by Nick Abadzis (Author) Nick Abadzis (Illustrator)
Eisner Award Winner: Best Publication for Teens Eisner Award Nominee: Best Reality-Based Work
Laika was the abandoned puppy destined to become Earth's first space traveler. This graphic novel follows her journey. Nick Abadzis masterfully blends fiction and fact in the intertwined stories of three compelling lives. Along with Laika, there is Korolev, once a political prisoner, now a driven engineer at the top of the Soviet Union's space program, and Yelena, the lab technician responsible for Laika's health and life. This intense triangle is rendered with the pitch-perfect emotionality of classics like Because of Winn Dixie, Shiloh, and Old Yeller. Abadzis gives life to a pivotal moment in modern history, casting light on the hidden moments of deep humanity behind history. Laika's story will speak straight to your heart.WorldCat is the world's largest library catalog, helping you find library materials online.
"Space enthusiasts will nonetheless appreciate how much of the drama unfolds not only in dialogue bubbles but in the meticulous visual detail within wordless frames that captures the complex emotional responses of human participants pressured to sacrifice a dog they've come to treasure. A bibliography leads readers to up-to-date materials for further research." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Highly recommended for public and school libraries. The title needs appropriate nonfiction catalog entries." —Martha Cornog, Library Journal
Nick Abadzis is a British comics creator whose work has been published across the globe--from the U.S. to Japan. He based his book on the true story of the Sputnik 2: there was really a dog named Laika, and she touched the stars before she died. In writing his graphic novel, Nick Abadzis did thorough scientific and historical research, including traveling to Russia, visiting special Sputnik 2 archives, and interviewing experts in the field. He lives in London with his wife and daughter.