Uma Krishnaswami (Children's Literature)
Told in graphic novel form, this is the fictionalized, multi-layered, and very human story of the dog in Soviet era Sputnik II. The quickly moving story features real scientists of the time, and even shows Nikita Khruschev in a cameo appearance. Involved in the training and preparation for space flight of Laika the dog (also known as Kudryavka, or Curly-tail) is Yelena, the dog trainer. She can talk to her animals and begins to feel more than an official responsibility for Laika and her fate. Abadzis also weaves in the story of the chief designer who was once in a gulag. Another subplot concerns a girl who almost owned Laika. Random turns of fate combine to leave the reader with a deeply moving story that is perfectly showcased in the graphic novel form, with visual and text repetitions bringing memory and fantasy together. By giving the dog a voice, yet stopping short of anthropomorphism, the book makes us question the assumptions underlying Cold War brinksmanship, and the acceptance by the world of propaganda as truth. A bibliography, Internet and video sources, and a very touching quote from Oleg Gazenko, one of the scientists, constitute the back matter. 2007, First Second, $17.95. Ages 12 up.

Kathie M. Josephs (Children's Literature)
I have not read many animal stories that do not bring tears to my eyes, and this was certainly no exception. Laika, an endearing mutt, was a survivor of the streets until he was caught and taken to the Russian space program. Like many animal stories, other character decisions play an important role in the outcome of the animal, and different points of views are provided to the readers so they can come to their own conclusion as to whether the end justifies the means. This graphic novel is a blend of fact and fiction dealing with Laika, the first animal to ever be sent into space. He was on the Russian Sputnik 2 in November 1957. With this monumental success also came political scheming and the decision that Laika would never be brought home. Laika would die on that trip. Much information is provided to the reader about the space program and how it worked. The author instills in the reader the incredible pressures put on scientists to be first and how politics are behind the pressures. This is a well written book; however, in my opinion, it is not just for casual reading. After reading it, I thought about it for days and was not really able to “pick a side.” This would be an excellent book for classroom discussions. 2007, First Second, $17.95. Ages 14 up.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, August 1, 2007 (Vol. 75, No. 15))
Following the story of plucky Laika—the first dog in space—the reader experiences her entire life from a mongrel living in the streets to the tragic loss of her canine companion, her captivity in the government lab, her endearing relationship with the unwavering caretaker Yelena and her tragic fatal mission. The strong ties between Laika (renamed after her breed type) are exceptionally well defined; in fact, Laika has the ability to touch every character's life, even the most emotionally indifferent social-climbing Russian politicians. Evincing the cruelty and sadness of her life, Laika's striving to be loved echoes, and the strong bond between man—or woman—and his best friend resound off every page of her journey. The striking palette of earth tones works in concert with the compelling historically fictive prose. The striking palette of earth tones works in concert with the compelling historically fictive prose—a luminous masterpiece filled with pathos and poignancy. (afterword, bibliography, author's note) 2007, First Second/Roaring Brook, 208p. Category: Graphic novel. Ages 13 up. Starred Review. © 2007 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Kristin Fletcher-Spear (Library Media Connection, January 2008)
The life of the first living creature in outer space is depicted in this heart-wrenching graphic novel. Laika was launched into orbit in Sputnik II on Nov. 3, 1957 and died five hours later. Little was known about this stray's life before she was brought to the Institute of Aviation Medicine. Author Nick Abadzis gives her a romanticized beginning as Kudryavka, who had a hard life, but touched the lives of several people. Following the lives of all those involved, Abadzis has created a phenomenal graphic novel that makes readers care and understand the historical figures through his meticulous research. The colored artwork is realistic and uses smaller panels than other graphic novels. This should be in every library; the only question is where to put it-nonfiction in space exploration, dogs, or in fiction, or in a separate graphic novel section. Not only is this graphic novel valuable for its obvious curriculum connection, but also for its large potential audience. Dog lovers, space fans, history buffs, and more will find it entertaining, educational, and an excellent read-just remember to have the Kleenex handy! Highly Recommended. 2007, First Second Books (Roaring Book Press), 208pp., $17.95 pbk. Ages 9 up.

Elizabeth Bush (The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, October 2007 (Vol. 61, No. 2))
Immediately following the collective international gasp that greeted Sputnik I in 1957, Premier Khrushchev gave Sergei Korolev and his design team approximately one month to outdo their triumph just in time for the fortieth anniversary of the Russian Revolution. Sputnik II would send a live passenger into orbit, but due to time constraints, the designers were unable to devise a reentry system, and the canine cosmonaut was doomed to die in space. Here Abadzis reconstructs the planning, politicking, and flight, following activities of the dog handler, the trainer, the chief designer, and the dog who came to be called Laika (barker). At its best, and particularly when contextualizing the ambitions of the Russian space program that dropped the temperature on the Cold War, this exemplifies how imaginatively and engagingly the graphic-novel format can deliver information. However, in his well-intentioned effort to support team member Oleg Gazenko’s conclusion that “we did not learn enough from the mission to justify the death of the dog,” Abadzis spins a hanky-wringer of a backstory for Laika, tracing an imagined life of neglect, abuse, and dashed hopes that would make the stray dog anxious to please its trainers and willing to undergo any discomfort in experimentation to gain their approbation, and thus elevates the callousness of the program to villainous treachery. Ultimately this authorial decision is as unnecessary as it is emotionally manipulative, since almost any reader with a beating heart will sympathize with Laika merely by observing her training ordeal, the affection of her handlers, and her sad destiny. 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 Review Code: Ad -- Additional book of acceptable quality for collections needing more material in the area. (c) Copyright 2006, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2007, First Second/Roaring Brook, 205p., $17.95. Grades 6-10.