A challenge faced by the character Ricky Baker in Barry Crump’s novel Wild Pork and Watercress is after Ricky’s aunt Bella dies and Ricky and Uncle Hec were hiding in the bush. This challenge helped me understand that Ricky was a persevering, independent young man who and was able to exceeded his own expectations survive numerous several life-threatening situations in the bush such as helping uncle Hec when he broke his foot, hunting for food, keeping hidden from searchers, ricky surprised himself by getting over the physical challenges of being a ‘fat Maori boy’.