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The Illegal
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
Keita Ali is on the run. Like every boy on the mountainous island of Zantoroland, running is all Keitas ever wanted to do. In one of the poorest nations in the world, running means respect. Running means riches-until Keita is targeted for his fathers outspoken political views and discovers he must run for his familys survival. He signs on with notorious marathon agent Anton Hamm, but when Keita fails to place among the top finishers in his first race, he escapes into Freedom State-a wealthy island nation that has elected a government bent on deporting the refugees living within its borders in the community of AfricTown. Keita can stay safe only if he keeps moving and eludes Hamm and the officials who would deport him to his own country, where he would face almost certain death. This is the new underground: a place where tens of thousands of people deemed to be illegal live below the radar of the police and government officials. As Keita surfaces from time to time to earn cash prizes by running local road races, he has to assess whether the people he meets are friends or enemies: John Falconer, a gifted student struggling to escape the limits of his AfricTown upbringing; Ivernia Beech, a spirited old woman at risk of being forced into an assisted living facility; Rocco Calder, a recreational marathoner and the immigration minister; Lula DiStefano, self-declared queen of AfricTown and madam of the communitys infamous brothel; and Viola Hill, a reporter who is investigating the lengths to which her government will go to stop illegal immigration. Keitas very existence in Freedom State is illegal. As he trains in secret, eluding capture, the stakes keep getting higher. Soon, he is running not only for his life, but for his sisters life, too. Fast moving and compelling, The Illegal casts a satirical eye on people who have turned their backs on undocumented refugees struggling to survive in a nation that does not want them. Hills depiction of life on the borderlands of society urges us to consider the plight of the unseen and the forgotten who live among us.
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CuriousG
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
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I'm posting one book per day from the ever growing unread stacks in my personal library. No description or explanation, just books I own and plan to read. #tbr

Day 71 (Audible edition)

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LaraS
The Illegal: A Novel | Lawrence Hill
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Adding some Canadiana with Lawrence Hill! The Illegal is about a young runner who is forced to flee his country & becomes an illegal refugee. Wonderfully written characters. Someone Knows My Name follows the life of Aminata Diallo: abducted from her village as a young girl, sold into slavery, ends up helping the Brits record the freed slaves in the Revolutionary War, and so much more. Incredible story telling & strong characters. #BlackVoices

ShyBookOwl I need to check this one out! 4y
11 likes1 comment
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agrondin44
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
Pickpick

August 2019 in OC:
Just loved that book from the start to the end. Read it in no time and realized at the end of it that the author is from my country so I just want to read his other books. Not so far I sure from some other country's reality and makes me want to know more about the subject and what I can do to help... If I can do something.

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LibraryCin
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
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Mehso-so


Overall, I‘d rate it ok. I‘m not sure if it would be of more interest to people who enjoy sports, with all the running, or maybe to people who enjoy political fiction. Sometimes political stuff is of more interest to me, but I think it depends on how it‘s done. I listened to the audio, and the narrator was fine, nothing special, but didn‘t detract, either, I didn‘t think. The story itself was fine.

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wallacereads
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
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Sitting among all the unread books.

kspenmoll 😀 6y
BooknerdsLife 😍 I have a tiny cat sitting on my TBR too😂 6y
44 likes2 comments
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DebbieGrillo
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
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#booknames
@ScorpioBookDreams

D - A Discovery of Witches
E - Eat, Pray, Love
B - Brown Girl Dreaming
B - Behold the Dreamers
I - The Illegal
E - Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

@kspenmoll @FantasyChick @Jaberwocky Have you done this yet?

booksensation Hmmm this will take me some time lol 7y
kspenmoll Thanks for tag; I just finished! 📚❤️ 7y
88 likes2 comments
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TamarackTrail
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
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Pickpick

I listened to this book as an audiobook and enjoyed it immensely. It explores racism, fear of immigrants, and is more timely now than when it was written.

Worth listening to on audio with excellent narration.

Jaimelire I loved this book 7y
74 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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JacqMac
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
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My favorite book that fits #ImmigrantSong It's a great story about the struggles of fleeing a dangerous home and trying to find a new one. #RockinMay

Cinfhen Sounds fascinating😌I have another book by this author sitting in my TBR 8y
Melissa_J I really liked this one. Great pick! 8y
Jaimelire Great book 8y
42 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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jlondon1963
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
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jlondon1963
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
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jlondon1963
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
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Pickpick

First thank you @JacqMac for an amazing read! Powerful story of Keita Ali someone who is running for a better life. Overcoming obstacles and getting help from the most unlikely places. Sheds a very powerful light on immigration.

JacqMac I'm so glad you liked it! I found it very powerful as well. 8y
9 likes1 comment
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Jaimelire
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
Pickpick

A book perfectly suited for current times. I became intensely involved with the main character's struggle to survive. I can see why it was chosen as 2016 winner of Canada Reads award.

14 likes1 stack add
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Jaimelire
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
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Keira, an illegal, finds refuge in...a library. So much truth in this. No matter where I am in the world, I always feel like a library or bookstore is a safe place.

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Jaimelire
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
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Yes.

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Jaimelire
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
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Just started this book after dinner. My son has been collecting pink seashells for me. I told him I would put them in the picture. I plan a lot of reading in a shady spot tomorrow since I got sunburn on my legs today. The joys of being a white Canadian girl in Mexico....always end up with sunburn! 🏖

20 likes2 stack adds
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Shay
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
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Second to last day of #Diverseathon: a diverse book you want to see adapted. It think this story about a refugee runner would make an excellent movie, and there are lots of meaty roles to go around. I'm dreamcasting it in my head right now.

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Jaimelire
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
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Leaving for Mexico in less than 2 weeks. These three will be my beach companions! Can't wait.

BilboBookends Loved Sarah's key! 8y
kspenmoll Enjoy the sun & beach! 8y
21 likes2 comments
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jlondon1963
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
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#secretsantagoespostal, @JacqMac @BookishMarginalia Loved my bookish box can't wait to try out the hot chocolate. The candle is perfect for the holidays!! The book sounds very intriguing can't wait to dig in now that the busiest part of the holidays is past... 📚📬👍👍☃️🎉🎅🏼

BookishMarginalia Yey! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 8y
JacqMac Yay! I hope you like the book. Have a happy holiday. (edited) 8y
15 likes2 comments
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JacqMac
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
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It's really hard to pick a #favereadofAugust. I read many good ones. This one stayed with me the most. It made me think and filled me with empathy.

24 likes2 stack adds
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JacqMac
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
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Pickpick

I can't imagine what it must be like to live in a country where you have no personal rights and freedoms. Living everyday in fear for your life and those that you love. Every. Single. Day. Home is supposed to be your safe and happy place. But what happens when it isn't? Where do you go? How do you protect yourself when you have to flee now? With nothing? Nobody in the world should have to face these questions today. But they do.

23 likes2 stack adds
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NerdyRev
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
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Back in the States and 80% done with The Fireman. I had to get some books while in Canada, so I got the finalists for Canada reads. They don't arrive until next week though. Great idea!

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JacqMac
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
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Dark and dreary day today. It's a great time to crack open a new book. I loved watching the Canada Reads debates and I'm looking forward to reading this one.

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JacqMac
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
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My #faveplacetorelax is tucked into the corner of the sectional, surrounded by snuggly throws. It's a very dark and cloudy day today, which doesn't make for good pictures, but it's great for reading. #augustofpages #augustphotochallenge

MrBook Nice #readingnook! 😊👍🏻 8y
susanw That looks like the same soft grey blanket that I have, from Chapters/Indigo, no? 8y
JacqMac @susanw It's the very same. It makes a great wrap on a chilly day. 8y
26 likes3 comments
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Ashgun
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
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So far so good

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L0STF0X
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
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One of the perks of working as a hotel housekeeper is that I often find, or am left #books as a #tip! 🦄🌸

2 likes1 stack add
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bookishchelle
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
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Mehso-so

I enjoyed the beginning of the book especially descriptions of Keita running. Some plot felt haphazardly slapped in. The narrator was fabulous and I really enjoyed the fictitious countries, Zantoroland & Freedom State. This felt more like a fluffier read than I was expecting. The ending felt rushed & it resolved too neatly & abruptly. This isn't my favourite book from Canada Reads 2016 & it's the winner. Hero's Walk or Birdie should have won.

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LoriAngela
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
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Moving and timely book with a raucous cast of characters. Great hearing the author speak about supporting Syrian refugees in our community

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DaveNeufeld
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
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Pickpick

CanLit goodness, it doesn't matter if the quote at the bottom of the cover came from The Globe and Mail or Yoda himself...

2 likes1 stack add
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Shay
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
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Pickpick

Yesterday, The Illegal beat out The Hero's Walk to win Canada Reads 2016. The Illegal is a refugee story that fictionalization and combines elements of many countries and policies to universalize the plight of displaced people. Full review and recap: Http://goo.gl/SjwJqw

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Shay
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
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"Keita wondered whether a person could be punished for having thoughts, or only for committing those thoughts to paper."

2 likes2 stack adds