Benny, a sports-obsessed, carefree kid, is convinced that he can take on the world—until he spends the summer living with his grandfather and meets resident tomboy and all-around tough-girl Babe Meara. Benny may be a wise guy, but Babe is at least three steps ahead of him. And now he’s on her territory. A “townie” visiting for the holidays, Benny must accept the challenges of the country ways head-on. The locals play games by their own rules, and teasing the townie is a favorite pastime. When the serious business of earning money arises, Babe just might consider Benny as her partner, and possibly a friend. But things become very complicated, and dangerous, when the troublesome Furty Howlin wants a slice of the action.
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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.
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
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By Gia
Format: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!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars
4 reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another Great Hit
April 29 2004
By Gia
- Published on Amazon.com
Format: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!
4.0 out of 5 stars
Book condition fine, story not
Mar 28 2013
By Carmon Rike
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The book was in decent condition and cheap enough I'm not gonna complain. The story was dull though, so I'm giving it four stars for false advertisement (made it seem like a good story.)
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great story, excellent writing style
May 12 2011
By bswelch
- Published on Amazon.com
Format: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.
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.
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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