Illegal
Graphic novel paints harrowing picture of refugee crisis.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Illegal is a graphic novel written by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin and illustrated by Giovanni Rigano. It shows the plights of illegal immigrants trying to make their way from Africa to Europe. Scenes of violence are mostly passive: Refugees are left behind in the desert and the ocean. A refugee is shot by a smuggler. Many scenes feature young children in physical danger.
Community Reviews
A story that is gripping, though the graphic pictures are best left to mature tweens
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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 the "illegals": 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 -- illegal or legal? What support can people and governments give refugee families as they try to make new lives for themselves?
Book Details
- Authors: Andrew Donkin, Eoin Colfer
- Illustrator: Giovanni Rigano
- Genre: Graphic Novel
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters, 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, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: June 30, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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Shooting Kabul
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Refugee
Harrowing page-turner sheds light on child refugees.
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A Faraway Island
Moving story of Jewish sisters living as refugees in Sweden.
For kids who love immigrant stories and tales that teach empathy
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