Abadzis, Nick. Laika. Colored by Hilary Sycamore. New York: First Second, 2007. ISBN: 978-1-59643-101-0
Author / Illustrator Website: http://www.nickabadzis.com/
Colorist Website: None
Awards: YALSA Great Graphic Novel for Teens, Top Ten Graphic Novel; Kirkus Best Book of the Year; Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books of the Year
Media: Pen, Ink and Colored Markers.
Use of Repetition: (p. 6, 15, etc.) “I am a man of destiny.”
Special Notations: 2009 Students’ List, Personal Top Ten, Graphic Novel
Annotation: in the 1950’s, Premier Kruschev charges a Russian space engineer to trump the Sputnik launch. This historical graphic novel offers insight into Russian politics, the race for space and tells the story of Laika, the first dog in space.
Personal Reaction: Laika would be my number one recommendation for readers who consider themselves above comic books. With Laika, writer and artist Nick Abadzis proves that graphic novels can compete with quality historical fiction. I have always sided with Gordon Korman when it comes to stories about dead dogs, but Laika pulled me in with Russian politics, realistic drawings and a history lesson on the race for space. “I am a man of destiny,” (p. 6) is Korolev’s mantra when he is escaping from a gulag (Russian prison) and when he is the head engineer on the Sputnik launch nearly two decades later. Unfortunately for Korolev, this is 1957 and Russia is determined to outpace the United States in the space race and Premier Kruschev’s satisfaction with Sputnik is fleeting. Kruschev demands that Korolev launch something spectacular within a month’s time. Hence, Laika is identified as the first “cosmodog.” The story is historically based and Abadzis provides a factual afterword, as well as a bibliography and list of websites for learning more about the Russian space program and animals.
