Nothing says summer like a day at the beach! Whether you want to learn more about the ocean and its creatures from one of the many new nonfiction books on this list, or whether you prefer to explore the watery depths through fiction, this list offers a variety of watery titles, many of which are available as e-books or e-audiobooks, too. Or you can come in and browse the library's collections; you'll find more books about the ocean and its inhabitants at 551.46 and 578.77, more books about whales & dolphins at 599.5-599.53, fish, sharks, and eels at 597-597.4, and shells, octopuses, and crustaceans from 592-595.3.
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The sound of the sea : seashells and the fate of the oceans
by Cynthia Barnett Acclaimed environmental author Cynthia Barnett blends cultural history and science to trace our long love affair with seashells and the hidden lives of the mollusks that make them. Spiraling out from the great cities of shell that once rose in North America to the warming waters of the Maldives and the slave castles of Ghana, Barnett has created an unforgettable account of the world's most iconic seashells. From the eerie calls of early shell trumpets to the evolutionary miracle of spines and spires and the modern science of carbon capture inspired by shells, Barnett circles to her central points of listening to nature's wisdom and acting on what seashells have to say about taking care of each other and our world. Borrow the e-audiobook using Hoopla. |
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The hungry tide
by Amitav Ghosh Off the easternmost coast of India, in the Bay of Bengal, lies the immense labyrinth of tiny islands known as the Sundarbans. Piya Roy is a young marine biologist, of Indian descent but stubbornly American, in search of a rare, endangered river dolphin. Her journey begins with a disaster; rescue comes in the form of a young, illiterate fisherman, Fokir. Although they have no language between them, Piya and Fokir are powerfully drawn to each other, sharing an uncanny instinct for the ways of the sea. Piya engages Fokir to help with her research and finds a translator in Kanai Dutt, a businessman from Delhi whose idealistic aunt and uncle are longtime settlers in the Sundarbans. As the three of them launch into the elaborate backwaters, they are drawn unawares into the hidden undercurrents of this isolated world, where political turmoil exacts a personal toll that is every bit as powerful as the ravaging tide. Borrow the e-book in Hoopla or Overdrive/Libby, via partner network OCLN, or borrow the e-audiobook in Hoopla or in Overdrive/Libby, via partner network Boston Public Library. |
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The blue wonder : why the sea glows, fish sing, and other astonishing insights from the ocean
by Frauke Bagusche A German marine biologist and diver, drawing on scientific discoveries and her own research, takes us deep within the depths of the ocean, reawakening our love for the sea and igniting a desire to protect this vital habitat. |
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The deep
by Rivers Solomon The water-breathing descendants of African slave women tossed overboard have built their own underwater society -- and must reclaim the memories of their past to shape their future in this brilliantly imaginative novella. Inspired by a song produced by the rap group Clipping for the This American Life episode "We Are In The Future," The Deep is vividly original and uniquely affecting. Borrow the e-book or the e-audiobook in Libby/Overdrive. |
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Into the deep : a memoir from the man who found Titanic
by Robert D. Ballard The legendary deep-sea explorer discusses the discovery of the Titanic and many other historical shipwrecks, as well as the personal struggles he faced, including the death of his 20-year-old son and the collapse of his marriage. Borrow the e-book or e-audiobook using Hoopla. |
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Into the drowning deep
by Mira Grant Victoria Stewart and her crew sail to the Mariana Trench, in the hopes of discovering the fate of the Atargatis—which, along with its crew, including Victoria's sister, was lost at sea during the crew's attempt to film a mockumentary on ancient sea creatures of legend. Borrow the e-book in Overdrive/Libby via partner network Boston Public Library, or borrow the e-audiobook in Hoopla. |
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The brilliant abyss : exploring the majestic hidden life of the deep ocean and the looming threat that imperils it
by Helen Scales A marine biologist brings to vibrant life the extraordinary ecosystem of the deep ocean, which has a huge effect on our daily life, in this fascinating book that is at once a revelation and a clarion call to preserve this vast unseen world. Borrow the e-book or e-audiobook in Hoopla. |
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The principles behind flotation : a novel
by Alexandra Teague Alexandra Teague's lighthearted coming-of-age debut is perfect for anyone who's navigated the strange seas of adolescence and lived to tell the tale. When the Sea of Santiago appeared overnight in a cow pasture in Arkansas, it seemed, to some, a religious miracle. But to high school sophomore A.Z. McKinney, it's marked her chance to make history as its first oceanographer. All she needs is to get out on the water. Her plan is easier said than done, but when a cute conceptual artist named Kristoff moves to town, A.Z. realizes she may have found a first mate. Together, they make a plan to build a boat and study the Sea in secret. But from fighting with her best friend to searching for a tourist-terrorizing alligator (that may or may not be a crocodile), distractions are everywhere. Soon, A.Z.'s dreams are in danger of being dashed upon the shore of Mud Beach. With her self-determined oceanic destiny on the line, A.Z. finds herself at odds with everything she thought she knew about life, love, and the Sea. Borrow the e-book using Hoopla or Overdrive/Libby via partner network CLAMS. |
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Ocean anatomy : the curious parts & pieces of the world under the sea
by Julia Rothman Follow Rothman's inquisitive mind and perceptive eye along shorelines, across the open ocean, and below the waves for an artistic exploration of the watery universe. Through her drawings, discover how the world's oceans formed, why the sea is salty, and the forces behind oceanic phenomena such as rogue waves. Colorful anatomical profiles of sea creatures from crustacean to cetacean, surveys of seafaring vessels and lighthouses, and the impact of plastic and warming water temperatures are just part of this compendium of curiosities that will entertain and educate readers of all ages. Borrow the e-book using Hoopla or Libby/Overdrive via partner network Boston Public Library. |
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The shark club
by Ann Kidd Taylor Nearly two decades after surviving a shark attack in the Gulf of Mexico, a world-traveling marine biologist and respected "shark whisperer" harbors private insecurities that compel her to return to her Florida coast home to explore old and new relationships. Borrow the e-book using Libby/Overdrive, or borrow the e-audiobook using Libby/Overdrive via partner network SAILS. |
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Thousand mile song : whale music in a sea of sound
by David Rothenberg The author of Why Birds Sing explores the mystery behind the musical sounds emitted by whales to reveal the vast underwater world of the great mammals, bringing together the observations of leading researchers from around the globe as they attempt to decipher undersea music, in a volume that is accompanied by whale sounds on CD. Borrow the e-book using Libby/Overdrive via partner network Boston Public Library. |
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The unfinished land
by Greg Bear After a series of strange encounters, including a stranger who casts a white shadow, a fisherman’s apprentice is the sole survivor after a battle at sea and is picked up by a galleon that changes his destiny. Borrow the e-book in Libby/Overdrive via partner network Boston Public Library. |
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The soul of an octopus : a surprising exploration into the wonder of consciousness
by Sy Montgomery Expanding on her 2011 piece in Orion magazine, a naturalist examines the surprising intelligence, emotions and various personalities of octopuses in this new book from the author of The Good Good Pig. Borrow the e-book in Overdrive/Libby via partner network CLAMS or borrow the e-audiobook in Hoopla or in Overdrive/Libby via partner network NOBLE. |