Title	Benny and Omar
Place	Wexford and Africa (Tunisia)
Publication date	1998
Pages	237 pb
Price	£4.99 or less
Author	Eoin Colfer
Publisher	O’Brien
Edition	Pb
Special features (maps, etc.)
ISBN	0-86278-567-7
Amazon Link	Benny and Omar

Benny and Omar is written for the teenage market, and with its setting in Wexford and then the move to Tunisia the audience should be large.  The story also introduces sibling rivalry between Benny and George, brother but two complete opposites with little to bring them together except genes, and also the transportation from an Irish rural setting to one in Tunisia, Africa, and then from a state Irish school environment to one of temporary visitor in a school run for the benefit of the children of temporary workers (something which I have experience off), and here he has to try and break into the clique which has already formed before his arrival.

The story in Tunisia develops through the friendship of Benny and Omar.  Benny in Omar’s eyes has a life of privilege, in Benny’s eyes, Omar is just existing.  Two complete opposites (again) in an economic sense, but as is often the case two kindred spirits who go on a series of adventures culminating in a madscape run escaping from the village guards, Benny’s parents, and ultimately the police.

This a book worth preserving with, because at times the patois language developed by Omar from watching American TV can be difficult to comprehend – but make the effort and you will love the characters in the story, it will also make you think about other cultures and the way in which they live and work.