Dog Star

Laika is a stray dog living on the icy streets of Moscow, Russia, in the 1950s. One day, she is picked up and taken to a place with two other dogs. These dogs tell Laika that she will be trained to fly in space. Laika tries to escape until she meets a little girl named Nina, who comes to take care of Laika often. Laika and Nina become very close, and both dream of being together all the time. Nina’s father, a rocket scientist, tells Nina he will do his best to make sure Laika becomes the hero she deserves to be, but not everything is as it seems.

Megan Shepherd has written a sweet novel based on happenings in the Soviet Union during the Space Race. It touches on problems with living under an authoritarian government, how that can affect family relationships, learning to recognize the truth, how governments use information to suppress their people, and more that should resonate with readers considering problems we are facing today. Young readers should find the Space Race a fun and interesting period to read about. The writing is great, the characters well-drawn, and the story very compelling.