Stephanie Sullivan: Review - Where the Crawdads Sing

October 15, 2020

TITLE: Where the Crawdads Sing

RATING: ★★★★★

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Summary (from Goodreads): For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet fishing village. Kya Clark is barefoot and wild; unfit for polite society. So in late 1969, when the popular Chase Andrews is found dead, locals immediately suspect her.

But Kya is not what they say. A born naturalist with just one day of school, she takes life's lessons from the land, learning the real ways of the world from the dishonest signals of fireflies. But while she has the skills to live in solitude forever, the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. Drawn to two young men from town, who are each intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new and startling world—until the unthinkable happens.

In Where the Crawdads Sing, Owens juxtaposes an exquisite ode to the natural world against a profound coming of age story and haunting mystery. Thought-provoking, wise, and deeply moving, Owens’s debut novel reminds us that we are forever shaped by the child within us, while also subject to the beautiful and violent secrets that nature keeps.

The story asks how isolation influences the behavior of a young woman, who like all of us, has the genetic propensity to belong to a group. The clues to the mystery are brushed into the lush habitat and natural histories of its wild creatures.

REVIEW: Oh my goodness...what an incredible story! I believe I went through every possible emotion while reading this book - sadness, anger, hope, happiness - you name it. Kya’s story is truly heartbreaking, but it’s also one of amazing perseverance, and it’s so beautifully written that it draws you in right away. My favorite parts included Kya and Tate. Their love story is so touching, and it gives you that “feel good” feeling that lasts long after the story has ended. (Oh, and I’m not giving out any spoilers, but I have to say the ending surprised me.) READ THIS BOOK! You will be SO glad you did!