Review: Illegal

Illegal by Eoin Colfer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This story deserved better. I'll say that upfront. There's nothing particularly wrong with this book, but there isn't anything great about it either. The book makes a well-intentioned, but underwhelming, attempt to humanize refugees making their way to Europe. While I don't necessarily disagree with it, the book does little to actually understand or explore the geopolitical aspects of the issue. The book is titled "Illegal", but the narrative only brings it up once and does nothing to further examine the plight of refugees beyond their localized perspective. Concerning itself more with the poverty of Ebo's home country and the hardship of traveling to Europe. To break it down another way, this book is convincing but not persuasive.

The writing isn't terrible. I've seen much worse. But I've also seen much better. The actual dialogue and narration are fine enough, but it has major problems concerning structure. The story flips back and forth between present day Ebo on a boat in the middle of the Mediterranean, and barely in the past Ebo searching for his brother across Niger and Libya. The structure would work if it was a "how did they get here" dynamic, but it seems to follow this pattern for no real reason. We know exactly how they got on that boat and knowing that Ebo made it that far ruins any tension of the first half. Also, much of what happens feels contrived. Plot enforced events, both good and bad, seemingly happen for no better reason than because the story demands it. The entire story feels like it's on autopilot.

The art. It's fine. I like it to a good degree, there is talent here, but it also doesn't do anything to warrant spectacular praise. The art is fine.

I'm a heartless monster, so I don't feel bad about walking away feeling meh about this book. It has a very simple message that refugees can't be illegal because humans can't be illegal. I don't disagree, but there seems to be an expectation of an automated response that I simply didn't have. Maybe that was just me (remember how I'm a heartless monster?) but I feel this book should have had more to say. The thing is, it doesn't.

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