Benny and Babe [Hardcover]

Eoin Colfer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2001

Benny glowered at her. Babe by name, but most certainly not by nature. A summer in the Irish countryside is not Benny Shaw's idea of a good time. Especially since the people of Duncade don't appreciate him as the sporting prodigy that he is. All he gets is teasing, which is a favourite pastime of annoying tomboy Babe Meara. Streetwise Benny has met his match and he doesn't know the rules of this particular game. And when Babe turns from a real pain into a real girl, the trouble well and truly begins.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grades 6-8--Humor, sensitivity, and candor underscore this coming-of-age story that features incredibly well-drawn characters. First introduced in Benny and Omar (O'Brien, 2001), 13-year-old Benny Shaw is Colfer's protagonist once again. He is a townie, spending his summer holidays on the coast with his lighthouse-keeper Granda. Babe is a wooller, a local, and the inherent prejudice between the two groups defines the state of their relationship at first. Benny meets her and her dog Conger at a hurling game. Their initial encounter is far from congenial, but a rocky friendship develops. Eventually they form a "partnership" to retrieve fishing bait lost in the water. With their combined forces they gather the bait in order to market it, often selling it back to the people who lost it. Enter Furty Howlin, the town bad boy with a dreadful home life who has already been in prison for a botched robbery attempt. He, too, is selling bait, and the competition begins. Danger follows, Furty is involved in their rescue, and Benny and Babe learn something about their relationship. In the beginning, the Irish colloquialisms are off-putting, but the wonderfully constructed story and the fully developed characters help readers to get past the obstacle. This book has it all-an absorbing story, vibrant characters with whom readers will surely identify, and an on-target narrative voice.
Renee Steinberg, Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJ
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

'There is hardly a page which will not have a reader laughing aloud' The Irish Times --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Sagebrush Education Resources (October 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 141760087X
• ISBN-13: 978-1417600878
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Eoin Colfer (pronounced Owen) is the New York Times best-selling author
of the blockbuster Artemis Fowl series as well as Airman; Half Moon
Investigations; The Supernaturalist; Eoin Colfer's Legend of... books;
The Wish List; Benny and Omar; and Benny and Babe. He was born in
Wexford on the southeast coast of Ireland in 1965, where he and his four
brothers were brought up by his father (an elementary school teacher,
historian and artist of note) and mother (a drama teacher). He first
developed an interest in writing in primary (elementary) school with
gripping Viking stories inspired by history that he was learning in
school at the time.

Eoin got his degree from Dublin University and qualified as a primary
school teacher, returning to work in Wexford. He married in 1991 and he
and his wife spent about 4 years between 1992 and 1996 working in Saudi
Arabia, Tunisia and Italy. His first book, Benny and Omar, was published
in 1998, based on his experiences in Tunisia; it has since been
translated into many languages; a sequel followed in 1999. In 2001, the
first Artemis Fowl book was published worldwide to much success -
shortly thereafter he left teaching to concentrate fully on his writing.
To this day, Eoin has written 6 Artemis Fowl books which have sold over
12 million copies worldwide.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Hit, April 29, 2004

By 

Gia (Connecticut, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Benny and Babe (Benny Shaw) (Paperback)

I really enjoyed this book, like many of Colfer's others! The action was non-stop, which is what I like in a book. Since it is based on kids my age, I could really relate. The battle between good and evil got an unexpected twist in the end, when Furty does something good for the pair. Benny and Babe are opposites, and (...) what makes them funny. Babe insults Benny on being a Townie, and Benny comes back with a Culchie remark. Figurative language pops out at you just as fast as Babe's quick remarks. I loved hearing about what would happen next; from the kiss to Black Chan. This book took me on a roller coaster that I actually enjoyed!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great story, excellent writing style, May 12, 2011

By 

bswelch - See all my reviews

This review is from: Benny and Babe (Benny Shaw) (Hardcover)

Eoin Colfer hits a home run with Benny and Babe in both content and style. Benny and Babe is a classic coming of age story about 13 year old Benny who is a hurling all-star plagued with a very liberal mother and a little brother who won't behave like little brothers should. Benny also still play with dolls (technically its an action figure, but no one would care about the difference if they ever found out). Benny's life changes while visiting his grandfather for the summer in a small fishing village where he meets Babe, a rambunctious Tomboy with a "crazed one-eyed" dog named Conger. Benny and Babe end up friends and partners in a lure business where they find old lures and sell them to fisherman. All is fine an well until Furty Howlin enters the mix, then things get interesting.

Colfer uses a very fun writing style that can be described as tongue in cheek at times. Although the main character is 13, Benny and Babe can appeal to older audiences because of the humor and writing style included. Themes include, coming of age, friends, entrepreneurship, juvenile delinquency, alcoholism, and responsibility. Colfer touches on all of these themes in a tactful and very realistic way, bringing a sense of truth to the story. Benny and Babe, is an excellent book that is definitely worth the read.

4.0 out of 5 stars Funny coming-of-age tale, October 8, 2010

By 

Anne Bella (NS, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Benny and Babe (Benny Shaw) (Paperback)

Eoin Colfer, better known for his Artemis Fowl books, has created a sympathetic and believable character in Benny. My 12 year-old daughter and I both completely enjoyed the Irish setting, the humour, and the adventures of Benny and his "business partner" and possible love interest, Babe.