Ambassador - by William Alexander (Paperback)

About the Book

Appointed Earth's ambassador to the universe, twelve-year-old Gabe Fuentes faces two sets of "alien" problems when he discovers his parents are illegal aliens and face deportation and the Earth is in the path of a destructive alien force causing multiple mass extinctions.

Book Synopsis

Gabe Fuentes is in for the ride of his life when he becomes Earth's ambassador to the galaxy in this alien sci-fi adventure from the National Book Award-winning author of Goblin Secrets.

Gabe Fuentes is reading under the covers one summer night when he is interrupted by a creature who looks like a purple sock puppet. The sock puppet introduces himself as the Envoy and asks if Gabe wants to be Earth's ambassador to the galaxy. What sane eleven-year-old could refuse?

Some ingenious tinkering with the washing machine sends Gabe's "entangled" self out to the center of the galaxy. There he finds that Earth is in the path of a destructive alien force--and Gabe himself is the target of an assassination plot. Exactly who wants him out of the way? And why?

Back home, Gabe discovers that his undocumented immigrant parents are in danger of being deported. Can Gabe survive long enough to solve two sets of "alien" problems? He runs for his life, through Minneapolis and outer space, in this fast-paced adventure from a National Book Award-winning author.

"Physics lovers will enjoy this clever series opener--but so will those who enjoy comedy, politics, diplomacy or strange-looking aliens" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).

Review Quotes

*"An interstellar embassy, alien assassins, galactic mass extinctions: These are Gabe's small problems...Physics lovers will enjoy this clever series opener--but so will those who enjoy comedy, politics, diplomacy or strange-looking aliens."-- "Kirkus Reviews, starred review"

"An engaging and smart allegory about the hurt and strangeness of the modern immigrant condition."--Hector Tobar "The New York Times"

"Galactic Dr. Who shenanigans." -- "Publishers Weekly"

"National Book Award-winning Alexander ( Goblin Secrets, 2012) injects meaningful depth into an exciting sci-fi adventure, perceptively exploring what it means to be alien."--Booklist

"This is an excellent book."-- "Library Media Connection"

Alexander creates in Gabe a character who remains tremendously likable while exhibiting courage, diplomacy, and invention in trying to take care of his family, himself, and his planet all at once. It's a meaty and entertaining novel with an open-ended conclusion offering lots of room for discussion.-- "Horn Book"

In the short time William Alexander has had books out, I have become a huge fan of his writing. He has done it again--Gabe Fuentes is imaginative, sweet, and courageous in all the right ways without being a bit saccharine or off-putting, and is most likely going to save planet earth from destruction. I can't wait for book number 2!--Jane Yolen, author of The Devil's Arithmetic

About the Author

William Alexander writes unrealisms for readers of all ages. His work has won the National Book Award, the Eleanor Cameron Award, the Librarian Favorites Award, the Teacher Favorites Award, two CBC Best Children's Book of the Year Awards, and two Junior Library Guild Selections. As a small child he honestly thought that his Cuban American family came from the lost island of Atlantis.