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Finding
Scotland, September 1886. A family boards a ship bound for New Zealand. What will their new lives hold? Will they find the opportunities and riches denied them in their homeland? And will they ever call this strange, faraway country home? Leap forward a decade and the family have settled near the banks of a river, befriended by the people of the neighbouring pa. But their new existence has been paid for with some terrible losses. Through the decades and right up to the present day, more tests lie ahead - war, earthquakes, protest marches, brushes with death. And so do some thrilling discoveries. Life in this quiet river valley is never boring. Master storyteller David Hill traces the fortunes of two New Zealand families, through seven generations and over 130 years of fast-flowing change, in this exciting and richly rewarding novel.
Kindle Edition
Published April 30, 2018
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About the author
David Hill
52 books46 followersDavid Hill (born 1942) is a New Zealand author, especially well known for his young adult fiction. His young fiction books See Ya, Simon (1992) and Right Where It Hurts (2001) have been shortlisted for numerous awards. He is also a prolific journalist, writing many articles for The New Zealand Herald.
He cites Maurice Gee as his favourite author, and Joy Cowley and Margaret Mahy as his favourite children's authors.
Hill attended Victoria University in Wellington, graduating MA Hons in 1964. Hill currently lives in New Plymouth.
He cites Maurice Gee as his favourite author, and Joy Cowley and Margaret Mahy as his favourite children's authors.
Hill attended Victoria University in Wellington, graduating MA Hons in 1964. Hill currently lives in New Plymouth.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 29, 2025
Finding by David Hill has an important title because a quote that reflects it is,“Treasure waiting to be discovered.” The title explains that we are continuously finding things even if we don't think we are, and there are always great things in life if we keep looking. An idiom that reflects this quote is “a diamond in the rough.” It tells us that the treasure or the diamond may not be obvious immediately, but that it is hiding, waiting to be found, and that we won't know until we look. The quote teaches us that life is full of hidden treasures; we just have to open our heads and hearts to find them. In Finding, when the Scottish arrive in New Zealand, the land is a metaphorical treasure waiting to be explored and claimed. As the story goes on, treasure is not just wealth, it is the relationships that are made with the native Maori who become pretty much family in every way, in the book Ailsa is given the taonga or treasures of both sides of the family and it makes her feel special, “I touched the silver bracelet and the little greenstone bat tuckd away in my pocket. I had offered them back but Nana Whina smiled and said, “keep them, you’ve earned them.” This made Ailsa feel proud and accomplished. The writer's purpose in this was to show the deep bond that the Scottish and Maori have developed and the trust and love that they have. The Scottish immigrants had struck gold with the relationships they had maintained for over 100 years. They have found their purpose with many ups and downs, but also treasures that will be in their family forever. From this book, we have learnt that treasure is always around the corner, it might not be obvious immediately, but it is there even in the worst situations. The second quote explained that small amounts of love can make you feel special. The deep bonds between the two families that have been forged over generations are special treasures that they have found. The title exemplifies this by highlighting the fact that we are finding things everyday, even if they are small. Together, both quotes show the unity and the fact that the real treasure isn't gold or money, it’s the connections and experiences that are made.
June 28, 2021
Read for a second time, this is a great snapshot of New Zealand history told through the eyes of the generations of two families, one stemming from a newly immigrant family from Scotland, the other the local Maori family who helped them settle. I think would make a good readaloud for year 5-8 to support an NZ history inquiry, plenty of activities and research to run alongside.
May 13, 2018
An interesting and well written story about a Pakeha and Maori family who live in the same area and become friends starting in 1886 through to the present day. It chronicles historical events like war, Tangiwai disaster and Springbok Tour.
May 6, 2021
Finding is a book about two families, one who came to New Zealand from Scotland in 1886, and a Māori family who've lived there for generations. It follows members of the Scottish family through the generations until 2018 where .
For me, the best part of the story was when
My favourite character is named Whina, there's one scene where three Māori kids are refused service at a milkshake bar, and she comes in and delivers a devastating blow to the shop owner in the most calm and collected way.
4/5 (I would give it higher, but the way the story is structured makes it hard to grow attached to the characters, and often finding out a person has died more makes you go, "huh" instead of feeling sad, at least for me)
For me, the best part of the story was when
My favourite character is named Whina, there's one scene where three Māori kids are refused service at a milkshake bar, and she comes in and delivers a devastating blow to the shop owner in the most calm and collected way.
4/5 (I would give it higher, but the way the story is structured makes it hard to grow attached to the characters, and often finding out a person has died more makes you go, "huh" instead of feeling sad, at least for me)
November 26, 2018
Two families – one maori, one Scottish (and new to New Zealand), come together in this novel. They learn about one another, from hearing the strange bagpipes for the first time, to learning about land and how sacred it is.
Lifelong bonds develop and family stories between the two cultures are soon inextricably woven together down through the generations with tales of war, hardship, friendship and belonging. The land they live on and the river that runs through it, is as much a part of them and their shared history, as family members and neighbours.
This novel is separated into sections across these generations, with different members from the 1800’s through to the present, sharing a piece of their life as it is now – all aware of how their family history relates to them as a person.
Finding would make a fantastic reading resource for NZ history or Social Sciences, as the family’s stories show how New Zealand has changed across the generations from early settlers to now. Farming, our people, and our attitudes to many issues that have faced us as kiwi’s over the years are portrayed in an interesting narrative that will promote discussion in the classroom and inform interested readers.
Lifelong bonds develop and family stories between the two cultures are soon inextricably woven together down through the generations with tales of war, hardship, friendship and belonging. The land they live on and the river that runs through it, is as much a part of them and their shared history, as family members and neighbours.
This novel is separated into sections across these generations, with different members from the 1800’s through to the present, sharing a piece of their life as it is now – all aware of how their family history relates to them as a person.
Finding would make a fantastic reading resource for NZ history or Social Sciences, as the family’s stories show how New Zealand has changed across the generations from early settlers to now. Farming, our people, and our attitudes to many issues that have faced us as kiwi’s over the years are portrayed in an interesting narrative that will promote discussion in the classroom and inform interested readers.
May 13, 2018
In Scotland in 1886, a family boards a ship for New Zealand and a better life. The family settles, becomes friends with a local Maori family and as the generations pass the two families become intertwined. Each chapter introduces us to a new generation and we see their lives played out against the background of New Zealand history until we finish in 2018.
Written by accomplished children's author, David Hill, this book is a superbly well-written introduction to New Zealand history wrapped up in a compelling family saga. Events such as the Napier earthquake, World War I and II, Women's Suffrage, the Tangiwai disaster and the Springbok tour all feature in this book but never take over from the main story of the two families. Each character is distinct and memorable and although each chapter introduces a new character, the stories of the earlier characters are continued. A family tree at the beginning helps the reader keep track of all the relationships while a map of the area adds interest. This book is a great read for children 10 and up and would be an excellent read-aloud from a slightly earlier age.
Reviewed by Penny Guy (Bookrapt)
Written by accomplished children's author, David Hill, this book is a superbly well-written introduction to New Zealand history wrapped up in a compelling family saga. Events such as the Napier earthquake, World War I and II, Women's Suffrage, the Tangiwai disaster and the Springbok tour all feature in this book but never take over from the main story of the two families. Each character is distinct and memorable and although each chapter introduces a new character, the stories of the earlier characters are continued. A family tree at the beginning helps the reader keep track of all the relationships while a map of the area adds interest. This book is a great read for children 10 and up and would be an excellent read-aloud from a slightly earlier age.
Reviewed by Penny Guy (Bookrapt)
October 2, 2018
"Finding"tells the story of a family emigrating from Scotland and settling in New Zealand. As their lives entwine with the local Maori and the family grows and prospers over the years, David Hill chronologically tells events in NZ history through the eyes of key family members. An interesting idea, but I felt that it had a once-over-lightly approach, and it felt contrived. There were too many characters which was confusing, especially as the characters were not fleshed out. I found the writing pedestrian and factual with not enough conversation.
However, for the audience it was meant for, intermediate age and early secondary, the novel gives a good overview of historical events and portrays well the changing relationships between Pakeha and Maori, a growing multiculturalism, and changes to land use.
However, for the audience it was meant for, intermediate age and early secondary, the novel gives a good overview of historical events and portrays well the changing relationships between Pakeha and Maori, a growing multiculturalism, and changes to land use.
August 16, 2020
A good idea for a story. We follow the generations of pakeha farmers from their arrival in the 1800's to the present day. Hill has used some significant moments in NZ history to bring the story to life. However the story is quite repetitive and I got lost in the names and relationships so I was constantly flicking back to the family tree which was drawn upwards (beautifully, but a bit confusing for me). Towards the end there was more rehashing of family events than new story for the youngest narrator.
I hope this book finds it's readers. Suitable for Y7-13, with no 'sticky' bits...the reader is in safe hands!
I hope this book finds it's readers. Suitable for Y7-13, with no 'sticky' bits...the reader is in safe hands!
February 22, 2019
It was a good book, the type of book that will stay with me forever.To be honest it wasn't special way of writing or special story, it was just ordinary.It makes us question our origin and it shows how life really is.There are many people before us and many that will become after us.Many years from now, i want to do something similar.I want to write my story in a book where i pass it to many generations after me, that if everything works out.
Thank you David for writing this book for it made me realise that once or one day there would be someone else, there will always be someone else.
Thank you David for writing this book for it made me realise that once or one day there would be someone else, there will always be someone else.
August 18, 2022
a very sweet story about the history of new zealand spanning between 1886 and 2018. i liked getting to know all the characters and how their lives are intertwined. it was also cool to see the use of real events such as wwi, wwii, the springboks tour and the napier earthquake. although each chapter read the same way, it didn’t get boring. great wee story.
August 19, 2018
Read for readers cup. Great idea. Great to read a book from New Zealand.
August 31, 2018
This is a 3.5 star book for me. I always love a bit of history and David Hill describes quite a few major events in the history of New Zealand.
July 1, 2025
Great NZ novel to read aloud to students!!
July 21, 2018
A solid senior fiction read, with interesting characters and tie ins to historical events in NZ history. I felt it got a little repetitive after a few chapters, the earlier stories were much more engrossing than those set after WW1.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews