This is a brilliant, wrenching graphic novel about two refugee brothers escaping their tumultuous lives in Ghana. Their goal is to cross the Mediterranean to Italy where they hope to find a better life. The story and illustrations show the treacherous journey so many refugees take to cross dangerous waters in the face of constant uncertainty in desperate hopes for something better than what they are trying to escape. It is a quick read, but powerful, almost like watching a movie.

*advance reading copy courtesy of NetGalley*
A powerful story of Ebo. His sister left several months ago and now his brother has left. Ebo sets off on a hazardous and frightening journey across Africa to find his brother and ultimately get to Europe. This is a story of many immigrants fleeing war and horrific violence in their countries.

Illegal follows the journey of twelve year old Ebo as he follows his brother from their home in Africa to Europe in search of their sister. Though a work of fiction, Illegal is based on the experience of countless refugees who have faced similarly difficult journeys. Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin have done a superb job in showing the harsh yet hopeful reality that so many hundreds of people face everyday.

<i>Illegal</i> is a great graphic novel with a timely and necessary topic. The novel follows the story of Ebo, a 12 year old boy who tries to leave his homeland in Africa in hopes of finding his sister and a better life in Europe. The story is slowly devastating, and the art captures that so well. It humanizes the people we see on the news who make the choice to leave everything they know for the chance a better life. I think this book would be a great addition to a classroom or for kids who have questions about immigration. I would definitely add that it should be talked about--the ending is a bit devastating and is something that younger kids should be guided through.

By telling the story of a young boy making the hazardous journey from his native Ghana to first find his brother, then make the perilous trip to Europe, Donkin, Colfer and Rigano also tell the story of the thousands upon thousands who doggedly brave numerous hurdles and chance everything every day across harsh deserts, treacherous seas, and more, every single day and every single hour . "Illegal" does a fantastic job of vividly bringing the tribulations of many into the hands (not to mention hearts) and mind into those of us who are all-too-disconnected the ordeals of the men, women and children who continue to risk it all for a shot at a better life.

This is an engaging and important story. I would have preferred it told from an #ownvoices perspective, but it is still a story that needs to be told.

Such an important topic, and a very fine book about it. The world needs more books like this!

This was a force to reckon with. My heart was completely lost in the story--the harsh reality that felt as though it would never soften-- and though it is mixed with the gorgeous hope of young Ebo--this is a soul crushingly realistic portrayal of the hardships of immigration.

Ebo and his older brother Kwame just want to get to Europe so they can reunite with their sister. But getting to Europe is easier said than done - they must deal with ruthless human traffickers, the brutal Sahara desert, and the bitterly cold and dangerous Mediterranean crossing....in a leaking balloon boat. Absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking- while Ebo and Kwame's story might be fiction, their story is the same as many hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing violence and poverty in Africa and the Middle East, desperate to find a better life in Europe.

Yeah, I cried. Bring tissues.

Illegal is a children's graphic novel depicting the desperate journey of Edo as he leaves his home in Ghana to find his brother and sister. The journey is perilous, long, terrifying, and tragic. Illegal is a fantastic way for parents to introduce, and begin a dialogue with, their children about the the struggle other children might be going through. It portrays the great effort people make to find a better life for themselves. The story was touching and heart-wrenching, and the art only made it more so. Neither the author, nor the illustrator shied away from the seriousness of the material.

This gorgeous graphic novel is about about a boy who is escaping poverty and a miserable existence in Ghana. He is hoping to follow his sister and brother migrating to Europe. It shows how incredibly perilous this journey is for many people. This would be a terrific book to help kids understand the whole concept of why people are willing to get into overloaded boats and sail out into the ocean.

Eoin Colfer is one of my fav authors for kids. To see him take a turn writing a heart wrenching graphic novel is a depressing joy. He tells the poignant tale of Ebo, a little boy from waring african nations, and his attempt to find both his brother and his sister. It will take a long journey that I hope none of your children ever need to take. We follow him on leaky boats, deadly deserts, and rat infested tunnels. All for a chance at a life worth living. This graphic novel wouldn’t be what it is without the work of Andrew Donkin, who takes the heartbreaking words and creates images that will stay in your mind long after reading this treasure. There are so many reasons to read this book. For a look at the life of a child on the run, to explain to others, children and adults, about these types of humanitarian crisis, etc. This is not an easy book, but it is a book that needs read.

Wow. What a compelling, heartbreaking, miraculous story. It is so important for people to see and read with its stunning and emotional artwork.

Gorgeous illustrations accompany this heartbreaking look at the experiences of illegal immigrants. Through the story of Ebo and his brother Kwame, the reader sees every aspect of the difficulties immigrants face. The minimal text and large page illustrations help to capture this so perfectly: for instance, the image of the fishing vessel loaded to bursting with people will stick with me. My main criticism would be that the time jumps made it hard to follow in places and fragmented the story too much, but all the same, I would say this is a must-read for anyone interested in the subject.

Illegal is the story of two brothers’ journey from Africa to Europe. Along the way Ebo, the main character, charms his way by singing, finds a bit of luck, and cheerfully works at whatever job he can find. Ebo is an intelligent and gutsy hero, who, perhaps because of his age, naively manages to think positively and to find solutions when faced with both mundane and life-threatening problems that seem never-ending. Ebo and his brother save one another time and again, but both are repeatedly treated horribly and discarded by people who have far more resources than they do.

This book would be great for upper elementary through high school libraries and classrooms, as it presents a well-thought out and emotionally involving introduction for kids to the refugee crisis in Europe. The illustrations draw the reader in, and effectively show the living conditions and peril the brothers encounter in an appropriate and engaging way. I enthusiastically recommend this for grades 4 and up.

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An absolutely gut-wrenching story of a young boy's journey from Africa to Europe in hopes of a better life.
Ebo leaves his Ghanan village to follow hos brother and sister, who have both gone before him to try and reach Europe, and they hope, a better life. On the way he goes through unimaginable peril and hardships that sadly, hundreds and thousands of people experience every day in search for a better tomorrow.
Gorgeous artwork only adds to the story. A great read that is definitely not just for kids.

This was an excellent graphic novel depicting the importance of the experience of refugees from Africa. Having recently read and re-read such novels as A Long Walk to Water and part of Refugee, I was hoping for a little longer more detailed account than the number of pages here. However, I think the plot was exciting and the length and medium chosen will make this story very accessible to readers that might not make it through something with the length of Refugee. This will be another important add to my library when it arrives next year. I really wish I had this book right now!!

A fascinating, riveting story, told in two timeframes as Ebo makes a treacherous journey in search of his brother and a better life. Heartbreakingly real. This would be a fantastic start point for a class discussion about refugees and immigrants. This book should be read by many, many people, and I'll try and sell it to as many as possible.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the chance to read it.

Illegal is the gut-wrenching, heartbreaking story of two African brothers, Ebo and Kwame, who are making the dangerous journey from Africa to Europe with the hope of reuniting with their sister. Their tale is sweeping and epic as they navigate traveling across the Sahara, into Tripoli, and onto a boat headed, hopefully, to Italy.
Like the best books for children, Illegal does not pull any punches. Eoin Colfer respects his audience and knows that kids can handle scary stories. I wouldn't let my nine-year-old loose on her own with this story, but I would definitely read it with her. Illegal is an excellent graphic novel about an important and timely topic.