Reviews tagging 'Death'

Illegal by Andrew Donkin, Eoin Colfer

18 reviews

koreanlinda's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

This is a realistic depiction of refugees fleeing Africa in precarious conditions. It's captivating even for an adult reader. I strongly recommend it.

Review by Linda (Any Pronouns) in September 2024
Personal essays on DefinitelyNotOkay.com
Artwork on Instagram @KoreanLinda 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and War

bbelitz's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Deportation

thechroniclesofsiania's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Trafficking, and Grief

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Miscarriage and Pregnancy

typedtruths's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

 this was devastatingly good. i definitely cried at least once 😭

▷ Representation: Ebo (mc) & his brother Kwame (sc) is Ghanaian; African & Black cast.

Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Death

Moderate: Gun violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Miscarriage

➸ Trigger warnings for starvation, extreme dehydration, and food/water scarcity discussed, miscarriage mentioned (author's note), physical illness and injury, death of brother from drowning (on-page), murder by gun violence (on-page), disappearance of a sibling mentioned, drowning & near-drowning (on-page), mass death from drowning due to a boating accident (on-page), child homelessness and extreme poverty (on-page), and the refugee crisis (theme).

dafni's review against another edition

emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Trafficking, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Forced institutionalization

Minor: Miscarriage and War

markwillnevercry's review against another edition

3.5

This book was really good at displaying the challenges of being an illegal immigrant coming from Africa to Europe, however, for some reason there is no talk of deportation when you arrive to the Europe and this was written by three white men, even tho there was some influence of real stories. I would say that this one was good, but there are probably similar stories told by people who actually went through it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Grief, Murder, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Sexual content

alexisgarcia's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

this was so incredibly sad but showed so much emotion and strength within the characters. the art was beautiful and the plot was so full. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Xenophobia, Grief, Colonisation, and Classism

mlottermoser's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Heart breaking story of two brothers trying to make their way to Europe for a better life. A middle grade graphic novel that doesn’t shy away from the dangers these hopeful people endure. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Trafficking

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

cheye13's review against another edition

challenging sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.0

Aside from the age of the characters, this didn't have the impact I had hoped it would. I found the additional materials like the firsthand account and the authors' notes more evocative and informative than the main story. Still, a very well crafted work in general.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, and Trafficking

Moderate: Deportation

Minor: Alcoholism and Violence

also depictions of a life-threatening illness and drowning

royallyreading's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Heart-wrenching story of people facing hardships and extreme situations to have a better life. Tragic and all too real. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death