Also by Helen Scales
Around the Ocean in 80 Fish and Other Sea Life
The Brilliant Abyss
Eye of the Shoal
Octopuses
Eleven Explorations into Life on Earth
Spirals in Time
Poseidon’s Steed
Books for younger readers
Shells … and what they hide inside
Scientists in the Wild: Antarctica
Return of the Wild
Scientists in the Wild: Galápagos
What a Shell Can Tell
Great Barrier Reef
What the Wild Sea Can Be The Future of the World’s Ocean
HELEN SCALES
Atlantic Monthly Press
New York
Copyright © 2024 by Helen Scales
Jacket design: Becca Fox Design
Jacket artwork: “The Riches” by Max Naylor
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review. Scanning, uploading, and electronic distribution of this book or the facilitation of such without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. Any member of educational institutions wishing to photocopy part or all of the work for classroom use, or anthology, should send inquiries to Grove Atlantic, 154 West 14th Street, New York, NY 10011 or permissions@groveatlantic.com.
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FIRST EDITION
Published simultaneously in Canada
Book interior designed by Norman E. Tuttle at Alpha Design & Composition.
This book is set in 12-pt. Bembo by Alpha Design & Composition of Pittsfield, NH.
First Grove Atlantic edition: July 2024
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data is available for this title.
ISBN 978-0-8021-6299-1
eISBN 978-0-8021-6300-4
Atlantic Monthly Press
an imprint of Grove Atlantic
154 West 14th Street
New York, NY 10011
Distributed by Publishers Group West
For Liam Drew and Emma Bryce, with gratitude for your friendship and for helping me find words about wild things.
