Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands

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Creator: Kate Beaton

A New York Times Notable book! One of Barack Obama’s favorite books of 2022! Winner of Canada Reads 2023!

“An exceptionally beautiful book about loneliness, labor, and survival.“―Carmen Maria Machado

Before there was Kate Beaton, New York Times bestselling cartoonist of Hark! A Vagrant, there was Katie Beaton of the Cape Breton Beaton, specifically Mabou, a tight-knit seaside community where the lobster is as abundant as beaches, fiddles, and Gaelic folk songs. With the singular goal of paying off her student loans, Katie heads out west to take advantage of Alberta’s oil rush―part of the long tradition of East Coasters who seek gainful employment elsewhere when they can’t find it in the homeland they love so much. Katie encounters the harsh reality of life in the oil sands, where trauma is an everyday occurrence yet is never discussed.

Beaton’s natural cartooning prowess is on full display as she draws colossal machinery and mammoth vehicles set against a sublime Albertan backdrop of wildlife, northern lights, and boreal forest. Her first full length graphic narrative, Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands is an untold story of Canada: a country that prides itself on its egalitarian ethos and natural beauty while simultaneously exploiting both the riches of its land and the humanity of its people.

 
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# of Pages: 436

Book Binding: Hardcover

Year of Publication: 2022

Publisher: Drawn and Quarterly

Language: en

ISBN: 9781770462892

Kate Beaton is a Canadian cartoonist and illustrator known for her witty and irreverent comics. She was born in Nova Scotia and studied history and anthropology at Mount Allison University before pursuing a career in art. Beaton's comics gained popularity through her website, Hark! A Vagrant, which features humorous and often satirical takes on historical and literary figures. In addition to her webcomic, Beaton has published several books, including "Hark! A Vagrant" and "Step Aside, Pops." "Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands" is her first graphic novel, exploring her personal experiences and observations while working in the controversial oil sands industry in northern Canada. Beaton's sharp wit and unique perspective have earned her acclaim and a large following among readers worldwide.