Reading: STUDENT AMBASSADOR: THE MISSING DRAGON - Ryan Estrada (author), Axur Eneas (illustrator)

Prose (Story): When eight-year-old student ambassador Joseph Bazan wins a chance to meet the President of the United States, his positive energy and spirit so impress the leader of the free world, when Joseph solves a major trade issue, within minutes, the young boy finds himself further entrusted with a visit far overseas to a boy king his own age, Nang Nukatau III, who has just taken over his country after the death of his father - and now has his kingdom on the verge of war. Joseph arrives to find a bratty, insensitive and unyielding little dictator ... but when the palace is attacked the evening if their big "slumber party" both boys soon find themselves being chased across South Korea and then Japan, trying to escape some desperate bad guys wanting the young king, even as they also seek to learn the secret of the Missing Dragon, and why it's so important to the future of the world. 

Don's (Review): I absolutely LOVED this fun and funny graphic novel; Joseph is a cool, level-headed average kid caught up in an extremely odd situation, and while not the best student he is quite bright and courageous - and wholly patient, at least at first, with King Nang, who doesn't take too well to suddenly being thrust into a world where everyone around him isn't bowing and scraping to his orders (some of the funniest moments in the book). Good action, a good mystery, formidable bad guys, lots of humor (even of the sarcastic variety, thank goodness), and the bickering friendship that develops between the two boys - it all works, combining with great art by Axur Eneas that had me smiling and running through the pages, only to re-read the thing again anyway, once I'd finished. Hugely recommended for anyone - kid or adult - seeking a good action story mixed with humor and some terrific subtext about the importance of friendship. Hopefully this is the start of a series, as it seems; I am so in for the long haul!  4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.