Unfathomable: 20 Wild (But True) Stories About the Ocean

by Mary Boone, Max Temescu (Illustrator)

Wrestle an octopus, swim through a sunken city, and discover 20 incredible-but-true stories from our unbelievable—and unpredictable—oceans. From acclaimed nonfiction writer Mary Boone comes an illustrated look at the fascinating stories that take place under (and above) the sea.

Did you know you can survive being swallowed by a whale? Or that octopus wrestling used to not just be a pastime but also an actual sport? Or, that once a town in Oregon didn't know what to do with a whale carcass that washed up on their beaches, so they...BLEW IT UP?

As strange as it sounds, those stories are 100% true. And the sea holds more secrets. Grab your snorkel and dive into 20 incredible-but-true tales of survival at sea, sunken treasures hiding under the ocean's surface, jellyfish that live forever, and so much more.

From accomplished nonfiction author Mary Boone comes an illustrated look at the unfathomable tales our oceans have to tell. Each chapter contains one story, with interview quotes and hands-on research that uncovers the science and history behind the event. You’ll get facts AND more!

192 pages, Hardcover

Published February 17, 2026

Reviews

[Adria Goetz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a delightful, fascinating collection of real life ocean-related stories!

[YSBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

With its strange but true take on ocean stories, this high interest nonfiction collection will engage kids who are into animals, transportation, geology, and archeology, among other topics. Short, illustrated sections (each about 10 pages) offer lively, accessible narratives about strange phenomena and unbelievable creatures, hopping around the world and through time. Mindful of her target audience of middle grade readers, Booke does devote quite a bit of time to orca poop, exploding whales, deadly shark attacks, and extreme survival stories, but also makes room for statistics on declining animal populations and advice on surviving a rip tide. Although the stories hopscotch from one topic to the next, she consistently delivers a message encouraging wonder and respect for the ocean and the preservation of habitat and species. 

The book’s eye-catching design invites browsing. Each page is edged with a curling and variegated blue wave while frequent pale green text boxes present various factoids. Yellow Post-It facsimiles present longer strings of information, such as a bulleted list of possible uses for ambergris (a valuable gastric byproduct excreted by sperm whales). Max Temescu has created a series of full-page digital illustrations—one accompanying each chapter—rendered in a polished style that feels reminiscent of Marvel comics. The images spotlight dramatic, high-energy moments, including a striking scene of a dark-skinned foot poised to step onto a massive barbed ray, lying flat against the sandy ocean floor. Despite the frequent inclusion of quotes and statistics, Booke does not provide exact sources at the end of each segment, choosing instead to offer more general references in the back matter, such as websites for the American Museum of Natural History and NOAA. She does provide a list of books for further research, all published recently and a good match for this age group. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Laura Roettiger · Rating 5 out of 5]

UNFATHOMABLE is an incredible resource offering interesting and engaging content about an ocean full of stories that I didn’t know existed and middle grade readers will devour and want to share them with friends, family, and anyone who will listen. I can only imagine how many new curious scientists will be inspired by the different stories and facts they read in this book. Author Mary Boone has included a wide range of information so that the book can be read in chapters, out of order, and as a tasting for students to dip in and out finding subjects they want to learn more about using the table of contents. There’s something for everyone and the extensive glossary makes this book perfect for home or school reading.

[Deborah Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to pick a favorite story from the 20 amazing tales in this book, but the exploding whale on the Oregon beach is a true contender! The chapter about stingrays is outstanding, and I loved the one about the rat terrier dog with a nose for orca poop. Mary Boone has an exciting, engaging style of writing that makes factual information fascinating. I bought this book for my grandkids and requested that my library purchase it. I'm sure you'll enjoy this collection, too.

[Maria Sevier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! It’s full of fun facts, funny and entertaining and fascinating. We’ve been reading a few chapters each night before we send it to a family member who loves the ocean. It’s a great read and something many ages and families will enjoy. Plus you’ll walk away with lots of fun facts to share at your next gathering.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ocean has always been mysterious -and dangerous in its unpredictable changes. So, stories from the deep will immediately appeal to kids. This is a perfect book for boys who think they can’t or don’t like to read. The stories are short, gripping, and TRUE!! Teachers and librarians who read the first story out loud to the class will have students clamoring to check it out.

[Amanda Murphy]

Exploding whale carcasses? Divers dragging poor, unsuspecting octopuses from their cozy homes in the depths?

[Mitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book for kids AND adults. So many stories here I did not know or was just vaguely aware of. Plus- the art pulled me in to a world I now want to know more about.

[Mary Mann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so entertaining! I read it aloud to my grandchildren and they loved it!

[Meaghan Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel so fortunate to have been able to listen to this audiobook. Not simply educational…truly compelling!!