Benny Shaw

Last updated
Benny and Omar
Author Eoin Colfer
Cover artistJohn Canty
Country Ireland
Language English
SeriesThe Benny Books
Genre Children's literature
Publisher Puffin Books
Publication date
1998
Pages237
ISBN 0-14-330057-1
OCLC 155878841
Followed byBenny and Babe 
Benny and Babe
Author Eoin Colfer
Cover artistJohn Canty
Country Ireland
Language English
SeriesThe Benny Books
Genre Children's literature
Publisher Puffin Books
Publication date
1999
Pages238
ISBN 0-14-330056-3
Preceded byBenny and Omar 

Benny Shaw is the protagonist of two children's literature novels by Irish author Eoin Colfer. The first book in the series, Benny and Omar, sees Benny move from Ireland to Tunisia and befriend a local boy. The second book, Benny and Babe, deals with Benny's holiday in Ireland and a friendship with a local girl.

Contents

Benny and Omar

Plot summary

An Irish boy named Benny, who is on an all-Ireland hurling team, journeys to Tunisia because of his father's new oversea job. He is determined to hate and find fault with the country and annoys everyone. Then he meets another boy called Omar. They develop a friendship through Omar's "telly-speak" English. Benny's father bans Benny from seeing Omar because he thinks that Omar is a bad influence and because Benny went off with Omar when he was supposed to look after his brother. Benny endures punishment for being with Omar, but that doesn't stop him from running away with him the second his parents trust him again in order to rescue Omar's drugged and hospitalized sister Kaheena. Benny is exposed to real life in Tunisia, actual pain and suffering bigger than losing a sports match, and realizes just how lucky he is after Omar drowns in a flood (although, this is, in fact, arguable, as the bracelet Benny gave to Omar was found on a tree).

Benny and Babe

This story takes place on Benny's summer holidays, which he spends with his grandfather in the country. "Babe" Meara is the village tomboy. Babe and Benny become partners and start a business finding lost lures and re-selling them. Benny refers to the people living in Duncade, the place where he is spending his holidays, as culchies. Benny and the other culchies versed in hurling and Babe unexpectedly won. Benny and Babe's business seems to be going well until they meet Furty Howlin, an old friend back from reforming school and an unpleasant person to deal with. He tries to get Benny and Babe out of business. While trying to get to the Black Chan, something terribly wrong happens to Benny. He almost drowns but is saved by Jerry. The book ends with Babe coming over to Benny's house..


Related Research Articles

<i>Smart Guy</i> American sitcom

Smart Guy is an American sitcom television series centering on the exploits of child prodigy T.J. Henderson, who moves from being an elementary school student in the fourth grade to a high school student in the tenth grade, attending the same school as his two elder siblings Yvette and Marcus. Created by Danny Kallis, the series ran for three seasons on The WB from April 2, 1997, to May 16, 1999. The series was produced by de Passe Entertainment and Danny Kallis Productions, in association with Walt Disney Television. In an interview in September 2020, Mowry confirmed that a revival of the show was in the works.

<i>The Butcher Boy</i> (novel) 1992 novel by Patrick McCabe

The Butcher Boy is a 1992 novel by Patrick McCabe. Set in a small town in Ireland in the early 1960s, it tells the story of Francis "Francie" Brady, a schoolboy who retreats into a violent fantasy world as his troubled home life collapses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat O'Brien (actor)</span> American actor (1899–1983)

William Joseph Patrick O'Brien was an American film actor with more than 100 screen credits. Of Irish descent, he often played Irish and Irish-American characters and was referred to as "Hollywood's Irishman in Residence" in the press. One of the best-known screen actors of the 1930s and 1940s, he played priests, cops, military figures, pilots, and reporters. He is especially well-remembered for his roles in Knute Rockne, All American (1940), Angels with Dirty Faces (1938), and Some Like It Hot (1959). He was frequently paired onscreen with Hollywood star James Cagney. O'Brien also appeared on stage and television.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">JR Chandler</span> Soap opera character

Adam "JR" Chandler Jr. is a fictional character from the ABC and The Online Network daytime drama All My Children. He was portrayed by Jacob Young from 2003 to 2011, prior to Ryan Bittle taking over the role in 2013. Bittle was cast as the new JR on Prospect Park's continuation of All My Children.

<i>The Second Summer of the Sisterhood</i> 2003 novel by Ann Brashares

The Second Summer of the Sisterhood is a novel written in 2003 by author Ann Brashares. The story continues the adventures of four best friends who own a magical pair of jeans that fit all of them, even though they are different sizes. During the summer, the girls share the pants. The book is the second installment in a series of five books: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2001), Girls in Pants (2004), Forever in Blue (2007), and Sisterhood Everlasting (2011).

<i>Its Like This, Cat</i>

It's Like This, Cat is a novel by American writer Emily Cheney Neville, which won the Newbery Medal for excellence in American children's literature in 1964. It's Like This, Cat was Neville's first book.

<i>The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas</i> 2006 novel by John Boyne

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a 2006 Holocaust novel by Irish novelist John Boyne. The plot concerns a German boy named Bruno whose father is the commandant of Auschwitz and Bruno's friendship with a Jewish detainee named Shmuel.

<i>Dogsbody</i> (novel) 1975 childrens novel by Diana Wynne Jones

Dogsbody is a 1975 children's novel by British writer Diana Wynne Jones, first published by Macmillan. It tells the story of Sirius, a star who is forced to live in the body of a dog on Earth. The book was Wynne Jones' fifth full-length novel.

<i>My Side of the Mountain</i> 1959 American childrens novel by Jean Craighead George

My Side of the Mountain is a middle-grade adventure novel written and illustrated by American writer Jean Craighead George published by E. P. Dutton in 1959. It features a boy who learns courage, independence, and the need for companionship while attempting to live in the Catskill Mountains of New York State. In 1960, it was one of three Newbery Medal Honor Books (runners-up) and in 1969 it was loosely adapted as a film of the same name. George continued the story in print, decades later.

<i>A Bridge to Wisemans Cove</i> 1996 novel by James Moloney

A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove (1996) is a novel by Australian author James Moloney. The novel features the life of a 15-year-old boy, Carl Matt, and his dysfunctional family, who begin to suffer from physical and emotional problems after his mother's disappearance.

<i>What I Was</i> 2007 young adult novel by Meg Rosoff

What I Was is a 2007 young adult novel by Meg Rosoff, her third. The book was shortlisted for both the Costa Children's Book Award and the Carnegie Medal.

<i>Pig-Heart Boy</i> Childrens novel

Pig-Heart Boy is a children's novel by Malorie Blackman, which was first published in 1997. Described by the Guardian as 'A powerful story' it shows the life of a teenage boy with a viral heart transplant. It was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. The novel was adapted into a television series, which was broadcast by Children's BBC in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Candlewick (character)</span> Fictional character

Candlewick is a fictional character who appears in Carlo Collodi's 1883 book The Adventures of Pinocchio.

<i>Deadly, Unna?</i> 1998 young adult novel by Phillip Gwynne

Deadly, Unna? is a 1998 work of teenage fiction and is Phillip Gwynne's debut novel. Set in a small coastal town in South Australia, it is a rites-of-passage story about the interracial friendship between Australian rules football teammates Gary "Blacky" Black, a white boy, and Nunga Dumby Red. The novel is written from Blacky's point of view and covers the period leading up to the local football grand final and the summer after.

<i>Unbelievable</i> (short story collection) Short story collection by Paul Jennings

Unbelievable is the second in a series of collections of short stories by Australian author Paul Jennings. It was first released in 1987.

<i>Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever</i> 2011 childrens book by Jeff Kinney

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever is a 2011 bestselling and award-winning children's book and the sixth book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, written by American author Jeff Kinney. The book was released on November 15, 2011, the paperback edition was released on January 31, 2013, and was the fastest-selling book of 2011, giving him the third-strongest opening-week sales for a children's author. Cabin Fever had a first printing run of six million copies, which Amulet Books stated was one of their most significant titles for that year. In 2012 Kinney won a "Best Author" Children's Choice Award from the Children's Book Council for Cabin Fever. The book received widespread acclaim from critics. The book was followed by 2012's The Third Wheel. An animated adaptation is in the works for Disney+.

Hurling, the Gaelic sport, is a prominent feature in popular culture.

In Irish mythology, Cian or Cían, nicknamed Scal Balb, was the son of Dian Cecht, the physician of the Tuatha Dé Danann, and best known as the father of Lugh Lamhfada. Cían's brothers were Cu, Cethen, and Miach.

<i>Billionaire Boy</i> Childrens novel by David Walliams

Billionaire Boy is a children's fiction book written by David Walliams and illustrated by Tony Ross. It was published on 28 October 2010 by HarperCollins. The story follows Joe Spud, who is the richest boy in the country and has everything he could ever want, but wishes to have a friend and eventually learns a lesson on being a normal boy. The book was adapted for BBC television, broadcast on 1 January 2016.

<i>Lantern Slides</i>

Lantern Slides is a short story collection by Irish author Edna O'Brien and won the 1990 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Fiction. It contains twelve stories, published in 1990 by Weidenfeld & Nicolson in the UK and by Farrar, Straus & Giroux in the US.