Benny and Babe

Benny Shaw #2

by Eoin Colfer

While visiting his grandparents in a village on the coast of Wexford, Ireland, Benny Shaw becomes involved in a bait-collecting scheme started by a girl called Babe, and in Babe's volatile relationship with Furty Howlin.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Childrens, Middle Grade, Audiobook, Irish Literature, Friendship

238 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2001

About the author

Eoin Colfer (pronounced Owen) was born in Wexford on the South-East coast of Ireland in 1965, where he and his four brothers were brought up by his father and mother, who were both educators.

He received his degree from Dublin University and began teaching primary school in Wexford. He has lived and worked all over the world, including Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Italy. After the publication of the Artemis Fowl novels, Eoin retired from teaching and now writes full time. He lives in Ireland with his wife and two children.

Reviews

[Maol Mhuire O'Duinnin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. Yes, this is a "youth novel" in the teen section at the library, but sometimes these are the best reads. Colfer seems to have a way with humor...he's good at it, witty...I was laughing aloud many times throughout this read. I picked it up because it is one of only 4 items at the entire library system that references the Irish sport of hurling. I was disappointed at the lack of references there actually are to the sport, but was delighted with the story. I also read this out of sequence as this book came after another with the same protagonist, Benny, who was named after Bernard Shaw by his poet mother. Good stuff.

[SR · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember being totally in love with this and reading it every two months during eighth and ninth grade.

[Gloss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alright. I only read it because I enjoy Eoin’s other novels.
It would have been far more enjoyable if it wasn’t centered on fishery, yuck. The theme of gender roles and expectations was not handled well, seems outdated, contradictory, counterproductive and conservative. Why does the book keep questioning Babe’s gender identity and non-conformity, without letting her speak clearly and forthrightly on the issue?
The main character, Benny, is the typical self-absorbed wimpy kid. Babe doesn’t even feel like a main character. The best character in the story is the villain, named Furty.
Would have gotten 2 stars, but the wit, whimsy Irish-ness and great final chapters made it a 3-star-read.

[Carlota · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leí este libro por primera vez cuando tenía la edad de los protagonistas, y aunque no recordaba el argumento, de alguna manera me dejó huella. Ahora lo he vuelto a leer y confirmo que es la lectura de verano perfecta para esa edad.

Cualquier adolescente puede verse reflejado y sentirse identificado, a lo que se añade el toque de aventura que puede faltar en un verano convencional, pero para eso están precisamente los libros.

Me parece de especial mención el desarrollo del antagonista, sin edulcorantes y con mucho sentido.

Nota spoiler: me hubiera quedado más tranquila si se mencionase que Congrio al final sale airoso de la aventura.

Lo recomiendo 100%

[itchy · Rating 3 out of 5]

eponymous sentence:
p67: Benny and Babe worked the waterline, bending low to the rocks, often scrabbling blindly in deep crevices.

le mot juste:
p129: "...One, two..."
He began the countdown.

This series is a great insight to the culture, if nothing else.

[Vishal Mehta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eoin must have a thing about drowning ... I mean why else would all of Benny's adventures end with him nearly drowning to death?

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember really liking these characters' dynamic and that's all I can ask of a book, really.

[Andy Gore · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read, lots of fun and a real page turner at the end.

[Bcoghill Coghill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this coming of age book. There was much that was entertaining and some that wise.

[book_nymph_bex · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a lot of Irish slang that is confusing. I still don't know what hurlie is. But once I got used it not knowing half of what they were saying to each other, it was fine. Colfer as narrator was pretty funny, and the country is peppered with wonderfully entertaining characters. Especially Benny's Granda, who liked to tell stories, some of which might actually be true. Though most of advice is ripped from Yankee movies.

I found the book sad, though. Because of the first two pages, the prologue. It sets it up that Benny and Babe aren't really friends anymore, and after finishing the book that made me really sad.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Benny and Babe very much because Mr. Colfer's characters are quirky and very likable. He does an excellent job of showing truly believable lives and difficult life situations. He shows that even "bad" people are just normal folks who've made bad choices and who are often in emotional pain. Though I did think that Benny and Babe had little continuity with Benny and Omar except the Shaw family characters.

[Libby Ames · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of Eoin Colfer's earlier books, but newly released. It was alright, but Colfer is definitely improving with time. I enjoyed the story, but it is so full of Irish slang that I had to really concentrate at times. Some things I actually had to Google, but I'm sure my life was enriched by watching some footage of the Irish game "hurling."

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to an audiobook of Mr. Colfer's "Half Moon Investigations" and so decided to listen to this book. I didn't enjoy it nearly as much, but it was good. Part of my problem was the reader since I felt that he overdid the accent in his narration. When he was reading Babe's parts he seemed to do better. The story is good.

[Jen Curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great sequel and we travel with Benny through some different relationships. He has friends in a different setting & adapts differently, and we meet his grandfather, who is another insight into the character. . . and he begins to think about adolescence just a little . . . . equally trouble-making but emotionally developing, it is a fun journey with Benny :)

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kids and I listened to this on CD. Excellent!

It takes place in Ireland. A city boy, Benny, spends the summer in a small town on the coast where he struggles to make new friends, make some money, and to make his mom happy. The book has a load of personality. We all (ages 4-38) enjoyed it!

[Ruthie · Rating 2 out of 5]

My bun gave me hard copy of this book... last year?
I kind of forgot that I even own a copy of this. It's a huge let-down because the Artemis Fowl series is brilliant and this one is... not anything exceptional.

[Shane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the funniest books I have ever read. It takes a while to get used to the Irish language, but once you get into the groove, the jokes fly thick and fast. Now I need to find Benny and Omar.

[Sherri F.]

I'm not going to rate yet. I tried listening to MP3, but the accent of narrator was too heavy and it made it difficult to get into. Sometimes I can take or leave YA, but since I think it was the accent, I want to try reading the book before rating it. So it's DNF for now.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's so Irish. From the grammar, mannerisms and such. LOVE it!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is sooo great! I totaly judged it by it's cover to begin with, but I completely loved it when I started reading!

[Yunisa K.D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very draggy... slightly better at the end. Incomparable to Artemis Fowl.

[Marjean]

By the author of Artemis Fowl. Funny, with interesting characters and plot. Lots of teenage sarcasm. I think it can be appreciated by boys and girls.

[Virginia Brace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, but I had to quit since the playaway would not cooperate.

[Girlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't as exciting as Artemis Fowl… it took me awhile to finish this book, midway though, i finally got into it and like it…

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the Benny Audio books!!!!!

[Chris Medalla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad read

[Jean-Claude Pollet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun and light book that is well written and has a lot of depth if you care to explore it. Greta book to get a teenager reading and would be lovely to discuss with them.

[elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I blame this book for making child me resentful of my much more boring, fishing-free summer adventures. I wanted to dress like Babe for, like, two years straight

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't even discribe how much i love this book it is a masterpiece

[Marcia Van Camp · Rating 2 out of 5]

A cute kid's book, but I don't know that I would seek it out again.