The Waimoana glittered beneath the bridge. The whole valley felt like it was breathing slow and quiet in the sunlight. The names, lives, the treasures of all our family and all the other families who lived here seemed to be streaming through my mind.

I gazed towards the swamp once more. The two hawks hovered there together, powerful and silent against the polished sky. A perfect pair. A real team, just like me and Melody. And all of a sudden, I had this picture of our two families stretching down through all the years, and of her and me, that … that I’ll never in my life be able to tell anyone about. I whacked my crim-catching stick against the side of the bridge, and hurried on.

Over the stile, across the home paddock, through the gate. Dad stood on the lawn, staring in the direction of the bridge. ‘Mum thought she heard sirens, son. What’s all the traffic?’

Mum came through the back door, silver bracelet on her wrist. I saw she’d been crying, and something inside me seemed to turn over. They’ve decided, I realised. They’ve made up their minds. Nana Ailsa was behind, holding Pania’s hand. The greenstone bat hung around Pania’s neck, and there were tears on her face as well.

‘Are you all right, love?’ my mother asked. Uncle Sholto had followed the others out, looking serious. I glimpsed Great-nana Beth and Great-uncle John as well. ‘What’s been happening, Callum?’ Uncle Sholto went.

I didn’t answer any of them. I drew in a breath that felt as if it filled my whole body. ‘We’re … we’re going to stay here, aren’t we?’ I asked. ‘Please can we — for ever and ever?’

David Hill lives and writes in New Plymouth. His books for children and young adults have won awards in New Zealand, the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany. His mother’s family lived in a river valley very much like the one in Finding.

ALSO BY DAVID HILL

Brave Company

Coming Back

Enemy Camp

Flight Path

My Brother’s War

No Safe Harbour

See Ya, Simon

The Deadly Sky

Sixteen-year-old Boy Seaman Russell Purchas is stationed on HMNZS Taupo, which has just entered hostile waters off the coast of Korea. It’s 1951, and his ship is part of the United Nations force fighting in the Korean War. Russell is determined to prove himself against the communists — not just because he wants to be brave, but because he wants to escape the shadow of his Uncle Trevor, killed in World War II. Everyone thinks Trevor was a hero, but Russell knows the shameful truth.

But can Russell keep himself together when the shells start falling? And does he really know what courage means?

New Zealand Listener’s 50 Best Children’s Books List 2013

Also available as an eBook