Benny Buggles

Benny Buggles and the Termite Elimination (2009) is a children's novel by American Author William Just. Originally titled The Termite Elimination, Just changed it to Benny Buggles and the Termite Elimination because the name Benny Buggles was "strange and not easy to forget".

Synopsis

For months Benny has sneaked away to his art studio at the human house, far away from the horse barn where the colony lives. There he creates beautiful statues made from beeswax and sawdust that he collects from the unused piles at his carpentry job. When his friend Twiggy mentions A Plan to escape on a wheat truck out to California to begin a new life, Benny jumps at the chance. He knows that the prestigious art academy Auriana is located there. With no strong desire to remain in Kansas, he decides to take a risk and go.

Upon his arrival he is welcomed as the academy's newest student and soon makes acquaintances with a group of friends who are among the top talent at Auriana. They begin preparing for the biggest event of the year, the art competition known as the "Elimination". Benny becomes closely associated with Tiffani Hardwood and finds his rival in James Maximilian, who is determined to defend his title and stay in his father's good graces.

Benny's friends back home find inspiration in his courage, and make up their minds to pursue their own dreams. Twiggy studies to become a paramedic, and Cassie decides to take up art. She works out of the same studio in the human house that Benny had used, and never loses hope that one day Benny will return to the colony and they will be together. When exterminators tent the human house, both Twiggy and Cassie are put to the test.

At Auriana during the finals of the Elimination tournament, Benny endures humiliation due to sabotage of his work. He leaves the academy in disgrace and returns to Kansas, where he is vindicated by unexpected events that take place not long after his return.

Characters

  • Benny Buggles - The main protagonist, a young dreamer of a termite who is passionate about making art, but is forced to hide his obsession from co-workers in Foraging in the smalltown colony where he lives.
  • Cassandra Lochs - One of Benny's friends who works in Brood in the colony. She is loyal to Benny and never gives up hope. Her faithfulness plays a large role in Benny's vindication.
  • Twiggy Carson - Benny's obese friend who is frequently picked on because of his weight. He helps Benny to escape from the colony but is too heavy to catch the wheat truck out of town.
  • James Maximilian - An elitist snob who has technically won all three of the most recent Elimination tournaments. He looks down on the newcomer Benny and feels threatened by his artistic prowess.
  • Tiffani Hardwood - A flirtatious gold-digger who is most interested in getting to know whichever male termite will make her the most money.
  • Dr. Brightley - The Dean of Auriana. He nurtures his budding students and provides a positive and caring atmosphere to help them grow.
  • Dr. Almondus - The quirky old Founder of Auriana. He is a stickler for the rules and tips his imaginary cap to those that he approves of.
  • Raymond Fowler - One of Auriana's former students, who ran afoul of the entitled James Maximilian. His influence ultimately turns events in Benny's favor.
  • Axel - Twiggy's chief tormentor, who mercilessly hounds his victim with jokes about his weight. Twiggy rescues him from the exterminators.
  • Brenda - Benny's cigar-chomping, no-bull supervisor on the carpentry job site.

    • Editions

  • ISBN 978-0-578-01451-7 (paperback, 2009)