Benny and Omar

Morton’s bristly Scottish brogue emphasizes the fish-out-of-water stature of Colfer’s protagonist Benny, an Irish lad who finds himself transplanted, along with his family, to Tunisia. Benny is forced to leave his favorite game of hurling behind, and must struggle with a new school very different from what he knew; he takes solace in meeting Omar, a new friend who helps him adjust to the lay of the land in his new home. Morton reads with a sincerity that helps him serve up Colfer’s smooth prose with aplomb. Fans of the author’s Artemis Fowl fantasy series will find an entertaining change of pace in this contemporary, more character-driven text, though still plenty of adventure. Ages 10-up. (June)