Laika

Starred review from October 1, 2007
When most people think of the space program, it's images of stalwart, clear-eyed astronauts roaring into the skies on rockets of destiny that come to mind—not Laika the dog. A Samoyed-Husky mutt caught off the streets and impressed into the Russian space program, Laika became in November of 1957 the first sentient being to leave Earth's orbit, inside the Sputnik 2 satellite. The plan was only to monitor her in her few hours of life, though, not to bring her home—a sacrifice for which one of the scientists later expressed deep regret. Abadzis's tear-inducing and solidly researched graphic novel treatment of Laika's surpassingly tragic story is a standout, not just for its sympathetic point of view but for its refusal to Disnify or anthropomorphize the undeniably cute dog at its heart. The humans around Laika—her protectors and tormentors from the fictionalized early sections, as well as the rocket scientists and her doting handler, Yelena—all try to imprint their own diverse desires on her eager-seeming face. Although the tightly packed and vividly inked panels of Abadzis's art tell an impressively complex tale (buttressed by a helpful bibliography at the end), where the dog becomes a pawn in larger political and bureaucratic schemings, Laika's palpable spirit is what readers will remember. Ages 10-up.

Starred review from November 1, 2007
Gr 7 Up-During the Cold War, Russia and the U.S. were entrenched in a battle to be first in space. "Laika" tells the tale of one special soldier in that battle, the dog who flew in "Sputnik II". Former Gulag prisoner Korolev has ascended to the rank of Chief Designer, and, after the successful launch of "Sputnik I", he is called upon to send a live creature into space within one months time. Laika, also known as Kudryavka (curly tail), is a down-and-out stray caught by local officials and sent to the canine lab at the Institute of Aviation Medicine. Higher-ups notice the dogs special ability to withstand g-force, environments without gravity, and the special gel food given to the test subjects. When the time comes to select a dog to go into space, she is the obvious choice. Abadziss artwork genuinely captures the Cold War atmosphere, while the youth-friendly textual take on the politically dangerous USSR compares favorably to that of Marjane Satrapis depiction of unstable Iran in "Persepolis" (Pantheon, 2003). Abadzis provides enough historical content to make "Laika" a valuable teaching tool, but teachers using the graphic novel with middle schoolers may need to explain some of the subtle nuances of politics in the USSR. Those with a special fondness for dogs may wish to have some tissues handy."Sarah Krygier, Solano County Library, Fairfield, CA"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 15, 2008
With communism's triumph over capitalist science via "Sputnik", Soviet Premier Khrushchev wanted an in-your-face sequel: a living creature sent into space. The lucky gal is Laika, an accommodating street mutt that captured her handlers' affections. The plucky dog survives training, and her story is juxtaposed with a flashback of the space program director's earlier hairbreadth escape from a gulag. Indeed, the director chooses Laika for launch partly because of his feelings of empathy for her. But Laika does not survive her mission, and the unsavory details are hidden initially. The entire account leaks tragedynot just Laika's death and the director's harrowing experience but also the tragedy of the other characters and, indeed, all the Russian people struggling to maintain their humanity while enmeshed in suffocating bureaucracies. Drawn in grimy-colored naturalism, "Laika" is a powerfully emotional reading experience, easily the match of the starred "First in Space", about chimps in the U.S. space program (Xpress Reviews, 8/1/07). Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the launch of "Sputnik", both well-researched titles fictionalize turning points in the space race. While fine for ages 13+, "Laika" has more narrative subtlety than "First in Space" and would be appreciated by adults. Highly recommended for public and school libraries. The title needs appropriate nonfiction catalog entries.M.C.

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2007
Classic dog-story themes such as loyaltyserve as a backdrop for this fictionalizedaccount ofLaika, the first living creature launched into outer space. A charming and scruffy little dog, Laika survives an uncaring master and life as a stray before becoming part of the Russian space program circa 1956, just as the Soviet Union had achieved a huge victory over American competition. With a stilted romanticism that doesnt fit the storys tone, Laika is established as a very special dog, but soon the focus of the complex taleturns away from the dog to Yelena Dubrovsky, the trainer responsible for preparing Laika and the other dogs for the rigors of testing. Through Dubrovsky, the progress of the program and the incredible pressure on the scientistsare given effective form. The rough-hewn art, similar to the Joann Sfars work on the Dungeon books, makes the characters appear constantly nervous and uncertain, lending immediacy to the all-pervasive atmosphere of strict formality and enforced patriotism. An extensive bibliography of sources is appended.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)