ILLEGAL

This audiobook is a moving testament to the difficulties faced by African refugees in search of a better life. Ebo follows his brother, who has left their Ghanaian village in hopes of immigrating to Europe. He meets both helpful and brutal people during harrowing months of travel. The story employs multiple devices to mirror its dark atmosphere and the "word bubbles" of its origin as a graphic novel. Instead of color, music and sound effects suggest mood and are often a backdrop for dialogue. Sometimes young Ebo sings. Locational cues are frequent--waves crashing against a leaky boat, cacophonous voices in the city, truck engines failing in the desert, a hungry baby crying. An ensemble cast speaks emotively with authentic accents, making the characters distinguishable and believable. L.T. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2018]