighbours on TV, given I never watched it, but it makes me very happy to now count Felice Arena among my friendship circle. Not only have I reviewed many of his numerous books…

  • Stand Proud – Nicho Hynes with Marlee Silva. Illustrated by Blak Douglas.

    Penguin Australia October 2024 So as someone said recently ‘I know you’re an NRL girl…’. Yes I am, I grew up in Hurstville and went to St George Girls High School and I’ve been a Dragons supporter since I first went to a footy game, aged around 7. But you know, it’s right next door…

  • Jy Goes for Gold (Kimberley Kickers, #1) – Carl Merrison/Hakea Hustler. Illustrated by Samantha Campbell

    Harper Collins Australia September 2024 It was a strange bit of serendipity when two days after posting my Q&A with Carl Merrison, in which he mentioned this new series, I was asked to write teaching notes for this first one [despite the fact that “you are a NRL girl” haha!]. It’s not like I know…

  • First Game Back: Girls Change the Game #2 – Gabrielle Gloury and Michael Hyde

    Ford St Publishing July 2023 ISBN: 9781922696304 RRP: $14.99 Fact: Kids love ‘choose your own adventure’ books – the decades roll on and this genre is as popular as ever Fact: More and more girls are playing football – of all codes. And more and more spectators are watching these games. Fact: Your kiddos who…

  • Backyard Footy – Carl Merrison. Illustrated by Samantha Campbell

    Hachette Hardback MAY 31, 2023 | 9780734421517 | RRP $19.99 This is another fabulous footy book from Carl Merrison and the exuberance of the narrative leaps off the page like a specky. In his own backyard, in the Kimberley, Jy is playing footy, because kicking the ball is fun! When he accidentally kicks the ball over the fence, his…

  • Strong and Tough – Rico Hinson-King/Nick Sharratt

    Bloomsbury November 2022 ISBN 9781526648624 Imprint Bloomsbury Children’s Books RRP: $24.99 This is a super story which I’ve now shared with several classes between Year 1 and 3, and all the kiddos have really enjoyed it, even though it deals with some tough issues. What is even more amazing is that it is written by…

  • My Deadly Boots – Carl Merrison & Hakea Hustler. Illustrated by Samantha Campbell.

    Hachette August 2022 ISBN 9780734421456 RRP: $24.99 Spikes on the bottom boots,my favourite colour boots,making me too deadly. Watch it being read here on ABC Education – a fantastic read-aloud with added insights from narrator Shelley Ware. No doubt about it – getting new footy boots is a big deal. When you’ve saved and bought…

  • 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,…

  • Specky Magee- Felice Arena, Gary Lyons

    Penguin Australia 1st March 2022 ISBN: 9780143777168 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $16.99 Seriously, these anniversaries always give me such a jolt – “Whaddya mean 20 years of Specky?” she says with disbelief as she opens the parcel. Yep, face it, you have been doing this job a long time! I’m the first to admit (much to the disgust of…