ILLUSTRATED BY GIOVANNI RIGANO

illegal
EOIN COLFER & ANDREW DONKIN
This is a powerful and timely story about one boy’s epic journey from Ghana, across Africa to
Europe, a graphic novel for all children with glorious colour artwork throughout. From Eoin Colfer,
previously Irish Children’s
This is a powerful and timelyLaureate, and the
story about oneteamboy’sbehind
epic his bestselling
journey Artemisacross
from Ghana, Fowl graphic
Africa to Europe—
novels.
a graphic novel for all children with glorious color artwork throughout. From Eoin Colfer and the team
Ebo’s sisterhisleft
behind months ago.
bestselling NowFowl
Artemis his brother
graphichas disappeared too, and Ebo knows it can only
novels.
beEbo’s
to makesisterthe hazardous
left months ago. journey
Nowto hisEurope.
brother has disappeared too, and Ebo knows it can only be to make
the epic
Ebo’s hazardous
journeyjourney to Europe.
takes him across the Sahara Desert to the dangerous streets of Tripoli, and
Ebo’s epic journey takes
finally out to the merciless sea. But him across
withthe Sahara
every stepDesert
he holdsto the dangerous
on to his hope for streets of Tripoli
a new and finally out to
life, and
the merciless sea.
a reunion with his sister. But with every step he holds on to his hope for a new life and a reunion with his sister.
These teacher notes provide:
These Teacher’s Notes provide:
• Discussion questions and activities to select from and use in class on a chapter-by -chapter basis, as
• Discussion questions and activities to select from and use in class on a chapter by chapter
well as activity suggestions to complete after reading a section of several chapters. The discussion
basis as well as activity
questions suggestions
and activities focusto oncomplete
reading after reading a section
skills (deduction, of several
inference, chapters. The
understanding of the story events),
discussion questions
reflection, and activities
prediction, focus on reading
characterization, skills (deduction,
the authors’ inference,
use of language, understanding
the graphic novel genre and
of thecross-curricular
story events), reflection, prediction, characterisation, the authors’ use of language, the
world knowledge
graphic novel genre, cross-curricular
• A photocopiable reading diaryworld knowledge
template (to record story events and their own opinions, as well as
• A photocopiable
come to terms Reading
with someDiary oftemplate
the feelings(to record
that might storybe events
raised and
by their own opinions as well
the story)
• Suggested activities to raise awareness of the global
as come to terms with some of the feelings that might be raised by the story) refugee crisis in class
• Suggested activities to raise awareness of the global refugee crisis in class
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 1
Discussion questions: scene setting
Discussion
• What have youquestions:
found out from scene setting
reading this chapter? Consider:
a)•what factshave
What you now know about
you learned fromEboreading this chapter? Consider:
b) characters
(a) whatand Ebo’s
facts yourelationship
now know about to themEbo
c) where(b) the characters
characters andareEbo’s
and relationships
what conditions are like
to them
• Look(c) at where
the maps theon the first page
characters of the
are and story.
what What countries
conditions are likedo you recognise? (Draw readers’
• LooktoatNorth
attention the maps onTunisia
Africa: the firstand
page of the
Libya; story. What
Europe: countries
Italy and do you
the island recognize?
of Sicily.)
• Nuru says, “Everyone knows you never put two brothers
• Nuru says, ‘Everyone knows you never put two brothers in the same boat. Someone in the same boat. Someone
must must
live tolive to carry
on the family name.” What do you think he is really saying?
carry on the family name.’ What do you think he is really saying?
(a) If two brothers travel in the same boat, they might argue
a) If two brothers travel in the same boat, they might argue
(b) It is usual for brothers to live in different places
b) It is(c)
usual
This for
is abrothers
high-risk to live infor
journey different places
both brothers
c) This is a high-risk journey for both brothers
Eoin Colfer
Andrew Donkin
Activity:byReading
illustrated Giovanni Diary
Rigano
Ask readers what questions they have after reading this chapter. They should consider what they know
about the reasons why Ebo is on the boat, and what they would still like to find out. Ask them to make a
note of questions that are unanswered in their reading diary. They can revisit these questions after reading
more of the story.

CHAPTER 2
Discussion questions
• What new things have you found out about Ebo? What difficulties does he face in his everyday life?
• How does Ebo respond to the older boys in the village? Do you understand his reaction?
• How would you describe Ebo’s relationship with his brother, Kwame? Why? Explain your answer by
referring back to chapter 2.

CHAPTER 3
Discussion questions
• There are both difficult moments and beautiful moments in this chapter. Record them in your reading
diary. Which moments do you remember the most?
• What problems do the characters on the dinghy have? What solutions do they find? Who thinks of these
solutions?

CHAPTER 4
Discussion questions
• Ebo meets a lot of different people in this chapter. Which of them are kind to him and which are not?
• How does Ebo help the other people on the bus? What does Ebo do that is not so good? Can you
understand why he does this?
• Why does Ebo describe the land as “a vast oven”? Is this a simile or a metaphor?

Activity: Reading Diary

Choose some significant moments from this chapter or ask readers to choose what they consider the most
significant moments. Ask readers to write a section in Ebo’s diary recording his feelings for one or more
of these moments. They should write the diary from Ebo’s point of view. Some suggestions of significant
moments are: Ebo leaving home, the bus driver letting him travel on the roof of the bus, arriving in Agadez,
talking to the woman who says she met Kwame, looking out across the vast city of Agadez, collecting the
bottles and having them stolen, trying to sleep in his new “home.”

CHAPTER 5
• In your reading diary, write a list of your own feelings as you read the chapter. How similar are they to
Ebo’s feelings? What does this tell you about the authors and illustrator? Do you think this is what they
intended?
• At the beginning of this chapter, the authors use many word balloons. Why do you think there are so
many? What impression does this create? At the end of the chapter, the authors use very few word
balloons, only a few thought balloons. Why do you think this is? How does this affect you as you read?

CHAPTERS 1 TO 5
Activities
Sharing: In small groups, readers share one worry they have for Ebo or any other character and one thing
they are pleased or relieved about. Ask readers to record the group’s worries or feelings of relief by writing
or drawing. The drawings or descriptions could be displayed in the classroom.
Research: In chapters 1 to 5, there are two sets of geographical coordinates. Ask readers to find them. As
a class, enter the coordinates into Google Maps and see where Ebo is. Readers draw their own map and
mark Ebo’s position on the map each time. Ask readers to predict where Ebo will go next.
Reading diary: Readers refer back to their questions from chapter 1. How many of their questions have
been answered by later chapters of the story? Are any of their questions still unanswered? Do they have
any new questions?
CHAPTER 6
Discussion questions
• Ebo says, “I have an existence, but no family and no village.” What does Ebo do to survive?
• Which three adjectives would you use to describe Ebo’s character? Why did you choose these three
adjectives? Find examples of things Ebo says or does in chapter 6 to back up your choices. Look back
at chapters 1 to 5. Can you find evidence of these same character traits there too?

Activity: Story timelines

1. In small groups, readers draw a timeline of events in the story up to the end of Chapter 6. They can
choose either: (a) the backstory—the parts of the story marked, beginning with Ebo discovering his
brother has left, or (b) recent events—the parts of the story marked, beginning with the argument in the
dinghy at sea.
2. Display the timelines in different parts of the classroom. Ask readers to predict what events will happen
to link up the two timelines.
3. Return to and add to these timelines at different points in the story and/or when readers have
completed the story.

CHAPTER 7
Discussion questions
• Describe the mood of the characters on the boat at the beginning of chapter 7. What event changes
the mood? How do you think Ebo is feeling now?
• How is the mood of the characters reflected in the colors of the illustrations?

CHAPTER 8
Discussion questions
• Ebo says, “It takes us twenty-one weeks to save enough money for two fares across the desert.” How
many days are there in twenty-one weeks? How many months are there?
• Why do Ebo and Kwame get on the overcrowded truck across the desert? How do the men who are
driving the truck gain control of their passengers?
• What reasons do the people on the ship have for not letting Ebo and his fellow travelers onto their ship?
What reasons do they have for letting them board the ship? The captain decides to let them onto the
ship. What two things help the captain make his decision?
• The picture boxes on pages 60 and 61 are an unusual shape. Why do you think the illustrator has chosen
to make them this shape? What effect do the boxes create?
• In Ebo’s diary, describe the scene when Ebo talks to the captain. Write the description from Ebo’s point
of view.
• Ebo describes the crowded truck as “full like a basket of reeds”. What simile might you use to describe
the crowded ship?

Activity: writing extension and reflection

Look at the picture on page 56. What do you think the people on the truck are thinking? Write thought
balloons to put on the picture. Now compare your thought balloons with those of the people on the ship on
page 58. Which are similar and which are different?
CHAPTERS 6 TO 9
Activities
Research: Ebo says, “All sensible travelers fear crossing the desert.” Ask readers to find out information
about the Sahara Desert that backs up this opinion. They should consider: climate, size, towns and cities,
wildlife or plant life.
Art project: Imagine you are Ebo traveling on the truck or in the larger ship. Draw what you can see. Think
about the conditions close to you and farther away. Think about the colors you can see.
Reading diary: Readers refer back to their questions from chapter 1 and chapter 5. Are any of
their questions still unanswered? Do they have any new questions?

CHAPTER 10
Discussion questions
• “The men who drive the jeeps and trucks are more interested in getting money than saving lives.” Can
you find two examples in the story that back up this point of view?
• What do you think Kwame and Ebo will do next? What are their choices?

Activity: during reading

Stop reading at various points during this chapter and ask readers to close their books and predict
what will happen next. Suggested points to pause the story:
“There’s a rumbling sound that gets louder.” (Page 63)
“Into jeep!” (Page 65)
“He cannot get the engine to work.” (Page 66)
Were readers surprised by what happened? What events shocked them the most?

CHAPTER 11
Discussion questions
• Before reading, ask readers to brainstorm reasons why Kwame and his brother are making this
dangerous journey. After reading, compare their reasons with the reasons the other ship passengers
have on page 72. Which are similar?
• Ebo says, “They are a family. They need to stay together.” What about Ebo’s family? Are they together?
Where are they? Does he wish they were together? Write an entry in Ebo’s diary all about his family.

CHAPTER 12
Discussion questions
• How do Ebo and the others find their way across the desert?
• How do they find enough water to drink?

CHAPTER 13
Discussion questions
• How do the passengers feel when they see the helicopter and rescue boat? What do they do when
they see them? What does this accidentally lead to?
• Look at the authors’ use of simile and metaphor in this chapter.
(a) How does Ebo describe the water when he falls into it? Is this a simile or a metaphor?
 (b) How does Ebo describe the sound of the helicopter? Is this a simile or a metaphor? Why do the
authors choose to describe it like this?
(c) Which verb does Ebo use to describe the wind on his face? What is this verb usually used to
describe? Why might the authors have chosen to describe the wind in this way?

CHAPTER 14
Discussion questions
• At the end of chapter 14, Razak says, “He’s your brother. It’s your choice, Kwame. It’s up to you.” What
choice is it that Kwame has to make? What would you do? What do you think Kwame does?
• How would you describe Ebo’s relationship with his brother now? Has this changed from how you felt at
the beginning of the story?
• What are the rules for survival in Tripoli?
• Which of these things help Ebo survive? Give reasons for your answer. Refer to the story in chapter 14
and earlier chapters.
(a) being quick-thinking
(b) being a good singer
(c) being mean
(d) being generous
(e) having a lot of money
(f) his brother’s love
(g) the kindness of others

CHAPTERS 10 TO 14
Activities
Drama: Use one of the following scenes as the basis for a drama activity:
• Razak buying tickets for himself, Ebo, and Kwame to travel to Europe. Consider what Razak says to get
the tickets. Why should he have these tickets and not someone else?
• Razak taking the tickets back to Ebo and Kwame. Consider how they feel when they see the tickets.
What questions do they have for Razak?
• The helicopter pilot at the scene of the disaster off the Italian coast. What does the pilot say to the
rescue service back at base? What is happening and why? What does the rescue service need to do
next?
• A TV reporter at the scene of the disaster off the Italian coast. Consider what viewers will want to know
about the disaster. Explain why there were so many people on the ship.

Reading Diary: Story review

Ask readers to think about the story so far. What parts of the story have they enjoyed or not enjoyed? Ask
them to explain their opinions. Now, ask readers whether they think the authors and illustrator have told
the story effectively. What have they done well? Is there anything they have not done so well? Again, ask
readers to justify their opinions and record them in their reading diary.

CHAPTER 15
Discussion questions
• Ebo loses his brother, Kwame, in the disaster. What does Kwame do before he dies?
• Make a list of times Kwame saves Ebo’s life. Refer back to the story.
• The ship journey ends in disaster. Why do so many people die?
CHAPTER 16
Activity: class discussion
Ebo says, “I am scared of going. But I’m scared of staying too.” Where is he frightened of going to? How
will he travel there? Where is he frightened of staying? Divide the class into pairs or small discussion groups.
Have half the class brainstorm a list of reasons why Ebo is scared of going to Europe. Have the other half
brainstorm a list of reasons why he is scared of staying in Tripoli. As a class, compare both lists. Which list has
the most reasons on it? Take a class vote: What would readers do if they were Ebo?

CHAPTER 17
Discussion questions
• How does Ebo feel at the start of this chapter? How does he feel at the end? Choose from the list of
adjectives:
angry happy scared
confused lonely shocked
excited sad worried
guilty relieved

• The title of this graphic novel is Illegal. What does “illegal” mean? Why do you think the authors chose
this title?

CHAPTERS 15 TO 17
Activities
Genre awareness & Creative writing
1. Look at the following text from page 72 of the story with your class.
Everything smells of oil. Oil and people.
For the first time in days, I can’t hear the waves.
Everywhere is the hum of the engines and people’s voices.
Ask readers where Ebo is when he says this.
2. Ask readers to work in pairs and choose another scene or chapter from the story. Encourage readers
to imagine themselves in that scene and make notes about what noises they can hear as well as what
they can smell.
3. Discuss the authors’ choice of genre for this story. Discuss with readers whether the story works well as a
graphic novel. Ask readers to consider other ways of telling a story (a novel, a poem, a play, a film, a
TV series). Which do readers consider would or would not be good ways to tell Ebo’s story? Ask them to
justify their choices.
4. Ask readers to rewrite their chosen scene or chapter in a different genre: as a book chapter, a poem,
a scene from a play, a script for a film or TV series. Encourage them to include, where appropriate,
descriptions of what they can see, hear, and smell.

Reading Diary: Ebo says, “I will never forget.” Imagine that Ebo is writing in his diary about how he feels now
that he has lost his brother. Ask readers what they think Ebo might say in answer to the questions below.
Readers can talk about his answers in small discussion groups or write them in their reading diaries.
What things did Ebo and Kwame do together?
What was Kwame good at?
What things did Kwame like?
What things did Kwame not like?
 What was Kwame’s dream?
If Kwame could come back for five minutes, what would Ebo say to him?

Story theme: The refugee crisis

Glossary
The distinction between a refugee and a migrant is important but can be confusing.
A refugee leaves their country because it is not safe for them to live there or because they cannot survive
there, because of war or perhaps because there is not enough food. It is too dangerous for them to return
home.
A migrant chooses to leave their country, perhaps to find work, for education, or to join family.
Note to teachers: This is a sensitive topic, and it is important not to draw attention to the personal
experiences of any child in the class or member of staff. Keep any discussion restricted to the experiences
of the characters in the stories. The activities below are based around the story in Illegal and Helen’s Story
at the end of the book.

Activity: Hopes and dreams

In small groups, students write a list of Ebo’s dreams for his new life. Ask students to think about each of
Ebo’s dreams. Have his dreams come true? What is the reality of his situation now? Encourage students to
think of adjectives to describe how Ebo feels about his dreams now.

Activity: Famous refugees

Suggest the names of some famous people who are refugees or from refugee families. Choose celebrities
who will resonate with your students. Ask students to select a celebrity to research. Give them some
headings as guidances, such as a country where they have family roots, a member of the family who was
a refugee, the situation they fled from, what they have achieved, reasons they were special. Students can
share their information in small groups or by giving a presentation.

Activity: Helen’s Story

Read Helen’s story as a class. Make a list of aspects of her story that are similar to Ebo’s story.

Activity: World Refugee Day

World Refugee Day takes place every year on June 20 to raise awareness of the refugee crisis. The number
of refugees around the world is now more than fifty million. Ask readers to suggest an event that should take
place on World Refugee Day to help people understand the stories of people like Ebo and Helen. Have
students design a poster or a web page to advertise the event.