Abadzis, Nick. Laika. First Second: New York, 2007. Print.
Laika is a graphic novel that tells the story of Laika, a soviet space dog. Laika was a stray dog picked off of the streets that eventually became the first animal to orbit the Earth and also one of the first animals in space. Abadzis mixes both fact and fiction within this graphic novel, which can sometimes be confusing to readers, but the most important facts are still portrayed.
Visual and textual style: informative, expository, rounded figures, multiple panels
Potential readers/appeal factors: readable historical fiction, true events, easy to follow, sequential
Awards
- Laikawas a 2007:
- A Publisher’s Weekly Best Book of the Year
- A Kirkus Review Best Young Adult Book of the Year
- YALSA Top Ten Graphic Novel
- YALSA Great Graphic Novel
- NYPL Book for the Teen Age
- Nominated for a Cybil award for best YA graphic novel
- Won the “Best Teen Graphic Novel” Eisner Award in 2008
- Nominated for “Best Reality-Based Work” Eisner Award in 2008
- Laika is on the 2008 Young Adult Library Services Association “Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens” list.
- Laika was nominated for a National Cartoonists’ Society Division Award for best comic book in 2008
- Laika was nominated for a Harvey Award for Best Original Graphic Album in 2008
- Abadzis won the Royal Television Society Awards for best website for Dynamo’s Den
- Won a UK Comic Art Award for Best Book Collection for Hugo Tate – O, America
Other pertinent information
o Visit http://www.nickabadzis.com/laika/ to find extra information that author Nick Abadzis put together about Laika.
