Many Worlds, One Li-Bro-rian

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.

Alexander, K. (2016) Booked .   New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Nick Hall is great soccer player with a reluctantly awesome vocabulary.    Though his real love is soccer, a love that his best friend Coby shares, his dad is constantly trying to force him to like words as well.   Nick’s father wrote a dictionary of uncommon words, from which he gives Nick homework on a daily basis.     Both Nick and Coby’s teams get invited to play at an international tournament in Dallas, and they couldn’t be more excited.   Another target of Nick’s affection is April, a girl in his class.   He’s a bit afraid to talk to her though.   She’s part of a book club at the school library, and the librarian, Mr. Mac, wants Nick to join as well.   Nick is pretty convinced that books are no fun, and declines the invitation.   They say when it rains it pours, and a storm builds for Nick.   A twin team of bullies show up at school, making it hard...