A roadtrip to the edge of extinction, told with the humour and insight of Bill Bryson.

Crammed into a minivan with wife, toddler, infant, and dog, Cameron MacDonald sets out on a journey to observe North America's rarest species. In California, the family camps in the brutally hot Mojave, where MacDonald hopes to see a rare desert tortoise. And in Churchill, Manitoba, he seeks out the dwindling polar bears—and meets them at a closer proximity than he had imagined.

Along the way, MacDonald offers fascinating details about the natural history of the endangered species he seeks, as well as threats like overpopulation, commercial fishing, and climate change that are driving them towards extinction.

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Cameron MacDonald has worked as a wildlife biologist across North America. His writing has appeared in the Globe and Mail, the Georgia Straight, and elsewhere. He lives in Vancouver, B.C.

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Cameron MacDonald's profile page

"MacDonald has written an enjoyable, informative and unique book that explores the continent of North America through the perspective of a modern family." — Vancouver Sun

"MacDonald's comedic sense and his engaging style are addictive and the resulting tale is intensely charming. Comparable to Douglas Adams's seminal Last Chance to See, MacDonald's debut book should be considered a must-buy." — Publisher's Weekly Starred Review