Rhino Chasers [Paperback]

Neil Grant (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2003

Reminiscent of Alex Garland’s The Beach, this action-packed novel brilliantly depicts one teenager's journey to understanding the importance of relationships, responsibility, and revenge. Sharp and punchy writing energizes Goog's road trip along the coastline of Australia with his two best friends; however, their time enjoying the surf is compromised by vivid encounters with sharks the size of trucks, a sinister hitchhiker, and neo-Nazis. As their trouble and excitement grow along their epic trip, so does their strength and independence.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 10 Up-Three scruffy surfer boys decide to cross Australia with their "rhino chaser" boards tied to the roof of an old Kingswood wagon, in search of the "big wave." The road trip takes readers over a bumpy plot involving the theft of a computer disk from a neo-Nazi group and a reappearing sinister hitchhiker who is sent to retrieve the disk from the beach bums. Numerous stops to fix their car provide opportunities to meet peripheral characters such as some German campers and "red-necked" Aborigines. The story is more engaging when the action revolves around surfing. One of the boys disappears in shark-infested waters but the ending suggests that he didn't die. The dynamic among the main characters is established at the outset but changes later on. Aldo is ruled by hormones, artistic Goog is weak, and Castro is the mediator between his two bickering mates. When Castro disappears, Goog gains a backbone and uses life's hard lessons to mature. Language is raw and filled with surfing slang. Action-filled passages that take readers out on the waves will appeal to real fans of the sport. As narrator, it is Goog's photographic eye that relays the beauty and danger of the sea. Unfortunately, wonderful imagery doesn't make up for a portrayal of surfers as a misogynistic lot who can't utter a sentence without using profanity.
Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia High School, NY
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Brisk, realistic, and accessible novel . . . shows the politically incorrect—and vitally accurate—Weltanschang of boyhood’s final fling." -- Kliatt, July, 2003

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 16 and up
  
• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Allen & Unwin (June 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1865086959
• ISBN-13: 978-1865086958
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,189,739 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Author's reply to Vicky Reutter's review, October 3, 2003

By 

Neil Grant (Diamond Creek, Victoria, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rhino Chasers (Paperback)

I was impressed to read Vicki Reutter's review of my novel "Rhino Chasers". It was thoughtful and well-written and it is rewarding for an author to have a someone undertake such a close reading of their book.

I felt, however, that my novel may have been slightly short-changed. "Rhinos" is accused of portraying surfers as a "misogynistic lot who can't utter a sentence without using profanity". I think this is definitely true of Aldo who is guilty of both these things. He is a narrow-minded racist who takes a heavy tumble for his poor attitude. His bad language indicates his inarticulate nature and was a cause of some concern to me both during and after the writing of "Rhino Chasers". Those who I talked to (editors, teachers, fellow classmates in my creative writing course) all said one thing: the language is authentic and entirely in-keeping with Aldo's character. He is also a misogynist, mainly due to his inability to relate to women, but I don't think either Goog or Castro are; and I'm certainly not willing to attach this label to all surfers. The surfer culture is fairly male-orientated and, although that is changing, I wanted this story to be about three young guys. I didn't set out to exclude female characters it just happened that Goog, Castro and Aldo took over the narrative.

As to the comments about the Aboriginals the boys meet on the road being "red-necked" they are far from that. Without entering into a dialogue about land rights and how the first inhabitants of Australia have been marginalised and robbed of their culture, I wanted to show how Aldo would react when he comes into contact with them. That he shouts at them that it isn't their land, it is Australia (his land), highlights a common perception among certain people that this country doesn't have traditional owners.

I am glad that Vicki enjoyed the "wonderful imagery" associated with the sea. It is my love of the ocean and surfing that inspired me to write "Rhinos". I hope she can read through the profanities and into the subtext of the novel. I also hope she will enjoy the sequel to "Rhino Chasers" which will be published next year by Allen & Unwin.