When Carson decided to write a book, the topic was no surprise. She called her first book Under the Sea-Wind. It told stories about creatures that lived in and near the ocean, including birds, mackerels and eels. Although it got good reviews, Under the Sea-Wind didn't sell well when it was first published, probably due to a lack of publicity and the fact that World War II was underway. Carson was disappointed, but not discouraged. Several years later she decided to write a second book. This one would be about the ocean itself.