Illegal by Eoin Colfer

 

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