Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Running with Ivan – Suzanne Leal

    Harper Collins Australia February 2023 Leo is not in a good space. After his mother died, it seemed that his grief would never ease and now, two years later, his father has re-married, and he has a whole new family and home to which to adjust. Julia, his stepmother is just fine, and he really…

  • Hello Twigs series : Andrew McDonald/Ben Wood

    Hardie Grant Imprint: Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing August 2023 RRP: $9.99 If you have the littles constantly wanting to borrow graphics, then this series will be a godsend to you. From the dynamic creative team that brought us The Real Pigeons, these new books tick a lot of boxes: develop reading skills, encourage a love…

  • Leeva at Last – Sara Pennypacker. Illustrated by Matthew Cordell

    Harper Collins Australia RRP: $16.99 This is another fabulous Sara Pennypacker MG novel, but straight up I’m going to say it’s nothing like Pax nor Here in the Real World, which thus far have been my favourites. It is however, a wonderfully absurdist look at values, relationships/friendships, risk, trust, responsibility, but above – and how…

  • The Hats of Marvello – Amanda Graham. Illustrated by Lavanya Naidu.

    Harper Collins Australia March 2023 If I could only use one word for this book, it would be delightful! From start to finish (and I binge read it one sitting) it is charming, sweet and fun. Amanda Graham’s knack for creating endearing characters and plots remains true (who can ever forget Arthur?). In dusty, ravaged…

  • Where the River Takes Us – Lesley Parr

    Bloomsbury Australia April 2023 ISBN 9781526647771 Imprint Bloomsbury Children’s Books RRP: $16.99 I can now confirm for sure that Lesley Parr has become one of my favourite MG authors. This is the third of hers I have read – avidly – and it’s not just the fact that they are set in Wales (home to…

  • Queenie in Seven Moves – Zanni Louise

    Walker Books Australia February 2023 ISBN13:9781760655662 Australia RRP:$16.99 New Zealand RRP:$18.99 So this is another that took some time to reach me but when it did I was immediately picking it up to read. Firstly, because of that gorgeous cover art but secondly because it’s Zanni Louise. Not only is she a fine writer, but…

  • Evie and Rhino – Neridah McMullin. Illustrated by Astred Hicks.

    Walker Books October 2022 ISBN13:9781760654207 Australia RRP:$18.99 New Zealand RRP:$19.99 It’s no secret to regular readers of this blog that I love historical fiction. I love it even more when it has its basis in fact, and doubly so if it is Australian history. Neridah McMullen stumbled upon a curious story from the past and,…

  • Wanderer – Victor Kelleher

    Publisher: Eagle Books Imprint: Christmas Press August 2022 ISBN: 9780645378818 RRP: $19.99 If I were to use the vernacular, I’d say it’s been a long time between drinks Victor, but it was certainly worth it. Multi-award winner, Victor Kelleher, has crafted his first middle grade novel in fifteen years with this gripping and absorbing post-apocalyptic…

  • Friday Barnes 11: Last Chance – R. A. Spratt

    Penguin Australia Oh Friday, you just get betterer and betterer! Readers will remember my anecdote of the dismay felt by my coterie of Friday fans, when the ‘last’ in the (original) series was announced, and was confirmed by my (then) recent conversation with Rachel over afternoon tea. Subsequently – and by then in a different…

  • Lockwood & Co – Jonathan Stroud

    Penguin Australia Ten years ago I reviewed The Screaming Staircase and wrote: This new series from Jonathan Stroud is the first since the Bartimaeus Sequence which sold over six million copies, and was translated in over 35 languages. The fact that Universal Studios has already picked up the film rights to Lockwood & Co. is…