Young Adult Literature
Book Reviews
Bibliography
Colfer, E., & Donkin, A. (2018). Illegal. Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. ISBN 9781492665823
Plot Summary
Reality sinks in for Ebo when he realizes his brother has followed in his sister’s footsteps. He too has set off to escape Ghana in search of a better life. Left now with his wretched Uncle, Ebo knows he must do the same. He must find his older brother and go with him to Europe, no matter how dangerous the trip may be. Determined, Ebo sets off on a journey that tests his will and nearly kills him. A journey that will take him across the Sahara Desert, cast him out into city streets fending off rats and hoodlums, to finally attempting to cross the treacherous ocean which almost swallows him whole. Will he be able to find his brother? Will he be able to make the perilous journey? Only the future knows the answer.Critical Analysis
In this powerful graphic novel, author Eoin Colfer presents a tale of a boy searching for a better life and willing to go to dangerous lengths to do so. Set in Ghana in a poor village, the main character, 12 year old Ebo, finds that his brother has left suddenly on a journey to find a better life in Europe…just like his sister did months ago. Feeling as though nothing is left for him, Ebo decides to go after his brother and make the treacherous journey to Europe as well. Colfer utilizes flashbacks to masterfully cut back and forth between past and present while telling Ebo’s story. Illustrator, Giovanni Rigano, captivates the reader with graphics that express the various situations and emotions of Ebo’s tale. This graphic novel is one that will grip its readers and keep them engaged until the very end.
Review Excerpt(s)
- "Raw, realistic, and emotional, this graphic novel puts a harrowing spin on immigration and the risks people take to seek opportunities in other countries.... This graphic novel...makes truths about humanity abundantly clear with the frightening situations and tragic outcomes conveyed through the narrative, emotive illustrations, and the true story in the last five pages. Middle and high schools can use this book in curriculum and recommend it to comic enthusiasts." - VOYA Magazine
- "Action-filled and engaging but considerate of both topic and audience, Ebo's story effectively paints a picture of a child refugee's struggle in a world crisscrossed by hostile borders." - Kirkus Reviews
-"A thrilling and moving addition to any collection, and ideal supplemental reading in classes where students are studying immigration." - School Library Journal
2019 Excellence in Graphic Literature Award Winner
A New York Public Library Best Book of 2018
A Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2018
An Amazon Best Book of 2018
A Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Graphic Novel of 2018
An American Library Association Notable Book for 2019
2019 YALSA Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens
2019 CBC Notable Social Studies Book
A Junior Library Guild Selection
Connections
For additional activities related to the book:
Reading Diary Ask readers what questions they have after reading chapter 1. They should consider what they know about the reasons why Ebo is on the boat, and what they would still like to find out. Ask them to make a note of questions that are unanswered in their reading diary. They can revisit these questions after reading more of the story.
Research: In chapters 1 to 5, there are two sets of geographical coordinates. Ask readers to find them. As a class, enter the coordinates into Google Maps and see where Ebo is. Readers draw their own map and mark Ebo’s position on the map each time. Ask readers to predict where Ebo will go next.
Activity: Hopes and dreams In small groups, students write a list of Ebo’s dreams for his new life. Ask students to think about each of Ebo’s dreams. Have his dreams come true? What is the reality of his situation now? Encourage students to think of adjectives to describe how Ebo feels about his dreams now.
**These and other activities can be found at: https://cdn.sourcebooks.com/assets/downloads/discussionguides/Illegal-TeachersGuide.pdf
Other recommended books if you liked this one:
The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees by Don Brown
When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson
Displacement by Kiku Hughes
Bibliography
Longoria, M. (2022). Living beyond borders: Growing up Mexican in America. Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.
Plot Summary
Being different is never easy, especially when you are Mexican-American. Despite living in America most of or all of their lives, Mexican-Americans often still find themselves enveloped in a tug-of-war between two sets of cultural expectations, bias’, and taboos. In this collection of short stories, personal essays, poetry and more, read about the perspectives and personal struggles of living as a Mexican-American in today’s society.
Critical Analysis
In this compilation of short stories, personal essays, poems, and more by various authors, readers will have an opportunity to view varying perspectives from the storytellers. Compiling writings such as these, not only allows for readers to understand more about living as a Mexican-American today, but also the cultural and societal struggles of feeling as though one doesn’t belong. Readers will be consumed by each piece as the voice of each writer plunges into the depths of topics and scenarios often overlooked or dismissed today.
Review Excerpt(s)
"Superlative . . . A memorable collection." --Booklist
"Voices reach out from the pages of this anthology . . . It will make a lasting impression on all readers." --School Library Journal
"This superb anthology of short stories, comics, and poems is fresh, funny, and full of authentic YA voices revealing what it means to be Mexican American . . . Not to be missed."--School Library Connection
Connections
For additional activities related to the book:
Poem: Have students explore the issues that surround crossing the borders that divide our society and their lives by writing a narrative poem.
Discussion Questions: What did you learn about Mexican and Mexican American communities by reading this book? How do the authors share their truths while subverting stereotypes?
Discuss the theme of having to “defend who we are, where we were born, and prove to others that we are, in fact, Americans” runs through several works in this anthology. Have students discuss or write about the following:
-Why does this happen?
-Has this ever happened to you?
Other recommended books if you liked this one:
- Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed: 15 Voices from the Latinx Diaspora by Saraciea J. Fennell
- We Are Not from Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez
- I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez
Bibliography
Lai, T. (2020). Butterfly Yellow. Harper.
Plot Summary
Our lives can change in an instant, and that’s just what happens to Hằng. In an attempt to follow her dreams and make her father proud, Hằng takes her little brother, Linh, to the airport to escape Việt Nam, which has been at war. Wanting to find a way to America to take her brother to see wild horses, Hằng devises a plan to pose her brother and herself as orphans so that they may find passage to America. Devastatingly, Linh is taken from her and vanishes to America. Riddled with guilt, Hằng vows to find her little brother again one day.A long six years passes before Hằng finds herself as a refugee in the America. Having survived a harrowing journey from Việt Nam to Texas, she must now find a way to track down her brother. An unlikely character, LeeRoy, who has big dreams himself of becoming a rodeo cowboy, soon crosses Hằng’s path and becomes a vital key into finding and befriending her long, lost brother.
Despite finding Linh after so many years, Hằng is heartbroken when he has no memory of her, their family, country, or customs. After waiting for so long, Hằng will do whatever it takes to reconnect with her brother, even if it means waiting longer for Linh to get comfortable with the idea. Hằng accidentally let her brother go all those years ago, and she won’t let it happen again, no matter what.
Critical Analysis
Thanhha Lai crafts a beautiful story in her novel Butterfly Yellow. Lai tells the story of a teen girl, Hằng, from Việt Nam who has journeyed to great lengths to find her long lost brother. Set in the early 1980s, themes such as survival, determination, and love are present in this gripping story. After 6 years of plotting with her mother and grandmother to find her brother, taken from Hằng at the airport while trying to find safe passage to America during the Việt Nam War, her journey finally begins. Surviving horrific events and situations that will haunt her forever, Hằng finally makes it to America. There, the second part of her journey begins and proves to be much harder than she expected. Another character pertinent to the story is revealed, LeeRoy. Lai uses the perspective of both characters to tell the story of Hằng’s perseverance and courage on her quest to find her brother. Readers will hang on every word and experience the turmoil and elation of one character’s pursuit to find the one she loves.Review Excerpt(s)
- “In this radiant pearl of a book, Lại shows that we human beings are singing the very same song: a song of grace and redemption, a song of courage, a song of hope.” — New York Times Book Review- “Every sentence is infused with warmth, and Lại shows readers that countless moments of grace exist even in the darkest times. Masterfully conjures grace, beauty, and humor out of the tragic wake of the Vietnam War.” — Kirkus Reviews
- “Lại’s imagery awakens the senses. Most powerful is the deep throb of regret and the thinnest wisps of hopefulness that Lại conveys throughout. They touch the soul.” — Booklist
Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction
Connections
For additional activities related to the book:
TREES AND LEAVES. Consider pages 153, 172, and 173. In these pages we are shown the diagrams Hằng uses to break down her sentences and understand how to correctly place every word. LeeRoy also joins in, often adding to the sentence with his own contributions. With a partner, write a short story consisting of 3 sentences using the same structure the characters use.
SNIPPETS OF WISDOM. Choose your favorite philosophical quote from Bà or come up with your own. Find a situation in your daily life that fits the context of the quote, and then come up with a plan to apply it to your life. Share your wise conclusions with a partner.
WRITE IT INTO EXISTENCE. We do not know the English names of the fruits Hằng draws for her brother until the end, but we are given vivid descriptions of each one. Without including its name, describe your favorite thing to eat using 5 specific sentences. Share the paragraph with your partner and guess each other’s favorite food.
**These and other activities can be found at:
Other recommended books if you liked this one:
Angel Thieves by Kathi Appelt
Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai
The Mountains Sing by Que Mai Phan Nguyen
