Student ambassador. The missing dragon

First Title Value for Searching:

Personal Author:

Estrada, Ryan

Edition:

First edition.

Physical Description:

160 pages : color illustrations ; 23 cm.

Genre:

Graphic novels.

Action and adventure fiction.

Detective and mystery fiction.

Summary:

"A student ambassador is sent on a high-stakes diplomatic mission to a far away land, where he and a newly crowned boy king are thrust into a globe-trotting action-adventure mystery"--

Subject Term:

Ambassadors -- Comic books, strips, etc.

Kings and rulers -- Comic books, strips, etc.

Government missions -- Comic books, strips, etc.

Additional Credits:

Eneas, Axur

Pangburn, Chas!,

Lafrenais, Amanda

Audience/Lexile:

008-012.

Publication Info:

Chicago, IL : Iron Circus Comics, 2020.

Subject:

Ambassadors -- Comic books, strips, etc.

Kings and rulers -- Comic books, strips, etc.

Government missions -- Comic books, strips, etc.

Graphic novels.

Action and adventure fiction.

Detective and mystery fiction.

Commissioners, High (Ambassadors)

High commissioners (Ambassadors)

Ministers (Diplomatic agents)

Czars (Kings and rulers)

Kings and rulers, Primitive

Monarchs

Royalty

Rulers

Sovereigns

Tsars

Tzars

Missions, Government

SAILS ISBN:

9781945820601

Available:

Library	Shelf Number	Shelf Location	Status
Searching... Plainville Public Library	GRAPHIC J EST PB	CHILDREN GRAPHIC NOVELS	Searching... Unknown
Searching... East Bridgewater Public Library	ESTRADA	CHILDREN GRAPHIC NOVELS	Searching... Unknown
Searching... New Bedford Howland-Green Branch	J GRAPHIC ESTRADA	CHILDREN GRAPHIC NOVELS	Searching... Unknown
Searching... New Bedford Wilks Branch	J GRAPHIC ESTRADA	CHILDREN GRAPHIC NOVELS	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Norfolk Public Library	JGN STUDENT V1	CHILDREN GRAPHIC NOVELS	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Seekonk Public Library	JG STUDENT AMBASSADOR V1	CHILDREN GRAPHIC NOVELS	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Somerset Public Library	Y GRAPHIC NOVEL EST	GRAPHIC NOVELS	Searching... Unknown

Summary

"Madcap antics and adventures." -- KIRKUS

"A fun adventure tale with a lot of personality." -- SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL

"I want to tell you a story about being a student ambassador, but that will be boring. So instead, I'll tell you about the time I almost got eaten by a crocodile."

When eight-year-old student ambassador Joseph Bazan wins a photo op with the President of the United States, he doesn't quite know what to expect, but it certainly isn't hanging out with the leader of the free world in a secret compartment inside the resolute desk! Joseph's pluck and kid logic not only charm the president, but they soon help resolve a thorny trade dispute. This gives POTUS an idea. Across the ocean, eight-year-old boy king Nang Nukatau III has taken his father's crown and clumsily stumbled into an international incident, and now Joseph's got a pressing mission: talk the tiny dictator back from the brink of war!

The diplomatic slumber party soon goes from awkward to scary as the castle is stormed and the boys are lost across South Korea and Japan where they have to outrun bad guys, learn to read Hangul, unravel the riddle of Gyeongbok Palace, break out of an abandoned bathhouse, befriend an army of snow monkeys, and crack the Case of the Missing Dragon, all while showing Nang how to live in a world where everyone doesn't always bow to you. Can a kid with a C+ in social studies solve the mystery andteach a king to be a kid?

Student Ambassador is a globe-trotting action-adventure set in the real world where dangers mount, the stakes are high, and smarts save the day!

Reviews (3)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 4--6--A conscientious eight-year-old student ambassador named Joseph Bazan wins a photo op with the president. After impressing the president with his ability to solve grown-up problems with his straightforward morality, can-do attitude, and extensive book knowledge, the boy is sent to West Ruhar to change its young king's mind about going to war with East Ruhar. Ornery, opinionated, and quick to dole out punishment, King Nang Nukatau III is a great foil to Joseph's evenhanded diplomat. The friendship between the student ambassador and the child king allows each of the boys to grow: Nang discovers how to have fun, while Joseph learns more about the world. When Nang and Joseph stow away in a crate after a kidnapping attempt, they must work together to stop the impending war, solve the mystery of a missing dragon statue, and get themselves safely home. Eneas's art anchors readers in each locale, and the big-headed, exaggerated characters and the settings are joyfully drawn, making the tale even more exciting--though some may find the plot slow at times and Joseph a bit verbose. VERDICT A fun adventure tale with a lot of personality, this is a strong addition to middle grade graphic novel adventure collections.--Jennie Law, Georgia State Univ., Atlanta

Kirkus Review

Joseph is an unreliable narrator with a flair for the dramatic and plenty of humor in this middle-grade graphic novel. After winning an improbable essay contest, Joseph Bazan has the honor of meeting the U.S. president. After his quick wit and smooth talking prove he is a natural diplomat, Joseph is thrust onto the international stage to connect with the young monarch of the fictional country of West Rhutar, which seems to be somewhere in Asia. There, young King Nang has his sights set on revenge against East Rhutar, which he blames for leaving him orphaned, and Joseph must help broker peace. All is going well until a late-night heist sets off a globe-trotting quest for the truth behind the tensions between East and West Rhutar, as Nang and Joseph traipse across East Asia. Though Joseph is identified as Mexican American, the real cultural highlight is on Korea, where Joseph and Nang end up by accident and where Joseph's fondness for Korean comics comes in handy. Some astute readers may note the similarities between the fictional East and West Rhutar and the tensions between North and South Korea. Meanwhile, Korean language and lore yield clues to help Nang and Joseph track down the bad guys and solve the mystery. Illustrations and storyboard are inspired by Korean manhwa comics, with a dash of Japanese manga and American graphic traditions. This creates a fast-paced adventure sure to appeal to reluctant readers. A Korean travelogue with madcap antics and adventures. (Graphic adventure. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Booklist Review

After winning an essay contest, Mexican American student ambassador Joseph gets to visit the U.S. president. Hilariously, the two hit it off, and Joseph is soon dispatched as ambassador to the Southeast Asia--inspired nation of West Rhutar, where a bratty tween dictator, King Nang Nukatau III, threatens war. A diplomatic savant, Joseph befriends Nang and wins an invitation to the king's slumber party--where an assault by kidnappers forces them to flee. What ensues is a true adventure-comedy, as the two boys traverse east Asia, attempting to unravel the mystery behind the plot to kidnap Nang. Estrada favors a silly tone, grounded in the generally absurd premise, wonderfully dry banter, and Eneas' character design, which sets Joseph's wide-eyed naivete against high-stakes international politics. A strong case is also made here for the educational value of comics, as the boys must learn Korean script and culture in order to solve the puzzle--and those lessons are passed on to the reader. An expertly paced, legitimately funny adventure with a side of learning.

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Summary

Reviews (3)

School Library Journal Review

Kirkus Review

Booklist Review