Many Worlds, One Li-Bro-rian

Chanani, N. (2017) Pashmina . New York, NY: First Second Priyanka is a great artist and cartoonist.  That doesn't really save her from the troubles of being a teen raised by a single mom. When her uncle has a new baby, she starts to feel the loss of the attention she once took for granted.  When she finds a mysterious pashmina scarf in one her mom's old suitcases she doesn't think much of it.  When she puts it on though, it transports her to a beautiful, idealistic version of India.  She begins to withdraw from her family and escape into this colorful India within the pashima.  After begging her mom to let her go to India, she finally gets her way.  In India she gets a rude awakening.  It's not the India of her visions.  There is much hardship mixed in with all the beauty.  After tracking down the origins of her pashmina, she finds the magic within is designed to show women the power of their choices.  She goes home a changed person...

Abadzis, N. (2007) Laika . New York, NY: First Second Sergei Pavlovich is a "man of destiny".  He's destined to send the first artificial satellite into orbit around the earth.  Kudryavka is a dog of destiny.  She's destined to be the first cosmonaut.  Though both individuals begin their lives with their fair share of hardship, they both end up entangled in the titanic endeavor of the space race.  When they finally meet, Pavlovich renames her "Laika".  This story follows both of them and their ultimate destinies. This book is a great example of well told historical narrative.  Abadzis does his homework and gets you a much more complete story of Laika then what most of the world knows.  Though I knew the ultimate fate of little Kudryacka, I was still pretty sad when it ended.  Nonetheless, I still feel enriched about there story and feel I learned quite a bit.