Toxic: A Tour of the Ecuadorian Amazon

by Amelia Fiske, Jonas Fischer

Over the past decade, people have learned about oil contamination in the Ecuadorian Amazon through "Toxic Tours" in which a guide brings participants – students, lawyers, environmental activists, journalists, or foreign tourists – to visit contaminated sites. These toxic tours combine personal experience and local knowledge to convince visitors of the immediacy of environmental issues. Drawing on extensive research and fieldwork, Toxic takes the reader on a visual toxic tour through the Amazon. Following the story of three fictional participants, this graphic novel paints a visceral picture of the waste pits, gas flares, and precarious lives of people in this region. The book challenges the reader to consider what it means to live in a place and historical moment where those most burdened by industrial toxicants are continually required to prove that harm has occurred. Toxic is a vivid reflection on the role of pollutants in our everyday lives, ultimately asking readers to reflect on how we are each implicated in the production, consumption, and exposure of pollution both in the Amazon and at home.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Nonfiction, Book Club, History, Ecology

232 pages, Paperback

Published April 26, 2024

Reviews

[ZeilenZauber · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘*‘ Meine Meinung ‘*‘
Es ist längst kein Geheimnis mehr: Im Amazonas-Regenwald wird von großen Ölkonzernen Raubbau an der Natur betrieben. Fiske und Fischer setzen dieses Drama eindrucksvoll mit Worten und Bildern in Szene.
Im Rahmen sogenannter „Toxic Tours“ führt Donald Moncayo aus Lago Agrio Interessierte aus aller Welt durch die vom Öl verseuchte Region und macht die katastrophalen Auswirkungen greifbar. Die Autorin nahm an vielen dieser Touren teil und aus ihren dabei gesammelten Eindrücken die Graphic Novel geschrieben.
Ich begleitete eine Amerikanerin und eine Ecuadorianerin auf ihrer Tour mit Donald. So war ich live bei den erschütternden Entdeckungen dabei. Gemeinsam erkundeten wir den Urwald und stießen auf mit Öl kontaminierte Gruben, deren giftige Flüssigkeiten in Bäche und schließlich in die großen Flüsse gelangen. Die Folge: Eine umfassende Verseuchung von Wasser, Mensch, Tier und Pflanze.
Wir trafen zudem Menschen, die durch die Umweltverschmutzung schwer erkrankt sind und bis heute unter den Spätfolgen leiden – und dennoch weiter um ihre Gesundheit kämpfen.
Es ist beklemmend, mit welch skrupelloser und hoher krimineller Energie Unternehmen wie Texaco Natur und Mensch auch heute noch ausbeuten.
Fischer visualisiert die Ölverschmutzung auf beeindruckende Weise. Schon das Cover zeigt schwarze Flecken und Streifen – ein starkes Bild für das alles durchdringende Rohöl, das den natürlichen Kreislauf vergiftet. Es gibt kein Entkommen: Das Öl ist überall.
Diese Graphic Novel ist ein eindrucksvolles Gesamtkunstwerk, das die Bedrohung des ecuadorianischen Amazonas sehr deutlich transportiert und auf die Entfernung erlebbar macht.
Eingerahmt wird das Gesamtkunstwerk von einer Einführung der Autorin, in der sie ihre persönlichen Erfahrungen und Erlebnisse schildert und dem Anhang, der weitere Organisationen und NGOs, die sich gegen die Erdölverschmutzung engagieren und weitere Informationen bieten, auflistet. Wer möchte kann sich auch mit ein paar kreativen Aufgaben noch weiter mit der Graphic Novel und der Thematik befassen. Abgerundet wird das Ganze von Amelias und Jonas’ Dankesworte. Dabei fielen mir 3 Worte ins Auge: Waorani und Mitch Anderson. Nach ein bisschen Recherche ging mir ein Kronleuchter auf. Das Buch „Tochter des Waldes“ von Nemonte Nenquimo erzählt auch von diesem Raubbau der Ölkonzerne im ecuadorianischen Regenwald und zwar aus der Sicht der indigenen Waorani.
Diese beiden Werke zum gleichen Thema, jedoch mit unterschiedlichen Ansätzen, ergänzen einander. Ich finde, man gar nicht genug auf die Zerstörung des Regenwaldes aufmerksam machen. Für diese, unter die Haut gehende Graphic Novel, dieses erzählerische und zeichnerische Gesamtkunstwerk, ganz klar 5 Toxic-Sterne.
‘*‘ Klappentext ‘*‘
Toxic ist ein unwiderstehliches, emotionales Ethnografie-Wunder. Die Zeichnungen halten uns in aller Eindrücklichkeit die Umweltverschmutzung im ecuadorianischen Amazonas vor Augen. Mit schwarze Tinte und lichten Farben bringen sie ethnografische Befunde ans Tageslicht, die von den Komplexitäten, sowie von Freude und Leid im Kampf gegen den Rohstoffabbau erzählen.
Dr. Ernesto Schwartz-Martin, Universität Exeter

[Jenn Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this title blind so it took me a minute to get some of the more subtle imagery and once I did, I was blown away. I didn't know how to feel about the art at first, it isn't my favorite style, but it fit really well so it didn't take long to get used to it. I also took WAY too long to figure out the black spots mirrored the pollution of the oil in the Amazon. It is set in Ecuador and based on real world tours of the damage oil has done. Some pages were sad and some pages were crawl into your bed and have a good cry sad. Well done and powerful book.

5 stars

[Milana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Netgally for providing this ARC in exchange for honest and review.

This graphic novel is packed with vital information regarding the effects of oil-drilling, and reads like an article paired with some cool illustrations to make it a bit more interesting. Great for research if you are looking to break the monotony of standard educational text. The characters feel like filler, no real depth to any of them. Basically a tangible infomercial.
Quick read.

[McKenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alright, I literally just finished reading Crude: A Memoir by Pablo Fajardo, one of the lead counsels involved in UDAPT cases, so when I saw this I had to check it out. So, I'll admit there is a little comparing going on here because they are both powerfully illustrated graphic novels discussing the indifference that Chevron/Texaco has for the damage that they have done to the Ecuadorian Amazon, but where Crude is more about the law side of things, Toxic really discusses how the environment and the people were and are still effected by the oil contamination in the area.

Some of us will never be able to afford a trip to Ecuador to go with Donald on a toxic tour, but this graphic novel gives us an idea of what it would be like to go with him. Amelia Fiske has carefully created a narrative for us around the many tours that she took while working on an anthropological study in the area, so while this exact talk may have never taken place, she does a good job of giving us the important bits in a natural way. However, it does read a bit pedagogic at times. There is just so much information packed into the toxic tour that we're provided within these pages that it is hard to take it all in.

The images provided by Jonas Fischer are a bit blocky and industrial feeling with large segments of black, which are meant to represent how the oil contamination spreads to everything (I think). They're interesting and convey the feelings of horror and misery that people feel upon learning about the contamination, but also the people living through it. Also, the character designs were all very distinctive, and with such a small cast, it felt intimate.

Overall, I think that if you're interested in learning about UDAPT and the people impacted this is a great and quick read to pick up. It gives readers a lot of the important information, while also making them feel like a tourist going on one of the toxic tours, but without the plane trip. That being said, if you're interested, they give all the information that you could need to book one in real life, which if I ever go to Ecuador, I am totally doing. So many people don't know about this issue and I hope that this book is read and shared widely so that more people will become educated on it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Jen (Remembered Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by Amelia Fiske and illustrated by Jonas Fischer, illustrates the environmental damage done to the Ecuadorian Amazon through Oil and Gas production, including the Texaco waste that's been made famous through lawsuits.

The story cleverly takes the form a "toxic tour" (guided tours that focus on environmental damage) attended by three tourists (an Italian aid worker, an American who lives near a US refinery, and an Ecuadorian from the coast who is visiting the Amazon for the first time). The tour guide's narration and the tourist's questions allow the book to include large blocks of text without feeling exposition-heavy. The art style is blocky, which won't be to everyone's taste, but which is a style choice that's clearly meant to mirror the oil waste in the rivers and well water that we see at various points.

The book would be perfect for secondary school students, and ends with a teaching guide aimed at that audience. It's also a solid introduction to both the general environmental cost of O&G production, and specifically to the situation in Ecuador, so it would be a great jumping off point for anyone exploring those topics as well.

[Karina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This graphic novel provides an accessible route into learning about environmental injustices in Ecuador in proximity to Texaco/Chevron oil industry productions. In the narrative, we follow Donald, a local resident who hosts “Toxic tours” through the Amazon, educating his community and visitors to his community on the history of the land and the way oil industry permeates the environment and way of life there. Amazingly, the characters and the Toxic Tours are based on ethnographic research that the authors did with real people and neighborhoods in Ecuador! I thought this was very important to know. Also, I find that using this medium is so clever for a topic as heavy as this. In plain black-and-white text a topic like this can feel unavoidably weighty, to the point where I suspect many potential readers are lost before any message can be delivered. Yet, in graphic form, there is already some levity built into the structure of the book. Though the topic isn’t any less sad or important, something about reading it through dialogue bubbles makes it easier for the heart to process. It is my hope that this book will reach a wider audience and that it will help the people and environments affected through this wider reach. I, myself, walk away from this read more educated and more interested in the intricacies of oil production and pollution. I walk away especially interested, as a person born in the US, of the impact my country’s technologies (and sometimes inhumane usage of those technologies) have on other nations and humans. This is a question that this book inspires me to keep pursuing.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher!

[Opal Edgar · Rating 4 out of 5]

An important graphic novel explaining the oil industry consequences in the Ecuadorian Amazon - how it is everywhere, how negatively affected people are there, and people brought there by the industry and how it is still polluting today as the mistakes and flimsy infrastructures were never fixed, cleared or cleaned. This really shows how everyone has a part to play and is a part of this as long as you use plastic and take oil transports.
The art particularly supports the text as the heavy black brushstrokes reminds us all the time of oil spills and the prevalence of oil in that environment, painting a terrible film over the beautiful nature, and reminding us that people there are breathing, drinking and eating oil.
I liked the school exercises suggestions at the end, and as a parent definitely feel like that adds to the experience of thinking about the book longer and starting conversations with the kids - even if they are more on the artistic side.

[M]

“Toxic” explores the oil spills in Ecuadorian Amazon as recounted by a local to anthropologist Amelia Fiske and illustrator Jonas Fischer. It’s an expressive way to tell the important, painful and hard-to-see story of the slow violence of fossil fuel’s environmental destruction. Fischer’s visual style, with bold black strokes, mimics the oil’s pollution, which seeps into everything: leaves, people’s clothing, their skin, the water, the skies. We get a glimpse of the history of industrialization and extraction in the Amazon, as well as the ecological impact on animals and, especially, on the local people’s health. The tourists who take the tour are lightly sketched as people interested in social and environmental justice, and some of them have similar problems “at home” (eg. the tourist from the US). It’s a really valuable thing, to transform the knowledge from a PHD into a graphic novel, and in this case it works pretty well!

Thanks NetGalley for the e-arc!

[Alex Z (azeebooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly interesting look into the side effects of the oil industry in Ecuador. The trickle effect of the disregard of nature, wildlife and humanity by big oil companies is haunting and upsetting. This graphic novel is the perfect introduction to this topic and should be required reading. Loved the inclusion of a glossary and further readings.

The art was so evocative, and the way all of our characters were always covered in oil showed us how when oil contamination touches you, it’s there forever. Eye-opening and real, this is an educational tool that everyone should read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Available March 29, 2024

Thank you to Netgalley and University of Toronto Press for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Gabriel Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC given by NetGalley for Honest Review

An incredible and dynamic graphic novel depicting the consequences of oil drilling in the Amazon. The art is fresh and colorful and I really enjoy the use of the inky black strokes that act as shadows but also as a metaphor for the oil spills and contamination. It's a really clever use of the illustrations to help the story.

The graphic novel follows Donald Moncayo's Toxic Tour showcasing people, places, and communities that have been impacted by the oil companies. The guest's conversations and banter is not only enjoyable but also informative and well-written.

An incredibly important read.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free ebook ARC through Netgalley.

A really informative and beautifully illustrated graphic novel, it was fantastic to hear the first-hand testimony of those impacted by pollution from the oil industry. Stories like these are so important to realise the personal behind environmental issues that can too often seem like sweeping statements or politically-motivated arguments. At the end of the day, companies should take accountability for the damage caused by the way they make money, and corners shouldn't be cut at the expense of people's health. I'm really glad to have read this book - it's challenging and uncomfortable, as it should be.

[Brittany ✨Bookishlyyoursforever✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this graphic in exchange for my honest opinion. This graphic novel was actually so heart-wrenching to me. Knowing that it is fictional, yet based on real events, just seems unreal to me. I cried several times throughout this novel, learning the stories of characters in relation to their health and the environment they live in was devastating. I read this on my mobile phone, so the only thing I found lacking was with the artwork sometimes being very dark or making it difficult to read the text. Other than that, I would recommend this to anyone who cares about the environment and the stories of people effected by the oil industry.

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[cuir_Bookseeker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toxic was a raw and powerful graphic novel about the greed of oil companies and the environmental and social consequences of their actions. The book has an intriguing art style, which elevates the story. Toxic follows a local tour guide and a group of tourists who are learning about oil production in Ecuador and the catastrophic effects it has had on the land and its people.

I found the graphic novel to be highly educational on the history of Oil companies in Ecuador and other parts of Latin America. I found it clever how the art style had smudges of what looked like oil to represent how the extraction of oil has sullied every aspect of people's lives. The story focuses on the consequences revolving around the lives of locals, indigenous communities, farmers, children, and nature. The graphic novel serves both as a voice for these communities that for decades have been victims of oil companies and as a warning to the readers to fight such injustices. I found the book to be interesting and a valuable text that brings awareness of the various companies that destroy nature and the quality of life for animals and people with no remorse.

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

Well, I feel like I just got tricked into reading a long article about the oil industry. It was a lot of exposition, to the point where some panels were just things to read. In top of that, I didn't really like the graphics. Not the worst I've seen, but just ok.

I think I probably wasn't the right audience for this one. I assume this was meant for kids that you're trying to trick into learning things by including pictures. And the points made - which were that, of course, pollution from the oil industry is completely awful- were just overdone. I just don't need or want so much redundancy. Also, if this is how toxic tours are really done, that's awful, too. People paying for these things could sometimes fall into the contamination? And after hearing about all the sickness and spills and whatnot, they're still going to eat there? This one just wasn't for me.

[Ego · Rating 5 out of 5]

What to say besides the fact that it is the perfect way to learn in a playful way a complicated and mostly unknown subject ?

First, the illustrations; simplistic enough to make more room for texts, which is normal because the texts and explanations are long. The drawings are far from ugly and I like this very dark, melancholic, and dull side that reflects that the subject is serious, and that it is far from being a children’s comic ! There's also so much shade, it almost looks like oil stains are part of every drawing.

Now on the content; My best friend is in biology and is passionate about ecology. For me, who already listened to her monologues for hours on the fauna and flora and the danger of oil/ deforestation/ mines, it was a real rediscovery! I love the fact that the authors explain the subject in a serious and literal way, not being afraid to use scientific names (indeed, the readers are not stupid). For details that are difficult to understand, they use the child’s character to explain certain terms, which I also find intelligent and well thought out.

The dialogues do not feel forced and the characters all the same realistic (who would not want to take a picture in an oil pit for their instagram ? #guilty). I also like that we can see how, through characters native to the region, we can see the evolution and direct impact of these industries on humans, and the disdain of the state towards these inhabitants just to race capitalism.

In short, it was a very complete and informative reading, even if I consider that you still have to be interested in the subject to be able to read it, it was still touching and playful.

Must read if ecology interests you !

[aestchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first saw the cover, I assumed this book was a sci-fi graphic novel. Little did I know that it was far from science fiction—it tackles the harsh reality of environmental pollution caused by the oil industry in Ecuador.

I knew very little about the country or its severe environmental issues before reading this book. In that sense, it was a real eye-opener. The story is built around the concept of a “toxic tour,” presenting a compilation of personal experiences and individual stories that highlight the human cost of environmental degradation.

I must admit I may not be the book’s primary target audience. For younger readers, the amount of information and factual content might feel overwhelming. At times, it seems like the focus is more on packing in as many facts as possible rather than crafting a smooth, easy-to-follow narrative. However, this wealth of information makes it an excellent resource for educational settings, where it can spark important discussions about environmental issues and corporate responsibility.

Despite the heavy subject matter, there is a glimmer of hope in the story. The participants of the toxic tour walk away profoundly changed, carrying their new awareness with them and seeing their surroundings in a different light.

The artwork is particularly striking. The intense colors contrast sharply with shadowy shapes reminiscent of oil slicks, emphasizing the ever-present nature of the pollution problem. This visual style powerfully reinforces the book’s message.

Overall, this graphic novel delivers an important and impactful message. I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn more about Ecuador’s environmental challenges through such a compelling medium.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Emi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Publishing date: 19.03.2024

Thank you to NetGalley and University of Toronto Press for the ARC- My opinions are my own. 


The book as a meal: A wake-up-call kind of food. It wasn't tasty, but the message came across
The book left me: Thinking of how lucky I am to live where I live, and sad for others who aren't

Negatives: 
A lot of dialogue
Some panels had a lot of "noise" that got distracting

Positives:
The oil like details in the art fit very well
Cool artstyle
Informative

Features: 
Colorful panels, an insight into the culture and daily life in Lago Agrio, a different perspective around oil extraction, informative of pollution

Why did I choose this one? 
The artstyle of the comic called me right in. I love a stylistic read, and this served it right up. I also felt like reading something a little more informative and educational. 

Pick-up-able? Put-down-able? 
Mostly pick-up-able. It had a few "lows" where the dialogue was at an all time high, but nothing was really being said. This is where I struggled a little to continue reading the story. Otherwise, it moves fast and lets you read it in mostly a single sitting. 

What was the vibe and mood? 
Surprisingly positive, considering the circumstances. It did have a certain "darkness" to it, delivered by the choice of shading in the panels. Even so, the characters had a hopeful outlook to the future. 

Sadly, when the characters started talking more formally, I felt like I sat in a classroom again. It lost my attention a little bit then. 


Final ranking and star rating? 
A tier. Great artstyle and very informative. Will be thinking about this for a while longer. 

[sami is losing her mind · Rating 3 out of 5]

"They came and polluted your land and gave you chsse in return?"
"Yeah."

"toxic" is a graphic novel that takes readers on a visual tour of the ecuadorian amazon, exploring the devastating impacts of oil drilling on local communities and the environment. the book heavily discusses the importance of the environmental impacts of oil extraction in a very accessible way making it especially suitable for younger audiences. it simplifies complex processes and topics and explains them with the help of vivid and gorgeous artwork.

my only true issue with the book are the characters and their interactions. the character interactions feel one-dimensional and feel more like a medium via which the author makes their points versus actual real people. it reminded me of the plays we had to do in school to present academic topics in an "immersive" way, if you know what i'm talking about. the focus is primarily on the environmental narrative rather than character or plot progress. there is occasional info dumping too but it aligns with the educational purpose of the book, similar in nature to a guided tour that aims to raise awareness, so i couldn't really complain much about it.

overall, "toxic" is a powerful and visually striking graphic novel that sheds light on the environmental and social ramifications of oil drilling in the amazon. it makes readers reflect on their own roles in the production and consumption of this pollution, making it a vital addition to discussions about environmental justice. while the characters may not be the best, the book's educational value makes it a good read.

[alexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this. For me, it was an incredibly unique learning experience and it felt shockingly fitting for the topic.

To start, the imagery is deeply fascinating and heartbreaking - oil rising and spilling across the pages, swallowing everything in its path. The book aimed to move and immerse, and that’s what it did. I truly loved that about it. It’s also highly effective as education. It takes something somewhat complex in its scientific process and social/environmental impact and makes it digestible for adolescents and the unfamiliar. I especially appreciate the book’s success in making knowledge accessible.

I oddly feel like it could’ve been a little shorter. I think the unexpected brevity of presenting the oil industry outcomes without all of the small talk from the tourists would have been even more powerful. Though, I will say that I loved the discussion between the characters at the end in the restaurant, it was a really great way to close such a powerful novel.

Overall, this is a wonderful read that taught me quite a bit in such a short amount of time. I think most people now know that oil production is disastrous, but this just forces you to see the effects from a personal angle, creating an entirely different learning experience, one that’s infinitely better than a few paragraphs in a textbook.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

[Ana Ćupurdija · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel tells an interesting, albeit truly sad, and cruel story about oil mining in the Amazon.

It is told in the form of the main characters going on the toxic tour, which resembles a real experience that the authors went on.
Important topics are discussed throughout, and life stories from people who live in the area can be heard.
This truly opened my eyes to topics I knew nothing about.

The art style wasn't my cup of tea, although I liked how everything had dark marks on it, to symbolize the oil spills. I do think that it worked well with this topic.
I love the custom font based on lettering.

The main thing I didn't like is that some not-so-well-known things (mainly technical ones) were skimmed over and explained briefly, while the things that I feel should be left to the reader to contemplate were overly explained.

However, this book definitely introduced me to a topic I knew nothing about and made me think.
To quote one of the characters:
- Are you glad you came on the tour today?
- Glad? Well, that wouldn't be the first word that comes to mind. But I think it was important. I can't look at things the same way now.

That is exactly how I feel about this book.

Thanks to NetGalley, authors, and publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Zane Umsted · Rating 5 out of 5]

No matter how good a journalist is, sometimes reading a news story or listening to a podcast creates a distance between the consumer and the events portrayed. In Toxic, Amelia Fisk and Jonas Fischer close this distance by taking the reader on a "toxic tour" in Ecuador - depicted through comic/graphic storytelling. And instead of relying entirely on exposition, Toxic uses a show *and* tell method where the reader follows a tour guide (the author's actual tour guide when she went on the toxic tour IRL) who points out various examples of the environmental devastation caused by oil exploitation in Ecuador. The tour guide explains the history, the impact on local communities, and fields questions from several tourists. And throughout the book, we see the tourists begin to recognize the massive scope of the devastation and bemoan the intractable problem of relying on fossil fuels as the key to modern life - the exact same experience that the reader will likely feel when reading.

I'd recommend this book to educators and people looking for an entrypoint into environmental activism.

#Toxic #NetGalley

[Ije the Devourer of Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Graphic novel is both engaging and educational. The story takes us to Ecuador, where we are taken on a ‘Toxic Tour’. The tour takes visitors through small towns in Ecuador which have been affected by oil production. These tours actually happen, but the characters in this book are fictional.

The graphic novel is a great way to learn about the environmental and social cost that communities are suffering and have been for decades. They have waited for abandoned oil pits to be cleared up but over the years their cries and campaigns have been ignored. Country governments are complicit and also responsible for the negative impact on the lives of communities.

It is a challenging read but also resourceful because it is one way of understanding the cost of oil production and to understand the impact of oil production in local communities.

There are no easy answers but if we can understand what is happening, then we can make informed chances about the way we live. It is a brilliant graphic novel for old and young alike.

Copy provided via Netgalley in exchange for no unbiased review.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toxic is a cli-fi graphic novel that offers a unique and enlightening perspective on the environmental impact of the oil industry in the Ecuadorian Amazon. With a large focus on indigenous communities and fantastic art design, the novel provides a refreshing angle on the consequences of oil contamination.

The informative content is skillfully presented through a seamless comic book format, blending detailed explanations with evocative illustrations. The dark and melancholic art style effectively conveys the gravity of the subject, with oil stains serving as a powerful visual motif throughout.

Realistic dialogues and relatable characters add depth to the narrative, showcasing the direct impact of the oil industry on local populations. The novel succeeds in balancing education and entertainment, making it a must-read for those interested in ecology, climate change, or toxicology. The inclusion of a glossary and further readings enhances its value as a comprehensive and accessible resource.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Zeilenaddicted · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sehr wichtige Message, gute Darstellung.

Dieses Buch behandelt das Thema rund um das Thema Erdöl und dessen Einflüsse auf die Umwelt und die Menschen. Das Thema ist ein, auch heute noch, sehr wichtiges Thema, darum finde ich es schonmal sehr gut, dass es hier angesprochen wird.
Auch die Darstellung und Behandlung des Themas ist meiner Meinung nach gut gelungen.

Ich hatte jedoch etwas das Gefühl, dass das Buch eher etwas für englischsprachige bis fortgeschrittene Fremdsprache Englisch war. Ich hätte es schöner gefunden, wenn es etwas leichter geschrieben gewesen wäre und somit auch für eine größere Bandbreite zugänglicher wäre.
Der Schreibstil persönlich ist eher nicht mein Fall, aber das kann ja von Person zu Person variieren. Ich finde jedoch, dass auch die Bilder nicht immer ganz eindeutig für sich gesprochen haben womit ich wieder beim Punkt der Verständlichkeit wäre.

Dennoch finde ich es sehr gut, dass mit diesem Buch hier endlich mal ein Thema repräsentiert wird was meiner Meinung nach nicht oft genug vertreten ist.

[callistanagirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the free ARC!

When I picked up this book, I had no idea the problems with the oil industry were this bad. I knew there were waste products when extracting oil, but I'd never really thought about what happened to them - which I'm aware is a privilege. I learned so so much from reading this book, but what I liked was that it didn't feel like someone was giving me a lecture on the subject; instead, it felt like I was right there with the characters of the book, going on the toxic tour with them. I was horrified to learn about all the ways the oil industry has poisoned nature and all of the people living there, and how they still continue to do so, even though a lot of it could actually have been avoided, if the companies cared about anything but just making as much money as possible.

Finally, I wasn't the biggest fan of the art style at first, but I quickly changed my mind. It might not be the kind of art, or drawing style, I usually prefer, but for this particular story it fit really well.

[Wylde-reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Toxic: A Tour of the Ecuadorian Amazon was an absolutely heartbreaking graphic novel about the damaging effects of pollution from the oil industry in Ecuador. It follows several individuals on a “toxic tour” wherein they tour different areas of Ecuador and are educated on the effects of oil pollution. While the story in itself was a heartbreaking view of the environmental damage as well as the effects on human health, the imagery really drove this one home. Each image features dark smears of black across everything. The darkness appears on people, the water, the environment, the food, truly everything. At first I didn’t understand this artistic decision, but about halfway through I realized it’s the depiction of how the oil industry and pollution has left its mark on absolutely everything in such a damaging way.

This graphic novel is a five star read, and I will be thinking about it for a very long time

[Carina Stopenski · Rating 3 out of 5]

thanks to netgalley for a free arc of this title in exchange for an honest review. this work of graphic nonfiction was very interesting, and i appreciate the research that went into creating it. however, it was not presented in a way that was engaging. there was a lot of exposition and large blocks of text, and while the information presented was very important, i felt like i genuinely couldn't get interested because of the density of the text. it feels like if this is intended for YA audiences that a lot of the stuff would go over their head, especially because they'd be more apt to skim the biographical portions of text with no illustration. i liked the art and the message, the application was just a little rusty.

[Thalita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

Toxic is a graphic novel that exposes the problems caused by oil extraction in Lago Agrio region of the Amazon. The story gives a lot of information on how Texaco and other companies operated in the area without any concern about how they were harming the environment and the health of people living in the area. The text is easy to understand and engaging. The illustrations are amazing, and they show how oil is an ever-present problem clearly, with blots of black staining all the pages. The graphic novel is education without being boring. It's certainly a great resource to inform people of the problems caused by oil extraction.

[Irina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very education and enlightening book on oil operations in Amazon region of Ecuador. The art creates the atmosphere like you’re in the toxic tour yourself, you feel so immersed. I learned so much information about destructive and dangerous practices of Texaco that are killing the population. It was crazy to know that a class action was won against the company and still the company hasn’t paid a cent to the victims. I really liked how all the aspects of toxic tour and the stories were portrayed and how you start feeling a personal connection to the inhabitants of Lago Argo. Would recommend to everyone!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher University of Toronto Press for allowing me to read this graphic novel!