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Illegal

by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin, illustrated by Giovanni Rigano

Interest age: 10 to 16
Reading age: 10+

Published by Hodder Children’s Books, 2017

  • Adventure
  • Graphic novels

About this book

Illegal tells the story of Ebo, a 12-year-old boy who flees grinding poverty, zero opportunities and a drunken uncle in his small village in Africa. His brother Kwame and sister Sisi have already left in the hope of a better life in Europe and he’s determined to find them en route.

Before he even can hope to find a boat to get him to Europe, Ebo has to make the perilous journey across Sahara desert. And then the boat he manages to find passage on (for a small fortune) is a small six-person rubber dinghy, now carrying 14 passengers…

The story is heart-stoppingly powerful and many readers will devour it one sitting. The images are of course absolutely integral and beautifully drawn by Giovanni Rigano. Ebo is a wonderful hero: so resourceful, hard working, clever, brave and funny.

Although Ebo’s story is fictional, every element of it has been inspired by facts, based on extensive interviews and research. At the back of the book, these stories are acknowledged, including the moving story of “Helen”, adapted in comic form.

An absolute must-read, this graphic novel is thought-provoking, profound, sensitive and totally gripping. 

About the author

Eoin Colfer (pronounced Owen) was born in Wexford on the South-East coast of Ireland in 1965, where he and his four brothers were brought up by his father (an elementary school teacher, historian and artist of note) and mother (a drama teacher). He first developed an interest in writing in primary (elementary) school with gripping Viking stories inspired by history he was learning in school at the time!

After leaving school he got his degree from Dublin university and qualified as a primary school teacher, returning to work in Wexford. He married in 1991 and he and his wife spent about four years between 1992 and 1996 working in Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Italy. His first book, Benny and Omar, was published in 1998, based on his experiences in Tunisia; it has since been translated into many languages. Then in 2001 the first Artemis Fowl book was published and he was able to resign from teaching and concentrate fully on writing.

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