Did you know you can survive being swallowed by a whale? Or that octopus wrestling used to be a sport? As strange as it sounds, those stories are 100% true.    

Roosevelt Elementary students explored those surprising facts during a return visit from Tacoma author Mary Boone, who shared stories from her latest book, “Unfathomable: 20 Wild (But True) Stories About the Ocean,” during a recent classroom visit. 

Boone visited Tammy Bentley’s fourth-grade classroom, continuing a long‑standing practice of bringing Boone into Bentley’s classrooms over the years, including at other schools where Bentley has taught. Boone also visited the class last year, and Bentley invited those former fifth graders to return and join her current students. 

“So much of my work is solitary, but being able to visit with students reminds me what they’re curious about, what makes them laugh and what piques their interest,” Boone said. “It definitely makes me a better writer.” 

Discovering the work behind writing 

Ahead of Boone’s visit, students spent several weeks exploring her books in class. Bentley keeps a large book box filled with Boone’s titles which helps build familiarity and excitement. 

“They felt like they were in the presence of a celebrity when she was here,” Bentley said. “Some students were asking for her autograph on pieces of paper and exclaiming how excited they were to have ‘met a famous person.’” 

During the visit, Boone read excerpts from “Unfathomable” and talked about the process of writing a book, from early research to publication. Students asked questions ranging from long it takes to write a book to whether she’s won awards. 

“They were astonished to learn that she had started researching and writing ‘Unfathomable’ 10 years ago but also wrote multiple other books during the same timeline,” Bentley said. 

A signed book and lasting local impact 

At the end of the visit, each student received a brand‑new, autographed copy of “Unfathomable.” The moment was especially meaningful for students, not only because the book had just been released, but because Boone made a point to connect with each child individually.  

Bentley said experiences like this help enhance student interest, which in turn increases learning. By meeting a working author, especially one who lives in the same city, students can better imagine themselves pursuing big goals of their own. 

“I want my students to know that even though we ‘just live in Tacoma,’ we can still do big things,” she said. “I think the students are inspired knowing that she lives in the same place they do and that they can have dreams and goals to work toward just like Mary did.”