Laline Paull's Pod (2023) is set in the depths of the ocean, which has traditionally been far from the reach of humans. However, humans have begun to encroach on this previously unexplored place, destroying it. Pod is told from the perspective of Ea, a spinner dolphin. Ea has recently become a teenager and started learning her family's and species' customs and rituals. But she has one problem: she is deaf. Her deafness, which prevents her from spinning, makes Ea feel ashamed; she feels that she is not as good as her family, who can spin. After her deafness causes a tragedy in her community, Ea decides to venture out by herself and leave her pod. Away from her pod, she discovers that the world has become a dangerous place. She encounters humans destroying the ocean, other animals, and a pod of bottlenose dolphins, who give Ea trouble. Regardless, Ea perseveres through her struggles and ultimately comes out on top, able to survive in an increasingly complex world.
At its core, Pod is a novel about climate change and how destructive humans are to the Earth. It is a warning to humans that further human intervention into previously untouched climates worldwide will result in sheer destruction.
Pod received very positive reviews when it was published. The Daily Mail wrote a glowing review of Pod. In it, they called Paull's novel a "Pacy, provocative tale of survival in a fast-changing marine landscape." The Washington Post liked the book even more. In their review of the novel, they opined that the novel is quickly becoming "clear that in its basic facts, the novel sticks closely to real-world apian biology and behavior. That is fascinating enough, but Paull deftly wields this information to create an even more elaborate culture of beeness. Beautiful."
