3.5/5 stars

Illegal is a fictionalized account of the dangerous refugee experience of Ebo, a 12-year-old boy from a small village in Ghana. Told in dual timelines of “now”, on a rubber raft in the Mediterranean, and “then”, Ebo’s journey to the Mediterranean, Illegal doesn’t skimp on the difficulties that refugees endure. Ebo lives on the street, faces death multiple times, experiences hunger and dehydration under the desert sun, bargains with violent smugglers, and more. Ebo originally leaves his village in search of his brother Kwanzaa and sister Sisi, but will he find them and will they all make it to Europe safely?

The illustrations in this graphic novel are beautiful. However, the dual timelines are not necessary. It would be more accessible if told strictly in chronological order. Additionally, compared to Alan Gratz’s similar book, Refugee, Gratz’s is clearly the superior book. I definitely empathized with Ebo and Kwame, but I wasn’t as compelled by their story as I was with Mahmoud’s tale in Refugee.

This is one of those books that leaves you absolutely speechless. The heartbreaking journey that Ebo (the main character in the work) and so many countless others take in order to make a better life for themselves is extremely sobering. Taking the reader carefully through the trials and tribulations of a Ghanaian immigrant trying to get to Europe not only allows the reader to deeply emphasize with the character, but to also realize what a crisis the world has on its hands! And one that could be getting even worse if things continue the way the are with a particular man in office.

Illegal is the novel that the world needs right now. It is a work that every person, and even more importantly, every politician should be reading.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is one of the most compelling graphic novels for MG/YA that I've ever read. Ebo is a young boy from Ghana who must make his way across the Sahara Desert in order to find his brother Kwame. They both have one goal: find a way to Europe and reunite with their sister who has already escaped. I found myself on the edge of hope with every page. I was so drawn in to the story that I stayed up to read it all in one night. I would put this in the hands of every 5th grader I know. It is so timely and so needed in our current climate.

The Review:
Illegal is a graphic novel by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin, with a primary audience of children (probably ages ten and up), and this is the kind of book that every child should have access to. 

Colfer and Donkin trace the fictional path of Ebo, a young Ghanian boy, as he makes his way to Europe in search of his siblings Kwame and Sisi. Ebo encounters sickness and peril on his journey, all written by Colfer (of Artemis Fowl fame) and Donkin (DC comics work) and illustrated by Giovanni Rigano. The illustrations are beautifully colored, with lots of wide shots to give readers an idea of what kinds of places Ebo travels through. 

Colfer starts the book with an epigraph from Elie Wiesel's "no human being is illegal" quote. What this graphic novel does, even more than a traditional novel would, is let a young (or not-so-young) reader place themselves in the shoes of an immigrant attempting to find refuge. In this particular story, the person is a young Ghanain boy seeking Italy's shores, but the wider message is applicable to all people searching for safety. 

In short, beautiful illustrations of a fictional, but realistic, story. Highly recommended.

This graphic novel, by the author of the Artemis Fowl series, Eoin Colfer, explores the immigrant's plight from the viewpoint of a boy from a village in west Africa. The harsh realities faced by those trying to make their way from Africa to Europe are illustrated in a serious, thought-provoking manner. Although readers will most likely feel sympathy for the immigrants portrayed in the story, some may wonder about the toll the flood of immigrants is taking on the resources of Europe and other areas around the world. How might immigration laws be improved? What might be some possible solutions? There is no easy answer, but it would have been a more well-balanced approach if the author had included statistics related to cost of accommodating the refugees, and perhaps included a list of humanitarian organizations that are working to try to provide some relief, so that readers might be able to take some action to provide assistance in some way.

*** I received an ARC of this title free from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. ***

This was heartbreaking and beautifully illustrated. I stayed interested and engaged but I feel like it could have been better had he helped write a true account from a tween perspective.

Truly exceptional artwork. Marvelous and important story really, really well told. Such a fantastic way to show the difficult journey refugees make to get from Africa to Europe. Perfect for middle schoolers!

Makes the immigrant experience/story accessible for children. I would recommend to middle grade patrons.

It is fiction but all the separate elements are true and the reader will learn all about the multitude of many thousands of innocent men, women and children and what they encountered in order to make the 300 mile sea crossing between Norther Africa and Italy.
Very well written and illustrated graphic novel.

This middle grade/young adult graphic novel is an essential purchase for any library investing in graphic novels for youth. The artwork is absolutely stunning; it's engaging and top-notch. The writing is clear and concise, with helpful narration from the 12-year-old Ghanaian protagonist Ebo. A "Then" and "Now" timeline keeps the plot moving while providing readers with frequent cliffhangers and breaks. But the real marvel is this harrowing story of illegal immigration and the empathy it creates in the reader who witnesses Ebo's stuggles to survive. Some may argue that the story and characters are too simplistic, but I would argue that this graphic novel avoids some complex political issues in favor of telling an important human story. In that sense, the book does not hit a single false emotional note. Colfer, Donkin, and Rigano manage to tell a humongous tale in 122 pages, and it could not have been done any better.

Recommend to: all readers between the ages of 11-15

This graphic novel based in real-life current events is a very different book from the usual in every way for Eoin Colfer. The artistry is really nice and balances the terrible circumstances that bring this story to us. Ebo is looking for his brother Kwame, and he knows that Kwame is trying to leave their home country to find their sister in Europe. The trip is a dangerous one, but it promises a better life by far than the one they know.

An incredibly moving story well written/represented for younger audiences. I appreciated that the author took time to explore primary resources when crafting this graphic novel. The story tackles the hard truths of the refugee crisis, but does so with an extremely relatable and well-developed main character.

A heart-breaking story of African (originally from Ghana) brothers trying to cross the desert and the Mediterranean to find their sister in Europe, told in two timelines in graphic novel format. I loved the Elie Wiesel quote asking how human beings can be illegal? The reader goes through the ordeal and loss with Ebo, the horrible conditions and inhumanity of those taking advantage of their desperation.

The theme of the book could not be any more important or relevant than it is right now. This is exactly the type of story that needs to be told and exactly the type of story that needs to be heard. We need literature to fight open up an understanding of suffering and allow for more compassion to creep back into society at all levels.

However, this book finds a way of telling the story in such fragmented, un-moving and disjointed parts that it succeeds only in trivialising the harrowing refugee experience. We are left with a book which seems to care little about many of its characters in favour of just one protagonist. We are offered a fictional story which chooses to show many refugees in a bad light and only a small group wanting to do the right thing. And in the end, it becomes difficult to feel really sympathy for a group who have so little character development that we cannot bond with them. There are no characters deep enough to make the reader will for them to succeed or even believe in them as being realistic.

The end note of the book about this being a work of fiction but with an underlying truth leaves me wondering, if this sort of story is common (and I don't doubt it is), how much more powerful could it be to make a graphic novel telling the real stories of real people suffering through this crisis?

Illegal is a touching story about a boy named Ebo and the obstacles he faces as a refugee trying to reconnect with his siblings.

This graphic novel tells a story of pain, suffering, perseverance, and overcoming many obstacles to have a chance at a better life. The tale of the two brothers trying to make the dangerous journey to Europe to become reunited with their sister shows the reader all the ordeals that an immigrant might face. This novel is a great educational tool that I hope many will utilize!

Great story, well told. The creators included how they completed their research and even have a section with one of the real life interviews they did. I learned a lot and I hope there are more stories like this soon. Good for middle and high school libraries. Thank you to NetGalley for the book!

I received an electronic ARC from Sourcebooks. This YA graphic novel from author Eoin Colfer takes us on a powerful and emotional journey. Young Ebo’s older brother Kwame has set off from Africa for Europe to find their oldest sister who has already made the trip. Ebo leaves his home (leaving only an alcoholic uncle behind) to find his brother, so they can travel to Europe together. What follows is a perilous journey told between the present and flashbacks of Ebo leaving his home and working to get enough money to embark on each leg of his trip. The art is raw, the text easy to follow, and the story while a work of fiction is based on realistic situations. Colfer clearly depicts the risks migrants make for a better life, for any life. Highly recommended for middle grade, teen, and adult readers alike.

Illegal is a riveting graphic novel depicting the the quest of Ebo, an orphaned boy armed with only a gift for singing and an ironclad determination to follow his older siblings to Europe. Older brother Kwame has left him a note promising that he will send a helicopter to reunite them. The plot and the graphics complement each other perfectly to create a realistic, dramatic, and essential look at the plight of refugees today.

Illegal by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin

This book provides a powerful, poignant reminder of the sacrifices migrants face when risking their lives for a better future. Told from the perspective of Ebo,a twelve year old boy, detailing his journey of leaving Niger in the hopes of starting a new life with his older brother and sister in Europe. Ebo meets many kind strangers along his journey, which continues to fill him with hope despite the many setbacks he also faces along the way.
An important message that stands out to me throughout this story is that migration is a hard, life threatening journey. People of all ages are willing to work until they can’t give anymore. Then they use that money to pay in order to risk their lives for a tortuous journey towards better future. This story also opened my eyes to the business of migration. I will admit that before this story, I was clueless that businessmen see migration as a money making scheme. Once they have their money, the lives and safety of the migrants is of no concern to them. The transports withhold water, shelter and basic decency, despite the fact that many of the migrants are handing over their life savings for the promise of a better future.
The graphic novel aspect of this story illustrates an emotional perspectives that is better told using pictures and inferences between panels. The emotional tone of the story is one that truly could not be described using words.
I would recommend this book for middle school readers and beyond. This is a must read to be shared with students!