Language: G (0 swears, 0 'f') Mature Content: PG (mention of brothel) Violence: PG (peril, death)
BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
When Ebo discovers that his brother Kwame has left their village in search of their sister Sisi and a better life in Europe, he follows. It's a dangerous journey, and Ebo must find work along the way to make enough money to pay the smugglers for passage across the desert and the ocean. A chance meeting brings the brothers together, but the condition of their boat and the fact that neither can swim may be their end.
Colfer and Donkin have told a tragic story, based on the actual experiences of thousands of refugees. It's heartbreaking that these are children on their own, hiding and fighting for survival. Rigano's illustrations change the color palette to help keep track of the non-linear plot (the story starts near the end - when they are on the ocean, and is mostly told through flashbacks) While it may be terribly close to home for some of my refugee students, Illegal is a great book for building empathy and informing my patrons about this world problem.
Lisa Librarian
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