Freddie, along with his trusty assistance dog Hobnob and Grandma Lilly, is off to join his parents at a luxury resort for his first ever holiday. He can’t wait to see the rainforest and its incredible and dangerous inhabitants like cassowaries and crocodiles.
But it turns out there’s more to explore – and in store – than Freddie ever imagined. The ecosystem is not behaving as it should, and noises, lights and sounds are popping up all around the resort, leaving behind a trail of mysterious and unexpected trees. Who, or what, is behind it?
Can Freddie, Hobnob and Grandma Lilly solve the mystery, or will it be too late?
Buy a copy of Freddie Jones The Mystery of the Troublesome Trees here.
Read some great reviews from our Preview readers here:
My children (boys 7 & 4) and I absolutely loved this story! This book was full of fun and adventure and our main character, Freddie Jones, was our favourite, alongside his support dog Hobnob. Not only did this story introduce us to Hobnob biscuits, which was a little bit of excitement to accompany the storyline – it created a sense of adventure and mystery. We learned about Autism and Anxiety and how they can play a part in everyday life. We also learned that it’s okay to take a breather, collect our thoughts and re-join our activity when ready. For children, I believe it is important that they feel represented in this way and I think Kate Foster has done an excellent job in showcasing the emotion in this book which then creates conversations around very important feelings. Whilst this book is targeted towards 8 to 12 year olds, I believe it would be fun for readers of any age. Our family thoroughly enjoyed this story and we are very eagerly awaiting the next books in the series! 7yo – It was really adventurous and I had so much fun investigating with my family! 4yo – I love the book so much, I want to read more! Kayla, QLD, 4 & 7, 5 stars
I read this book with my granddaughter she loved it. It was fun and exciting. She’s now eagerly waiting for the next in the series. This is a book that I will be adding to my school library. Debbie, VIC, 5 stars
Such a great read & very relatable too. I loved the accurate depiction of Freddie as a neurodiverse character. Written in a friendly, warm tone of voice too which made me want to keep turning the pages to see what will happen next. Melanie, VIC, 5 stars
Oh, Freddie Jones, you wonderful boy. I think authentic representation of neurodivergent kids in children’s books is difficult to find, but this book gets it. Freddie and his mate Hobnob, and his wonderful, over-the-top, boundary pushing grandma really make an interesting investigative mystery come alive. Mr 9 (the Little who read this one) is no stranger to neurodivergence and traits were recognised by him. He was engaged in how things were handled, understood and talked about between the characters. I think there is potential for those traits and the running inner monologue portrayed in this book to feel ‘heavy’ for some readers, but for others it will be affirming, easily recognised and/or already known and experienced. I think, or maybe I hope, that readers, young and old, will be prompted to be more thoughtful and empathetic. The mystery is well written. The adventure is adventuring. The friendship between Freddie and Hobnob can be felt from the first page. The side characters really add to the story. Everything comes together to make a funny, heartfelt and full story that will engage the reader. Mr 9 and I are eager for more adventures with Freddie Jones. Aotea, QLD, 9, 5 stars
Freddie Jones: The Mystery of the Troublesome Trees is an engaging and heart-warming middle-grade mystery that combines adventure, humour and important themes of inclusion. The story follows Freddie Jones, an autistic boy, as he embarks on a holiday to a rainforest resort with his parents, his assistance dog Hobnob, and his lively Grandma Lilly. When strange things begin happening in the rainforest — including mysterious lights and unusual tree behaviour — Freddie’s curiosity is sparked. Using his sharp observation skills, strong sense of logic and determination, Freddie works to uncover the truth behind the troubling mystery. One of the book’s greatest strengths is its positive representation of autism. Freddie’s autism is portrayed respectfully and realistically, highlighting his unique strengths rather than focusing on limitations. His perspective plays a key role in solving the mystery, showing young readers that thinking differently can be a powerful asset. Kate Foster’s writing is accessible and engaging, making this an enjoyable and meaningful read. Overall, this book is a thoughtful mystery that celebrates neurodiversity, resilience and the value of seeing the world in different ways. Susan, WA, 12, 5 stars
One thing I found very interesting was Freddie’s insight into his autism as he constantly was finding ways to avoid being overwhelmed by situations. Any story involving dogs and I am hooked. The story flowed well with real characters and familiar places. Freddie’s anxiety during his flight made me smile as I feel the same way too. As a nanny myself, I loved the relationship between Lilley and Freddie. It made for a heart warming and delightful read. The reader will learn interesting facts about the Daintree flora and fauna as well as a juicy mystery thrown in. Shelley, QLD, 5 stars
‘Troublesome trees’ make for a fantasy-based mystery, sure to draw in young readers, but there is also plenty of factual information about cassowaries and the Daintree rainforest to inform those curious about the natural world. I love how the interaction between Freddie and his assistance dog Hobnob is depicted. It enlightened me as to the difference a reassuring animal connection can make to an autistic person, along with earphones to block out over-the-top sensory stimulation and sign language to communicate distress. This is definitely a book to be recommended for primary school libraries, raising awareness about neurodivergence, in a format that will be attractive to all young readers. Helen, SA, 5 stars
I really loved this book and am keen to pass it on to the right 10 year old reader. (Sadly, I received my preview copy during the school holidays, so couldn’t enlist a student reader from the beginning.) Fun characters, Scooby Doo vibes and a really original environmental message. A sensitive portrayal of an ASD protagonist and his Gran, who has some similar sensitivities (and a love of George Michael!) Freddie explains why he finds some situations difficult and shares his coping strategies, most especially snuggling up with Hobnob, his assistance dog. This is all part of the story, though, so never feels preachy or that Freddie is “other”. He just is – and he’s very loveable. I can’t wait for his next adventure! Heidi, VIC, 5 stars
Grace, 12, says: at first I thought this was for younger readers because of the simple language, but I quickly got interested. It was a really great story. The characters were very vivid. I liked Freddie and Grandma Lilly made me laugh. It was a really interesting mystery to solve. Mum, much older, says: this is a lively story which cloaks a compassionate depiction of how a youngster with autism experiences and copes with the world. It’s highly readable and entertaining, and will subtly give readers a better understanding of how some people with autism experience the world. Lorraine, ACT, 12, 5 stars
This book was so exciting that I didn’t want to stop reading it! I really liked the character Hobnob, who is a dog, because he is kind to Freddie.This is a great book to read for anyone who has Autism, as Freddie does as well. Freddie’s two sidekicks are Grandma Lilly and Hobnob and they are solving the mystery of the troublesome trees. These trees pop up everywhere! They pop up on beaches and all around the Daintree, which is quite a mystery. The trees even grow really quickly, much faster than a normal tree. Working together Freddie, Hobnob and Grandma Lilly work together using kindness and creativity to join the clues and solve the mystery. This book was awesome because Grandma Lilly is really funny. She is a comedian who likes to take photos and helps Freddie solve the mystery. Grandma Lilly thinks she is a good detective because Grandpa used to be a detective and she helped him to solve mysteries. When Freddie’s Mum and Dad weren’t working, they would go out together on boats or to a restaurant. It was nice to read a book with a lot of kindness in it. Overall I really liked the characters in this book. If you like detective stories I recommend this book. I can’t wait till May and September when the next Freddie Jones books are coming out. I will be buying them for sure! Spencer, VIC, 8, 5 stars
My kids loved this story they devoured it in a day, they said it was just what they have always wanted in a book Jessica, NSW, 11, 5 stars
Freddie Jones was an engaging mystery with an interesting cast of characters. I loved the relationship Freddie has with his grandma and their secret investigations. Freddie’s worries and challenges are clearly described, as are his strategies for working through them. I would love to see pages from his writing journal illustrated in the book! Lots of facts about cassowaries and the Daintree which sparked my curiosity to look up more information – thanks to the authors note for providing links to help with this. I am interested to see what adventure Freddie has next. Fran, NSW, 4 stars
What can I say but what a joy it was to read Freddie Jones: The Mystery of the Troublesome Trees by Kate Foster. When I first started, I was worried the book would be a trite story trying to sell the Australian lifestyle – how wrong I was. Foster exquisitely portrays the workings of the mind of a child with Autism (my only gripe is that she says “I’m Autistic” rather than “I have Autism”) and the way his family embraces his worries, his loves, his interests and his meltdowns. But whilst this story has a special needs element, it brilliantly shows how having Autism does not become all encompassing. Freddie Jones and his awesome, personality filled Grandma secretly take over an investigation of a mysterious takeover of plants and cassowaries at a Daintree Resort. I wish these characters were real – I wish the resort was real – however neither are. My only consolation is that the mysterious bird that is the cassowary (another central character in the book) is a very real and very Australian bird. I can’t wait for the second book in the mystery series! I’ve passed this on to my 8 year old to read next. Jess, NSW, 4 stars
I read this with my 9 year old niece and we both enjoyed the adventure. Tara, VIC, 9-14, 3 stars
I did not enjoy this book; the start was not captivating and definitely didn’t encourage me to continue reading the story. The themes of the book did not suit my personal taste. I didn’t finish the stories for many reasons. The main reason being the level of excitement that this story lacks. Adriana, NSW, 10, 1 star
Buy a copy of Freddie Jones The Mystery of the Troublesome Trees here.
Stories like Freddie Jones often revolve around journeys, curiosity, and navigating unfamiliar paths—something that resonates even in real life when dealing with transport systems. Services like Parivahan play a quiet but important role in everyday journeys by simplifying vehicle registration, driving licence services, and transport-related documentation. When systems work smoothly, they remove obstacles and allow people to focus on the journey itself, much like a well-paced story keeps readers engaged without unnecessary confusion.