Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Thunderhead – Sophie Beer

    Allen & Unwin October 20249781761180958 RRP: $19.99 I do know I’m repeating myself but truly, 2024 has been a bumper year for Australian MG novels – they just keep on coming. This is another one that I ate up in two swift sessions. Thunderhead is not your usual protagonist. They are definitely in the unusual…

  • Shadow Play – Kate Forsyth. Illustrated by Rosalie Street.

    Wombat Books August 2024 9781925563740 $26.99 I’ve often mentioned here the prevalence of anxiety in children, some of them very young, but it’s also fair to point out that there have always been Smalls who have been scared of one thing or another. I know, I was none too thrilled with the dark when I…

  • Hazel’s Treehouse – Zanni Louise. Illustrated by Judy Watson

    Walker Books November 2024 ISBN13:9781760657222 Australia RRP:$19.99 New Zealand RRP:$22.99 I have followed Zanni’s progress with this one for ages and have eagerly anticipated its arrival. When it was delivered yesterday, wrapped like the cutie it is in brown paper, tied up with string, I couldn’t wait to read it! And I can confirm, it…

  • Fallout – Lesley Parr

    Bloomsbury Australia October 2024 ISBN 9781526648013 Imprint Bloomsbury Children’s Books RRP: $15.99 I have been a fan of Lesley Parr’s writing since the very first I reviewed, and this new one is another fabulous read. I ate it up over this past weekend, thoroughly immersed in Marcus’ troubled life in his Welsh valley in the…

  • Courage be my Friend: the Vivian Bullwinkel Story – Jenny Davis

    Fremantle Press April 2024 ISBN: 9781760993726 RRP: $17.99 It would be completely unAustralian to not know the name of Vivian Bullwinkel and to know of her significant role in our history. But I’ll be honest in saying that I didn’t know very much beyond the general details. This is a fictionalised account of Vivian’s extraordinary courage…

  • Howzat Pat series #1 and #2 – Pat Cummins & Dave Hartley. Illustrated by Serena Geddes

    Harper Collins Australia October 2024 I admit that I’m not quite the cricket fan I once was [though, of course, I went to see the Bradman Collection when we were in Adelaide a fortnight ago!] but it was still pretty exciting, and also a lot of fun to write teaching notes for these two titles,…

  • The Space Between – Jess McGeachin

    Penguin Australia July 2024 Jess’ books are always a delight [I still love Business Chickens so much especially] and this one has all the warmth of a cosy blanket and a mug of hot chocolate, with a lovely look at both imagination and enduring friendship. Max and Milo are neighbours and they spend lots of…

  • Landovel – Emily Rodda

    Allen & Unwin October 2024 ISBN:9781761069758 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:A & U Children RRP: $39.99 A new Emily Rodda title is always a reason to be excited. When it arrives as a stunning 3 part trilogy in a very handsome slipcase, it’s like an early Xmas. A hero fights against the tide,Companions battle by his side.Danger,…

  • Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody – Patrick Ness. Illustrated by Tim Miller.

    Walker Books September 2024 ISBN13:9781529517958 Australia RRP:$16.99 New Zealand RRP:$18.99 I absolutely love Patrick Ness’ writing. The Chaos Walking trilogy is my all-time favourite YA read. And A Monster Calls is one of the most beautiful, powerful and poignant explorations of pain and grief ever, and breaks me every time I read it. In fact,…

  • The 113th Assistant Librarian – Stuart Wilson

    Penguin Australia When you get an ARC all wrapped up pretty just like a birthday present, you can be pretty sure it’s going to be an exciting surprise inside and so it was. I mean to say, how could they possibly go wrong sending me something called this with a stern warning about the magic…