Just Remember

by Donna Blaber

Em Rogers life changes forever when she gets her first after-school detention. If she'd known Dad would die in a traumatic accident on the way to pick her up, and Mum would suffer a nervous breakdown, she never would have talked in class that day. Was it all her fault?

After losing friends, confidence, and hope, Em moves north to Matapouri to live with Nan and finds a future with the help of new friends, a mermaid, and a magic rock.

116 pages, Paperback

Published May 10, 2021

About the author

Donna Blaber spent most of her childhood with her nose in a book, reading everything she could get her hands on. She grew up in a small town with a miniature library run by volunteer librarians with huge hearts. Every week they’d add their own recommendations to her book bag. Donna now has a Masters degree in Creative Writing, and enjoys writing stories set in New Zealand, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and much-loved Labrador.

Reviews

[Sammithenerd Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just remember is a sweet short story full of magic and friendship. The writing style would appeal to younger audiences while addressing the very grown up issues of dealing with grief, depression, mental health and the tragic consequences of texting while driving. I think it would be a great book to use in high school English classes.
A nice read but I think I wouldve preferred Abit more description of the main characters and the setting.
Looking forward to reading the next book.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a a great sequel in the Just series, it works as a standalone as well. I think it was a great young adult novel that helps deal with tough topics in a fantastical way. I enjoyed the way Donna Blaber wrote this and look forward to more.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Penny · Rating 3 out of 5]

A while ago I read Just End It by Donna Blaber, which I wanted to like a bit more than I probably did.

Just Remember is the second book in the series, although I would probably call it a companion novel, as you can read either book without needing to read the other.

I enjoyed this one more than Just End It (I think part of my problem with that novel is the title... it just didn't fit!) It introduces us to Em, who's life in Dunedin changes forever when she gets a detention and her dad is killed on the way to pick her up, along with her two unborn twin sisters.

Em's mum has a nervous breakdown and is taken into care, so Em is sent up to Matapouri in Northland to stay with her Nan, a special place as it is where she spent holidays with her dad. This is where we are reintroduced to Jessie from Just End It, and Mia, who befriend Em.

Em returns to a special Nikau palm where she and her dad used to sit and talk, and whilst she is there she meets a mermaid who is looking for a lost piece of obsidian... which just so happens to be on Em's windowsill at home.

Em promises to return the special rock, but things get complicated by an old-school baddy who is stealing plants from the reserve to sell on Trade Me.

The story moves along pretty quickly, and is generally easy to follow. It has the same sort of whimsical mysticism as Just End It, but I felt it dealt with it more expertly in this story.

There will definitely be takers for these books... and the story was left open for another one.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Em's father and unborn siblings die in a car accident as they are travelling to fetch her from school detention. Her mother has a nervous breakdown, and Em is sent to stay with her Nan. She blames herself for the accident and believes that her mother blames her too. In her loneliness, grief and confusion, Em breaks a rahui over the mermaid pools, to return to a nikau palm where she used to sit with her dad on holiday. The place was special to him, as he had told Em that he saw a mermaid there.

Interweaving magic and realism is something Blaber does deftly. The mermaid is back, and Em develops a friendship with her. The magical creature needs an obsidian rock to protect the pools and the other mermaids. Em realises she can help the mermaid, but a nasty neighbour has his own reasons for breaking the rahui (ban) on the mermaid pools. He will make it difficult for Em to help the mermaid, but with the help of new friends (from Just End It), Em might find a way.

The mermaid helps Em to find some peace around her dad's passing, with an ending that caused a big lump in my throat. The story is fast-paced with excellent characterisation (I especially like Nan), enough magic to enthral young readers, and sensitive handling of grief and loss. I look forward to the next book in this series (which can also be read alone).

[Jen Samson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A large dose of nostalgia!

As a multi genre reader, I usually enjoy young adult stories as much as I do a Stephen King novel. This one took me back to when I was little and losing myself in similar stories.
Em moves back to her dad's hometown after a terrible accident that changes her life. She meets Jessie and Mia, and together they go on an adventure that involves a black stone and a mermaid. Along the way they manage to solve the mystery of the missing plants.
As a child who quite literally wanted to be a mermaid when I was about 10 years old, this book was extra special.
I'm happy to continue the story with the next book.

[Coral Smith]

Em Roger's life changes drastically when her father dies suddenly and she is sent away to live with her Nan. Not fitting into a new school is not what Em wants to do while adjusting to this new family life but friendships come from the weirdest of places.