Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

Picture Book Month extra: The Death of Dora Black: a Petticoat Police Mystery – Lainie Anderson

Hachette Australia Aug 28, 2024 | 9780733652066 | RRP $32.99 What a thoroughly enjoyable read this has been over the past few nights! I’m a tragic when it comes to cosy crime and murder mystery books and over the past couple of years I’ve had quite a number of YA titles to review, and also listened to a few…

November 17, 2024
Legend of the Lighthouse Moon – Helen Edwards

Riveted Press Distributed by Simon & Schuster October 2024 ISBN13: 9781763526013 RRP: AU$ 17.99 / NZ$ 19.99 What an enchanting story Helen Edwards has created with its rich blend of history, legend, family and love! Set on Kangaroo Island in the 1970s, Mona McKenna and her little brother, Albert, live an idyllic family life in…

October 7, 2024
Alex: Through My Eyes – Australian Disaster Zones – Rosanne Hawke, edited by Lynn White

Allen & Unwin August 2023 ISBN:9781760877002 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:A & U Children RRP: $18.99 While we all have the readers who relish the humour, the fantasy and the historical fiction, we equally have those kiddos who want the contemporary realistic fiction which demands thoughtful reflection, inspires resilience and develops a sense of empathy. All of…

August 9, 2023
Ming & Hilde Lead a Revolution (The Girls Who Changed the World #3) – Jackie French

Harper Collins Australia June 2023 Yesterday, I did a relief day with Preppies. I hadn’t intended to work as I was a bit ache-y, combination of arthritis with the colder weather and possibly, the covid booster but after knocking back four offers, I took the fifth because a) private school I’d never visited b) the…

June 10, 2023
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…

June 4, 2023
Will the Wonderkid: Treasure Hunter of the Australian Outback – Stephanie Owen Reeder

National Library of Australia February 2020 ISBN: 9780642279521 RRP: $24.99 I adore this series! In Heritage Heroes, Reeder not only takes her readers on adventures but provides rich fodder for hunters of history. Each volume has explored the (often unknown) achievements of young Australian people of the past in a fictionalised narrative which is lavishly…

January 27, 2020
Outback Wonder – Juliet M. Sampson

Brolga Publishing 2017 ISBN: 9781925367935 RRP $19.99 Many of you will be familiar with Juliet’s recent picture book, Grace’s Mystery Seed, which has been widely praised and garnered considerable accolades – and rightly so. However you may not be so well acquainted with her earlier novels which have also been positively received. Outback Wonder is Juliet’s…

July 28, 2019