Book Review: A Year with the Seals by Alix Morris
In the wake of a fatal shark attack in Maine during the summer of 2020, the finger of blame was pointed at the rising seal population. In A Year with the Seals, Alix Morris embarks on a year-long investigation to uncover the truth about these misunderstood animals.
Morris takes readers on a captivating journey—beginning with the incredible story of Hoover, the talking seal (trust me, you need to read this) and following sea lions staking out fish ladders in Puget Sound. She talks in depth with fishers and people whose livelihoods are affected by rising seal populations, and goes to extraordinary lengths to visit remote grey seal breeding colonies and spends time with the dedicated team at Marine Mammals of Maine, who work tirelessly to rehabilitate pups impacted by human activity.
But this book isn’t just about seals; it’s about the complex realities of conservation, the challenges of human-wildlife conflict—and, perhaps more accurately, the tensions between people with competing interests in marine ecosystems. Morris presents meticulous research in a highly readable and engaging style, balancing scientific rigor with storytelling. She clearly builds strong rapport with her interviewees, presenting differing viewpoints with nuance and respect.
I’ve read many books on marine mammals, but this one stands out—not just for its depth of research and compelling narrative, but for the way it challenges us to reconsider our relationship with the natural world.
Thank you Algonquin Books for providing an advance content copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

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Note to publisher, to be excluded from review – I found a few erroneous looking ¾ symbols, which I think should possibly have been em-dash?