Illegal by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin

ILLEGAL by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin with illustrations by Giovanni Rigano is an extremely informative and moving graphic novel.  I am definitely recommending it to our Geography teachers, although it should have wide appeal to anyone interested in this crisis. This is a very quick but impactful read which will build empathy and prompt discussion. Following up with a role-playing and/or simulation involving refugees like the one from World Relief Seattle or using lesson plans from Teaching Tolerance would be very memorable.  The Refugee Project has a series of amazing interactive maps built on data from the UNHCR which could also be used. And, PBS POV in conjunction with its lesson plan for the documentary 4.1 Miles, suggests checking out The Refugee Center for volunteer opportunities. Our high school students have worked successfully with Chicago’s RefugeeOne. The list could go on and I hope that ILLEGAL’s publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark, will add more to the UK based groups that appear in the text.  Colfer, Donkin and Rigano’s graphic novel received starred reviews from Booklist, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly and VOYA. Perhaps the authors and illustrator will collaborate further on telling the story of life in the camps or as a resettled immigrant?