Philip Holden Stories: Part Two
- Kirsten Edwards
- 9 hours ago
- 4 min read
Author: Philip Holden Illustrator: Trish Bowles
In Part One, I reviewed the three-part White Patch series about a deer, written for young readers by the late Philip Holden. In this second part, I review three more of his books, which I think homeschoolers might consider adding to their reading logs if their children enjoy adventurous stories set in the New Zealand bush, involving nature and hunting.
Razorback
From the back cover: "Razorback is the story based on the life of that most dangerous of animals - the wild boar - whose bite is reckoned to be the worst in the animal kingdom. Twelve-year-old Roddy, his father and grandfather pit their courage and wits against Razorback, the magnificent and wily king of the rugged East Coast country - a wild boar of unparalleled size and ferocity."
The White Patch series focused on hunting the red deer; this book shifts to wild pig hunting and is aimed at young readers. Bob Gilmour loses two of his favourite dogs in a tragic pig-hunting accident. Devastated by the loss, he embarks on a hunting expedition with his son, Ken, and his grandson, Roddy. This is Roddy's first time hunting with the "big boys," and he is thrilled, until things go wrong, forcing him to grow up quickly as he faces unexpected challenges over the next few hours.
I really enjoyed this book. It's well-written and fast-paced; so much so that it even got me interested in pig hunting! Like White Patch, it alternates between chapters following the human characters and chapters following the pig, Razorback.
I particularly appreciated the strong family bond, portrayed beautifully through the father's perspective. Here's a taste of it:
"Ken was feeling that all was right with his world. He had enjoyed his life here from the very start. Within a very short time 'Raukumara' had become his home, while Bob and his wife became the parents he'd never had. Later, when he had married their only daughter, he had known that his loneliness was at an end. With the passing years, his love for Jenny had deepened, and in Roddy and his younger sister, he considered that he could not have had two better kids. He was a satisfied man. The thought gave him much pleasure." (p36)
I highly recommend this book, but with one caution: it contains quite a bit of cursing (e.g., bloody, sht, dan, taking the Lord's name in vain once, and b**tard), as well as mentions of smoking. For read-alouds, you can easily censor those parts, or consider it suitable for ages 12 and up.
Pack and Rifle (A New Zealand hunting classic)
From the back cover: "Philip Holden was one of New Zealand's best-known writers of hunting and outdoor books. First published in 1971, Pack and Rifle is Philip's first book and inspired generations to experience all the wild New Zealand has to offer. It is a fast-moving and humorous account of the often hazardous life of a Forest Service hunter, written with the deepest respect for the wild back-country, the animals that inhabit it and the men who hunt there. The book can be enjoyed by the young and the upcoming hunter as well as those who have been there on younger legs and who once lived the adventures of hunting in New Zealand's mighty back-country."
I couldn't review Philip Holden's books without including Pack and Rifle. This New Zealand classic immerses you in the world of hunting during the 1960s, when men were paid by the government to control populations of goats, deer, and pigs in conservation areas.
The book is Philip Holden's personal memoir, drawn from his diaries. He spent about ten years working for the New Zealand Forest Service as a deer culler, and he has plenty of gripping stories to share. Woven throughout are discussions of the varied terrains he hunted across the country, the different animals (deer, goats, and pigs), the rifles he used and their pros and cons, river crossings, what he packed for bush trips, bush cooking techniques, survival when stuck out overnight, and the hunting dogs he worked with. He includes plenty of humorous tales, such as encounters with crazy possums, alongside thrilling pursuits of elusive bull thar and prized wapiti bulls.
Eventually, he gives up his adventurous bushman's life for the woman he loves and discovers his talent for writing. The rest, as they say, is history.
A great read, especially for young adults. Keep in mind there's some low-level swearing, a bit of mention of drinking and smoking, and one page references pictures of big-breasted women on a wall. For an adult-oriented book, the content is very mild overall.
Lucy's Bear
(The Adventures of a New Zealand Teddy Bear)
From the back cover: "Theodore Bear is Lucy's constant companion, and certainly the best-dressed teddy bear in Auckland. Secretly, he longs to play rugby for New Zealand, but at present, he is quite content to accompany Lucy on a South Island holiday. Never could he have imagined the adventures in store for them."
Now for something very different from Holden! This is definitely not a hunting book. Written in 1996, when Holden was nearing retirement, he may have had a grandchild in mind for this gentle story.
It's a short chapter book aimed at very young readers (ages 3–8) about little Lucy and her teddy bear, Theodore. They fly from Auckland to the South Island to visit their uncle and aunt's farm, encounter a problem getting back home, but everything works out perfectly in the end.
The plot feels a little too neat and contrived for my taste, though there's a funny moment in the snow involving the bear. Theodore has his own thoughts, which add some charm and interest to the story. Young children will likely enjoy the sweet bond between Lucy and her bear. Overall, it's a lovely tale about family and friendship, enhanced by wonderful illustrations.
Philip Holden wrote another picture book called Farm Bear in 2003, but I have not been able to locate a copy.
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