This was a super interesting investigative look into bears in the wild. If you read this along with 8 Bears your bear IQ will be happy.

Claire Cameron is a published Canadian author of a couple of best-selling novels. She also has cancer - a rare type of melanoma that she has inherited genetically from her father, who died in his mid-40s when she was 9 years old. She sees what fate has in store for her. She is also a wife and a mother with a loving husband and young sons. And she loves Algonquin Park.

This is a memoir, but it is written so creatively that at times it seems like a thriller or crime novel, and at other times, it is a well-researched work about grizzly and black bears. It is a how-to manual on enjoying nature, coexisting with the park's wild inhabitants, and ultimately, what to do to survive a bear attack.

The main focus of the story is the 1991 incident when a couple was killed in a predatory black bear attack in Algonquin Park. These types of attacks are so rare, and the author deftly weaves parallels to her own very rare cancer. Having had so many great experiences in Algonquin at work as a camp counsellor and as a tree planter, and at play as an avid camper, she starts her investigation and research about the facts of the 1991 attack. She returns to the scene of the attack and interviews those who were involved in the investigation so many years ago - like a return to the crime scene.

But what is truly unique is how she writes creatively about the couple themselves, retracing what their steps may have been, bringing some of their personality to the story. Finally, the life and the point of view of the bear, all culminate in the fateful event that resulted in all of their deaths. But in that she also takes her own story and life going forward in stride with renewed focus on living for the moment.

This was a great read, an audio book read by the author and she did a good job of narration. My rating went up after the story sat with me for a bit before I wrote this review. Highly recommend this unique book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada Audiobooks for an advanced audio copy for review.

In How to Survive a Bear Attack, Canadian author Claire Cameron revisits the 1991 bear attack in Algonquin Park that claimed the lives of two campers, Raymond Jakubauskas and Carola Frehe. Blending memoir, speculative narrative, and reflection, she retells the event not only from the perspective of the victims, but from that of the bear itself. Alongside this exploration, Cameron shares her experience confronting a personal health crisis—being diagnosed with the same skin cancer that ended her father's life.

The audiobook is narrated by the author herself, which I always appreciate in memoirs. Cameron's voice is soothing and calm, making the listening experience feel intimate and grounded. Her choice to write from the bear’s perspective was one of the book’s strongest elements. It offers a refreshing challenge to the usual portrayal of bears as ruthless killers—especially relevant now, given Alberta’s ongoing approval of apex predator hunting. Cameron's portrayal helps humanize (or perhaps better said, naturalize) the bear’s actions as survival-driven, rather than villainous.

While I sympathized deeply with Cameron's cancer diagnosis and appreciated her vulnerability, the thematic connection between her illness and the 1991 bear attack she investigates didn’t always feel fully developed. The link, beyond her lifelong love of the outdoors, seemed a bit tenuous at times.

That said, I always value Canadian literature, and I found it meaningful to hear the story of a Canadian woman whose relationship with wilderness, canoeing, and survival has shaped so much of her life. I’d recommend this book to anyone who spends time in the backcountry of Canada’s national and provincial parks or on Crown land—especially those with an interest in how we perceive and coexist with wildlife.

Final rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Canada (an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada) for providing me with an early copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

It's incredible how resilient humans are when life-altering events occur. Cameron demonstrates her strength by recounting the 1991 bear attack at Algonquin Park, which she used as a distraction while coping with the passing of her late father. Cameron, who has been diagnosed with melanoma, returns to what is recognized as an exceptionally unusual event: the Algonquin Bear Attack as her coping mechanism.

How to Survive a Bear Attack was an amazing story, based on both opinion and factual research. Cameron presents the story as if you were accompanying her on her journey to find out what really made the bear attack the couple in 1991. Cameron, an enthusiastic camper and admirer of Algonquin, says, "People who go to places like Algonquin don't really envision the dangers that may arise when camping, they just go and enjoy the time." Indeed, when we camp, we are already prepared for potential risks, but a violent bear encounter might change that. How to Survive a Bear Attack keeps you engaged while Cameron navigates the journey even in the perspective of the bear. 


This ARC was provided to me in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc. This was interesting but ultimately not for me. I expected more of a memoir and less speculation about what the bear was thinking. At times the two stories blended together well and others it felt very disjointed. I listened to the audiobook which was read by the author and that too was hit and miss. Though it wasn’t for me, I think there’s an audience that will really love this.

Touted as a memoir, it’s not really that, but more of a book where you’re going to learn a lot about bears.

In 1991 in Ontario’s Algonquin Park, a couple was killed by a rare bear attack. The author often frequented the area and became fascinated with researching the attack, and actually already wrote a book of fiction inspired by the events of that infamous attack. The majority of this book was the imagined POV of the bear, and dove into the scientific behaviours and characteristics of the black bear. I did find these parts quite interesting.

As for the memoir aspect—the author discusses her melanoma diagnosis and subsequent treatment. As her doctor informs her that no amount of UV exposure is safe for her, she must come to terms with the fact that spending time in the wilderness can no longer be her happy place.

While I didn’t NOT enjoy listening to this audiobook, I found the whole point of it to be quite strange. The author is clearly obsessed with bears, but I felt like the memoir aspect didn’t necessarily need to be included. Or make it a different book. The meshing of genres here just felt odd.

Yes this book deals with some heavy topics, but it is so well done! The author takes a bear attack and turns it into page turning crime procedural mystery; she takes a life altering medical diagnosis and turns it into a meditative self-reflection on finding clarity in your life; and she doubles down on her love of nature and science.

This is an honest and eloquent memoir about the author’s experience with cancer skillfully intertwined with the mystery of a tragic true story that left two campers dead after an encounter with a bear. A thoroughly researched book that has equal appeal for readers who enjoy books about nature, mystery / thrillers, and facing adversities.

The author writes about her experience with such a reflective and open-minded approach that it left me feeling peacefully optimistic.

Received as a free ARC from NetGalley, with thanks to author and publisher
A great memoir from Claire Cameron! She describes the locations with evident affection, so much so that I could envision the similar locales from my youth. The interconnection of events she studied (the bear attack) and those she experienced both as a child (losing a parent) and as an adult (a cancer diagnosis) weave well in the backdrop of loving both the environment and her life. It was a poignant read, a great example of the power of nature in ways that we perceive as positive and negative. I appreciated the emphasis on acceptance of the unknown/unknowable in both the motivation of the bear and of the cancer(s).

3.5* This memoir was about grief, survival, true crime, and the beauty (and danger) of nature. Claire Cameron’s journey is deeply personal, and the audiobook made it feel even more intimate. Her reflections on loss and illness are powerful, but I found that story jumped around a lot, which made it hard for me to stay fully engaged. That said, some parts were fascinating, and if you love introspective memoirs with a mix of science and nature, it’s worth a listen!

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada Audiobooks | Knopf Canada for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review was posted (Instagram, Goodreads, bookishlytara blog, Storygraph) on March 17, 2025. An additional post (with a reposted review) will be posted on Instagram on the publication day as well as an Amazon Canada review (currently pending). (links below)

“Will I survive a bear attack? I’d been asking the wrong question. Being alive is one big risk and it will end in death, but the bridge between those two things is love.”

This was a surprising book. It was offered to me as an ARC through NetGalley and the title grabbed me! This is a memoir by Claire Cameron who dealt with a cancer diagnosis by becoming obsessed with a 1991 couple that were killed by a black bear.

It wasn’t at all what I was expecting, but I did really enjoy it. The author took on a good view for the bear, he was not the enemy in this book, rather a creature just living its life. There is a focus on being cautious in the outdoors, and she provided great history about humans interactions with bears and how truly rare their attacks can be. The book plays with the theme of fear, how her fear of her cancer diagnosis and the known plays into her life, and how the fear of a potential bear attack, and how she is able to overcome come both.

I think this is a great book for anyone who is outdoorsy.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada, and Claire Cameron for the ARC of this book!

Sometimes its worth it to get outside of one's comfort zone. In this case its my listening headspace through an audiobook I may not have given a chance to under normal circumstances. I have to confess that I am not normally drawn to books like Claire Cameron's How To Survive A Bear Attack: A Memoir. I was unfamiliar with the author or her previous works so a memoir was not overly appealing. And then when I learned it involved her cancer journey I debated on giving it a pass because I am a cancer survivor and an admitted coward who is easily triggered.

But I do love Algonquin Park, nature and bears. And I have been feeling nostalgia for my birth home Toronto so I thought I will give this one a chance and I'm sure glad I did!

Claire Cameron is a bestselling author who comes from my home town Toronto. In her memoir she talks about her early life in our shared city and dealing with the death of her Dad from a very aggressive form of skin cancer. Algonquin Park another place I know very well plays a large role in her working through her loss and grief. But as beautiful and healing as Nature is it can also at times be dangerous.

The author takes us through her examination of a rare predatory bear attack and the death of two campers at a remote campsite in the park back in 1991. This investigation dovetails with her finding out that she has an aggressive cancer and genetic mutation that may cut her life tragically short. The two intertwine into a poignant reminder of the fragility of life, our need as stewards of this planet to respect and care for the wildlife we share it with and the enduring power of love.

The audiobook is narrated by the author and it was well worth my listening to it. Highly recommend.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada Audiobooks via Netgalley, for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7436304377

https://susandemeter.blogspot.com/2025/03/abearattack.html

This was a very unique, interesting read. Not your typical memoir. I love how Cameron used the metaphor about surviving a bear attack as a parallel for life and her battle with cancer. The audiobook was a quick, enjoyable listen.

How to Survive a Bear Attack: A Memoir by Claire Cameron isn’t my typical read—but I’m so glad I picked it up. This memoir is a thoughtful, often gripping reflection on fear, survival, and our relationship with the wild. Cameron weaves together personal experience with a wide range of sources, creating a layered and insightful narrative that lingers long after the final chapter.

Thank you to Claire Cameron, Knopf Ca, and Netgalley for the ALC. How to Survive a Bear Attack releases on March 25, 2025—definitely one to watch for.

Bear attacks are incredibly rare. There are hundreds of thousands of bears in North America and only a handful of fatal attacks every year. However, when there is a fatal attack it becomes news that is not easy to forget. Claire Cameron became captivated by one such attack in Algonquin Park in 1991. She loosely based a fictional story on the attack (The Bear - a great book I read a while back) and now she has written a more personal story that discusses how that tragic event impacted her as she faced her own life-threatening event (a rare cancer diagnosis).

The weaving together of these very distinct, but related, events made for a very unique memoir. Both of these events are completely terrifying to me and so I found this to be a bit of a difficult read - that’s how vivid it was.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for giving me the opportunity to listen to this audiobook!

First off, this story has such a reflective, relaxing, and interesting take on learning from experiences. I loved how Cameron told the story, as she narrates it herself. It provides awe and inspiration.

Secondly, I was not expecting to like this memoir as much as I did. It had this personal impact on me, where I was remembering my own adventures as a young kid wandering the woods with my parents, learning about the natural world.

Lastly, bears are such interesting creatures.

If you enjoy travelling into the mind of someone who takes their experiences and reflects upon them, who takes things face value, and uses that knowledge to grow stronger, this is the book for you.

This book reads like a combination memoir / true crime investigation into a deadly bear attack. The author has an amazing way of steering the narrative between seemingly unrelated topics while still telling a fascinating story and teaching us a lot of new things. I've spent years in the backcountry, including Algonquin Park and had several bear encounters and still learned a lot from this book. Claire really embraces the story from many different perspectives, including the bear's, and to hear the audiobook narrated in her own voice added even more impact.

This wasn't my usual choice but I enjoyed it. It gave a nice fresh perspective at the end on life. It really made me think for a while. Her take on life was so refreshing.

I can't usually listen to audiobooks but I found this one easy to listen to and to follow. I liked that it was the author who narrated it.

Thanks to Netgalley for this one!

In 1991 a couple was killed by a black bear in a rare predatory attack in Algonquin Park, Canada. Claire Cameron, the author, herself familiar with the park, became obsessed with the attack and researched the event while recovering from the same deadly skin cancer that killed her father.

This book wasn't what I was expecting at all but I liked it all the same. I visited Algonquin Park in the distant past and the closest I came to a bear was when park officials placed a large bear cage trap on a triangle of land in the campground. Luckily it remained empty but I was definitely not camping in the back country. This book contains a lot of information about bears and I especially enjoyed the parts of the story told from the bear's point of view. The author really got into his head. Her research into the couple's killing in 1991 was entwined with her own battle with cancer. I was sorry to hear what she's been through and wish her all the best for the future.

The audiobook was narrated by the author herself and she did a great job. I suspect that I would've found the print version less captivating. Such a lovely cover too.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada Audiobooks/Knopf Canada, via Netgalley, for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: March 25, 2025

37. HOW TO SURVIVE A BEAR ATTACK (2025) by Claire Cameron (Audibook by author) … March 24 … novelist Claire Cameron melds the memories of her father’s death to rare melanoma, with her own cancer struggles and her love of both Beowulf and black bears…all while researching and attempting to solve the case of a 1991 doubly-fatal bear attack in Algonquin Park, Ontario. It’s a beautiful combination of memoir and historical fiction, with lessons on life and life thrown in for good measure. The book is outstanding but our author sadly didn’t hit a home run as a narrator. Still worth grabbing when it comes out later in March 2025. GRADE: A

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an audiobook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this memoir and binged listening to it! I love when authors (especially of memoirs) are the narrators of their audiobooks.
As someone who grew up on the edge of the woods bears are something that I have thought a lot about so listening to this audiobook where we are provided history of bears and talks about their behaviour and their interactions with people was a treat. The topics and discussions that the author provides in this work (including the topic of cancer) are eloquently written and part of why I could not take my headphones out until it was done.

This is a book that I was recommend to so many people.