Parents need to know that Ambassador, by National Book Award–winning author William Alexander, does not return to the magical steampunk world of Goblin Secrets and Ghoulish Song. Set alternately in present-day Minneapolis and in various points in outer space, it shares many qualities with the earlier volumes: appealing characters, strong family values, and unexpected paradigm shifts, with life lessons and laughs along the way. Many laughs and lessons here have to do with learning to see things from others' viewpoints and the importance of empathy and flexibility in solving problems. It's told from the perspective of 11-year-old Gabe, whose world changes forever when his Mexican parents and older sister, in the United States illegally since before Gabe was born, are discovered and threatened with deportation. The story gives the issue of unauthorized immigration and its ramifications a heartfelt, one-sided perspective. Besides triggering discussions of immigration-related issues, this might launch some interesting conversations about how controversial issues are driven by different perspectives.
