December seems to be a great month for reading book blogs. Great, that is, if you like adding a bunch of books to your wish list. In addition to the ubiquitous ‘best of’ lists, there are always hidden gems to find as people wrap up their reading for the year. One such instance for me was finding Alyce’s review for Laika, a graphic novel by Nick Abadzis (check out her page for some great photos of the real-life Laika). I immediately placed a request for a library copy and eagerly awaited its arrival. When it finally did come in, I forced myself to set it aside as a reward for getting through Beach Music.

Laika is the fictionalized account of the dog who became the first animal to orbit the earth. In the 1950s, during the throes of the Cold War, the Soviet Union set out to prove their superiority over the United States by launching a satellite into orbit, which they did with Sputnik I. Emboldened by that feat, Khrushchev demanded that the scientists surpass that success by launching another satellite to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution and really show the world that the U.S.S.R. was the world’s greatest superpower. Of course, they couldn’t just put a second satellite into orbit, and with only four weeks, the scientists were put under enormous pressure to please their leader. They decided to send a dog into space. The Soviet space scientists had been using dogs in their experiments already, and from among them, a little dog named Laika was chosen to make the historic flight.

However, Abadzis begins his graphic novel with a man wandering the frozen wastelands of Siberia, having been released from a Soviet gulag with nothing but the clothes on his back. Miraculously, he survives, and goes on to become one of the leaders of the Soviet space program, and the Chief Designer for Sputnik 2. His story of survival is juxtaposed alongside Laika’s, from an abused stray to the symbol for the Soviet empire. At the same time, Laika gives us a snapshot of life under the Soviet regime during this time period, the ordinary and not-so-ordinary people living in this environment, their dreams and desires, which sometimes conflicted with their loyalty to (or fear of) their country.

A poignant story about humanity and the little dog who left her mark on the world, Laika will pull at your heartstrings and capture your heart.

Applicable Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library, 100+ Reading Challenge, Graphic Novels Challenge, Historical Fiction Reading Challenge,

Book Rating: 5: Excellent. This book has impacted me deeply, or has simply been a pure delight to read.

FTC Disclosure: I borrowed this book from the library.