Benny Shaw is the protagonist of two children's literature

Children's literature

Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...

 novels, by Irish

Irish people

The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...

 author Eoin Colfer

Eoin Colfer

Eoin Colfer is an Irish author. He is most famous as the author of the Artemis Fowl series, but he has also written other successful books. His novels have been compared to the works of J. K. Rowling...

. The first book in the series, Benny and Omar, sees Benny move from Ireland to Tunisia

Tunisia

Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...

 and befriending a local boy. The second book, Benny and Babe, deals with Benny's holiday in Ireland, and a friendship with a local girl.

Plot summary

An Irish boy, named Benny, who is in 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 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 recovered, but Omar had "vanished").

Characters in Benny and Omar

Major characters

• Bernard "Benny" Shaw
• Omar Ben Ali (Arabic
  Arabic language
  Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
  
   بن علي‎ عمر)
• George "Georgie" Shaw
• Patrick "Pat" Shaw
• Jessica Shaw

Minor characters

• Mohamed Gama (محمد غم)
• Kaheena Ali (كاهنة علي‎)
• Father Barty Finn
• Grandad (Paddy Shaw)
• Eamonn
• Niall
• Customs' man
• EuroGas driver
• Grace Taft
• Harmony Rossi

Bob Rossi

Benny and Babe

This story takes place in 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 culchie

Culchie

In Irish-English culchie is a term sometimes used to describe a person from rural Ireland. In Dublin, it is often used to describe someone from without the bounds of the 'M50' motorway. It usually has a pejorative meaning, but is also reclaimed by some proud of their rural origin, and may be used...

s 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, 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.

Characters in Benny and Babe

Major characters

• Bernard "Benny" Shaw
• Babe Meara
• Paddy "Captain" Shaw
• George "The Crawler" Shaw
• Furty Howlin
• Jessica Shaw

Minor characters

• Clipper
• Jerry Bent
• Sean and Seanie Ahern
• Jonjo Howlin
• Patrick "Pat" Shaw