Description
A funny, raucous middle-grade romp grounded in First Nations storytelling, featuring a mischievous character brought to life by debut author Allison Rocca.
Joey Gibbs is always up for a laugh. What isn't funny - the 'Big Trouble' he caused at his old school that meant his family had to move back home to Coolibah Creek. Joey's going to keep his head down this time. New school, new mates, new start. But trouble seems to have a way of finding him.
When his sister and cousin start getting mysteriously pranked, Joey looks for answers from his Wakka Wakka culture. He discovers he's caught the attention of the Junjardy, a hairy little trickster. Joey can't resist making mischief again with his secret partner in crime. But as the jokes spiral out of control, he must work out what the Junjardy wants with him before disaster strikes.
Action-packed with loads of humour and heart, Joey and the Junjardy shows us how the smallest of creatures can help you to stand tall and proud.
Review
Eleven-year-old Joey is starting at Coolibah Creek Primary School, after the trouble that he got into at his last school forced his family to move. He loves drawing and has a close connection to his younger sister, Peggy. He befriends Beth, who uses a wheelchair, and they share a love of drawing. But class captain Bruno is quickly becoming his archenemy - and this can only lead to problems.
Then he meets the mischievous Junjardy, a small hairy little creature, who appears only to him. He learns of traditional stories of these creatures that ultimately end in trouble. Joey is unsure whether the Jundardy is helping him or not - he certainly causes lots of mayhem that often gets Joey out of doing things that he doesn’t like!
Then Bruno’s expensive art set goes missing and when it is found in Joey's bag, he gets suspended. He knows that Bruno set him up, but how can he prove it.
Can his amazing artwork and joint mural project with Bruno help to heal their differences?
Spending time learning about Country and culture, particularly with Uncle Tom and his cousin Len, helps Joey discover his identity and gain a sense of belonging.
This is a terrific story based on First Nations stories and how they can be shared through dance, drawings, and yarning. Exploring ties to Country, culture, community, and identity that shine in a fictional Australian small-town setting. It is an ideal read for all students aged from 8 to 12 years.
Teacher notes prepared by the publisher are available on our website for this title.
