THE ILLEGAL is a contemporary story about an imaginary land in which immigration policies and experience change and shape the landscape by suffering under unfair laws legislated against undocumented peoples. Keita Ali, the protagonist of this gripping tale, is a runner (no shortage of symbolism there), and his physical prowess proves to be the key in helping him maneuver the labyrinthine craziness of his flawed country. 

Running, the physical act of running, is a way to achieve great respect and fortune in his world. All comes from Zantoroland, a fictionalized country that is run by terrorists and evildoers of the first order. He is one of the fastest marathoners on earth, and his fame promises to grow along with his wealth until he will have achieved a prominent position in his society. However, with the murder of his journalist father, a man who is not fearful of presenting unpopular political views but clearly has upset a number of important governmental figures, everyone must escape to Freedom State, a wealthy nation that is engaged in a crackdown on all undocumented people. 

"You will take Keita and Viola to heart, and find in them a struggle worth contemplating. If you dare to look deep enough, a conversation about humankind will knock your running shoes off."

Living as an illegal in this place is hard for Keita, but living in this fashion also opens him up to a whole underground world where race is an issue an illegal can win. Keita, however, surfaces to earn cash prizes in local races and tries to determine whether his athletic associates are people who will support him or turn him in. Keita is a wanted man, and the authorities are on the trail, but his situation is exacerbated when his sister is kidnapped. So Keita is running --- for life, liberty and the pursuit of justice.

Zantoroland sounds a lot like modern-day America, and those similarities will not be lost on even the most casual reader. However, author Lawrence Hill fashions a story that is part adventure and part political commentary, so if you are not interested in trying to figure out the symbolic infrastructure of the novel, you can enjoy a rousing good tale about a man on the run and the search for justice while trying to discover one’s own worthy place on this earth.

Viola Hill, the journalist in the story, tries to take Keita’s case and turn it into a cause célèbre, something well beyond the pages of the local sports sections. Her struggle is an interesting one, too, as are the stories of most of the secondary characters. You will take Keita and Viola to heart, and find in them a struggle worth contemplating. If you dare to look deep enough, a conversation about humankind will knock your running shoes off.