Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Graphic novel paints harrowing picture of refugee crisis.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
At the start of ILLEGAL, Ebo discovers that his older brother, Kwame, has disappeared and knows that the older boy has left to make the hazardous journey from Ghana to Europe. Determined to join him, Ebo refuses to be left behind and sets off on his own. Ebo does find his brother, but the boys will have to face all kinds of peril, across the Sahara Desert to the dangerous streets of Tripoli to the deadly waters that separate them from their ultimate destination.
Is It Any Good?
The ongoing refugee crisis raises many issues about human rights, and this powerful, action-packed graphic novel illustrates their consequences for two homeless brothers. Structured along two different time frames, the narrative of Illegal keeps the level of suspense high, as the boys face dying by drowning or dehydration. Co-authors Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin and illustrator Giovanni Rigano show the humanity of their characters: More than a faceless horde, they're recognizable individuals with dreams of a better life.
Illegal addresses current events with compassion and empathy, and middle-grade readers are especially likely to embrace it enthusiastically.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the graphic novel format adds to the reading experience of Illegal. How are some subjects better suited to this medium than others?
Why are so many families in Africa desperate to leave their home countries? How should they be treated when they reach their destinations?
Why do some people oppose immigration, whether done legally or not? What support can people and governments give refugee families as they try to make new lives for themselves?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Illustrator : Giovanni Rigano
- Genre : Graphic Novel
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
- Publication date : August 7, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 18
- Number of pages : 128
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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