After the hilarious adventures of Clark the paperboy in the first book about Perfection, California in 1961, I couldn’t wait to see what Benji the Boy Scout would be up to. As it turns out he has many adventures, most of them set in the wilds of nature, as befitting a Boy Scout who is attempting to obtain a much-coveted badge. This story is full of symbolism, fairy tale references, and a few hilarious reversals of accepted wisdom (such as the nature of chipmunks and the “real” dangers of Sea Monkeys).

Benji may be eighteen, but he is as enthusiastic about being a Boy Scout as a boy half his age. He takes his duties seriously (helping several women with their problems before he even leaves town), and he is determined to obtain the Happy Beaver Badge come what may. Benji braves all the obstacles fate seems determined to throw his way, and soon finds a lonely lumberjack in the forest who becomes his ally.

But Mack is no ordinary lumberjack. Thrown out of Perfection for a crime only one of those pesky perfectionists could even consider an illegal act, he lives a lonely life. Just him and the toys in his “special cabinet”. And yes, you guessed right, Benji gets to play with them… After which they continue Benji’s quest together and more hilarity ensues.

As with the first book, if you’re looking for something serious, this is not the book for you. There may be a quest involved, but Geoffrey Knight has managed to make it ridiculously funny and to be taken with several grains of salt. But if you want to be thoroughly entertained, or need a good laugh, and if you’re looking for a hot and funny adventure of a particularly innocent Boy Scout, then you will probably enjoy this short story. And the ending shows an entirely unexpected type of perfection…


NOTE: This book was provided by Stiff Rain Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
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