187. Space Race Graphic Novel

Space Race by C.E.L. Welsh. Illustrated by K.L. Jones (Canada) - (US)
Campfire Originals

Pages: 67
Ages: 9+
Finished: Aug. 22, 2011
First Published: July 12, 2011
Publisher: Campfire Graphic Novels
Genre: children, graphic novel, science fiction/fact, non-fiction
Rating: 5/5


First sentence:

Many years in the future.

Acquired:  Received a review copy from Steelforth Press.

Reason for Reading:  Ds is finishing up his study of the 20th century with a space exploration unit and I pre-read this to see if it would be more satisfying the the previous "Space Race" book we had read, and it was.

A unique combination of science fiction and fact.  We are presented with the factual story of the US/USSR Space Race from the early days of simply sending a satellite into orbit, to sending animals into space, then men and so forth until the ultimate landing of men on the moon is reached.  This non-fiction story is framed within a science fiction story which takes place "many years in the future" as a grandfather takes his son fishing and relates the history to him, but it is all aiming for a surprise ending which is a thrilling, thought-pondering finale.

I really enjoyed this book which told the history of the space race in great detail; though of course with the limited medium and page numbers managed to hit all the major and many minor lesser known facts, providing a very entertaining version of the facts as they are known today.  The science fiction story adds some extra adventure to a factual book and straight from the beginning we know there is going to be some sort of reveal given at the end and it is exciting waiting to see what it will be.  I found it to be quite entertaining.  The illustrations were fine in and of themselves and I had no problem with them, but some famous personages were represented, fortunately scientists and such I had no idea what they really looked like but a phone conversation between Khrushchev and Kennedy has made no attempt whatsoever to depict Kennedy's likeness.  Khrushchev on the other hand bears a very slight resemblance, at least he's bald.  But that's a nit-picky fault with an otherwise fine factual book on the topic with a fun fictional twist.