Benny and Babe Book

Benny Shaw, 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 many be a wise guy, but Babe is at least three steps ahead of him, especially on her territory. When a money-making business venture arises, however, Babe just might consider Benny as her partner, and possibly a friend. But things become complicated, and dangerous, when the troublesome Furty Howlin starts clamoring for a slice of the action.

VOYA

Colfer has quite the following of supernatural fans with the entertaining Artemis Fowl series, and they may be surprised when they pick up the more realistic Benny series, originally published in the U.K. in 1998. In Benny and Omar, Benny, a lover of hurling (similar to field hockey), is forced to move with his family to Tunisia. The culture shock is amazing, and he finds it difficult to adjust. Soon Benny befriends an orphan named Omar. When Benny learns of Omar's mentally challenged sister living in an institution, the two set out on an adventure to try to rescue her. Throughout the book, Benny grows and learns to think of others besides himself. In the sequel, Benny and Babe, Benny spends his summer with his grandfather in the country. As a "townie," he tries to find his way "in" with a group of locals through his love of hurling. But he is surprised when he is outmatched by a girl named Babe and her dog. The two soon try out a money-making venture that attracts the interest of local thug Furty Howlin. Throughout the books local Irish colloquialisms and dialect are used, which can sometimes be challenging. Younger teen readers will enjoy and be able to identify with the comedic adventures of Benny. According to the O'Brien Press Web site, Benny and Babe became a number-one bestseller in Ireland and knocked Harry Potter out of the top spot.