This annual interdisciplinary celebration of a work of Canadian literature reaches into classrooms across the university.
Students and faculty members explore a piece of contemporary Canadian literature through workshops, author readings, a Wall of Fame reception, a student contest and more. Events typically include opportunities for students to engage with the author, including classroom visits.
Since its inception in 1997, the Book of the Year program has been guided by a committee of faculty, staff and students. The book is chosen by the committee, from nominations made by the university community.
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The trees on the front cover of Jasmeen Nona’s book cover design resemble jail bars, symbolizing Mackenzie’s confinement within her dreams. The back cover shows a crow’s wing, depicting the woods in her dreams.
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Katrina Hay’s experimental magazine layout design visually represents the complex experience of grief encompassed by Mackenzie, the novel’s main character.
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Tabea Troppmann’s empathy cards are designed to help an individual navigate grief. Each card represents an aspect of the Mackenzie’s grief, while the reverse white side represents the related aspect of love she uses to overcome her struggles.
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Tessa New uses expressive typography and the imagery of hands to illustrate the progression of the Mackenzie’s perspective on grief and its effects on relationships.
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Karlee Mong redesigned the inside and outside elements of Bad Cree. Reflecting the themes of horror and decaying in the book, the inverted illustration foreshadows Mackenzie’s experience.
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Luis Campos's fanzine, Mackenzie’s diary, is based on the dreams, notes and memories found within the world of Bad Cree.
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This postcard series, created by Karen Lui, embeds Mackenzie’s emotional journey into key environments from Bad Cree.
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Hunter Cairns interweaves hand-illustrated botanicals with carefully selected phrases from Bad Cree author Jessica Johns. Echoing the novel’s ties to grief and generational learning and trauma, the words and imagery highlight the importance of land, kinship and storytelling in Cree culture.
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This pair of classic travel posters, by Matthew Schlacht, emulate the nature of memory and trauma responses in Bad Cree. The idealistic depictions of locations within the novel compliment the theme of wanted and lived experience.
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Atlas Benoit's incense packing is designed to delve into Mackenzie and her sisters' personalities, and struggles with grief and death. By utilizing Bad Cree's rich descriptions of the environment, each box embodies the essence of each sister through scent and symbolism.
Nominate a book
Have you read a great book recently? Nominate your choice for the next MacEwan Book of the Year.
Books for Sale
Add them to your night table stack, read them at your book club, linger over your favourite passages at the lake this summer. Current and previous books of the year are available at the MacEwan Bookstore.
Buy a book