Customer Reviews

Benny and Omar - Audio (Benny Shaw)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My 12-year old son and I greatly enjoyed reading this funny, illuminating, and entertaining coming-of-age story. We haven't read Artemus Fowl, so I can't really compare it, but this book, on its own, is outstanding. It follows a familiar coming-of-age story arc---problem child runs into crisis from which he learns and grows---but the book offers so much more than that. The story is told from the perspective of the always-in-trouble protagonist, but without a hint of patronizing condescension. The "Irishness" of the book's language and culture, and the African setting both add deliciously to the mix. The story never flags: lots of laughter and no small amount of suspense. Clever and original; we loved it.

Benny and Omar The O'Brien press, 2006, 279pp, $18.95
Eoin Colfer ISBN 978-1-4231-0281-6



What would you do if you had to move to Tunisia, Africa just because your dad got a promotion? Would you be happy for your dad and congratulate him? If you said yes to these questions then Benny did the exact opposite f you, in this fantastic realistic fiction by Eoin Colfer!!
Benny Shaw lives in his own little sarcastic and "not caring what other people think" kind of world. Having to move to Africa doesn't completely change that world, it just simply adjusts a little of it. There he finds out that the teachers' have their students call them by their first name but, Benny just calls them hippies. He also finds out that the students all hate him because of all his "negative energy," except one girl Grace that actually likes him. He also meets Omar who fools Benny into thinking he's still in Ireland
Each chapter has a title that's a little odd, for example chapter nine; Corpzublicked. It sounds weird now but throughout the book it explains itself.
I personally fell in love with this amazing book because it explains a crisis that a teenager would actually go through. I recommend this book to anyone that absolutely loves a good book! Eoin Colfer is a great author in this amazing thriller Benny and Omar!!

--Kati

I'm a huge Artemis Fowl, so when I was at the library and I saw the book Benny and Omar by Eoin Colfer and decided to check it out. I LOVED it! Benny and Omar is the story of twelve year old Benny, who moves all the way from his home in Ireland to Tunisia. In Tunisia Benny has trouble making friends with the other European children in the village he moved too. (Benny's dad works at a EuroGas plant, so Benny's not actually in contact with many Tunisians.) When Benny works his way over the village wall he makes friends with Omar, a young local. Omar lives in a small shack outside the village Benny lives in. Benny and Omar quickly become friends, and as the two become closer Benny realizes the hardships his friend faces on a regular base.
This story is amazingly funny, but when you step back and look past the laughter you see an amazing peice of literature. This book should be read by everyone!

Suitable for adults.

Communicating with only TV lingo, Benny finds a Tunisian friend and learns what's really important.

This book isn't supposed to be in the same style as Artemis Fowl. But, amazeningly, it far supasses it. The author weaves mystery, comedy and adventure in to a story whic to me, reminds me of a mixture of Survivor, Annie and the Producers.

The comedy is great. When i first read this book, i was 12, so i didn't reall y understand all of the jokes, but now, 2 years later, the jokes amuse to no end. The way that Benny and Omar communicate is classic, using TV terms like "I'm Bonds, James Bond Omar" to introduce ones self.

Okay. ENough of the fawning. Now to the plot. It's a great plot. Benny, a fairly self centered Irish preteen is moved with his family to Tunisia. There he teams up with a boy who lives in a cardboard box and has learn ed his english from TV. What follows is one of the best adeventures with children that i have ever read.

Omar, the boy, is basically living in poverty and with very little to survive on. He and BEnny instantly pair up and help each other out. Benny enjoys this all until Omar asks him to help kidnap Omars sick little sister.

Colfer writes it soooooo well. He had jokes at just the right time and develops Benny (and Omar a little bit) so well that you can really see the changes happening adn why. Despite the way that the book ended, i still enjoyed it emensly and Benny and Omar is one of my favorite books.

Ever.

a brilliant and hilarious plot,benny and omar is the best book i've read in ages! its a comedy,its action packed,its a bit romantic,its educational,and its a weepy too.i highly recommend for ages 10 to 100!

No it was not as good as the Artemis Fowl books but those books are some of my favourites. To people that say this book is not as good as the Artemis Fowl books I agree but it depends on what you're judging the books on. This book was just plainly a different style it was a realistic fiction book where as th Artemis Fowl books are fantasy. It was a really good book. It was funny, adventurous and touching. Even if it was not as good as the Artemis Fowl books in my opinion it was still really good and I definately reccomend it.

I got this book for my daughter because we both loved Artemis Fowl, Colfer's other novel. This one unfortunately does not measure up. But rush out to buy Artemis Fowl if you haven't already.

This book isn't quite as good as my autographted copies of the first 2 books out of 4 of the Artemis Fowl story. It's Colfer so it is definetly good but it lacks the zest of Artemis.