Wild Pork and Watercress by Barry Crump is an interesting adventure read. A young half-Maori boy, Ricky and his cantankerous uncle, Hec, take to the wilds of New Zealand in order to avoid Social Services taking Ricky into care after his Aunt Bella dies. The story is touching, funny, charming and full of adventure.

First published in 1986, I wasn’t sure if this “boys” book that would hold my attention, but no worries, I was grabbed from the start as Ricky and his Uncle Hec, both natural loners, learn to live together and eventually trust each other. So when Uncle Hec’s wife, Bella, dies, Hec is not at all agreeable to giving Ricky up. Hec is an outdoors man and knows the country through which they travel and he teaches Ricky how to survive in these wild lands. Together these two forge an unbreakable bond that sees them through the rough living and sparse comfort that they endure.

While the writing of Wild Pork and Watercress is fairly simple, it’s easy going style and economical charm woos the reader and the story is a touching one that stays within the boundaries of being believable. ( )

I usually think the book version of a story is better than the movie, but sometimes the opposite is true. In this case, I enjoyed the book (Wild Pork and Watercress) and the movie (Hunt for the Wilderpeople) equally even though they have very different endings. Barry Crump (book) and Taika Waititi (movie) both have wonderfully humorous ways of looking at the world, and if anybody had to turn this book into a movie, I can’t think of anyone who could do it better. The book has a lot of words and phrases that would be familiar to any New Zealander, but I had to look things up (for example, a chook is a chicken) which added to my enjoyment. Wild Pork and Watercress is funny, engaging, touching, and sometimes sad. Long live Ricky Baker! ( )

A great book that is humourous. An easy read that makes you want to keep going from start to finish. ( )

This is a great story, of the relationship between two loners--overweight Maori boy Ricky and grizzled old Pakeha 'Uncle Hec'. Ricky's been in and out of foster care his whole life and Uncle Hec ... well, he just doesn't like people. The story picks up when these two head into the bush to escape the police--who want to put Ricky back into care--and the adventures they have trying to survive. Like all of Crumpie's books the writing is rough and ready but always engaging, and the development of the relationship between the young, withdrawn boy and the older, weary man is handled exceptionally well and never feels anything less than true.Highly recommended for anyone.Apparently Taika Waititi (of 'Boy' fame) is set to make it into a movie, which could be interesting. The story is simple and strong enough to make a great film, and Taika has proven himself to be a deft character director. Worth keeping an eye on, I think! ( )