‘Where The Crawdads Sing’ By Delia Owens is a novel full of heartbreak, loss, prejudice, poverty, and adaptation. It tells the story of Kya Clark, the “marsh girl” who is forced to adapt when her mother and siblings leave her when she is a young child. She is left with her father, a war veteran, who is a violent alcoholic, that uses their miniscule income to buy alcohol and gamble. Kya’s father leaves her for unpredictable amounts of time, so she must learn to fend for herself. She learns how to forage for food, cook, and live despite the abandonment she is put through.  

Eventually, Owens pulls us into Kya’s future when a body is found dead in the marsh, with no witnesses, little to no evidence, Kya becomes the main suspect in the murder of Chase Andrews. Her life in the marsh is put under speculation, as the townspeople find her life to be suspicious and strange.  

I loved this book; to me it was very emotionally striking to see the elements of abandonment and prejudice Kya goes through as she finds solace in the loneliness with the marsh. Throughout the book Kya develops to see the marsh as a motherly figure that guides her when she has no one else. There are many moral dilemmas that are explored throughout the text that make the story even more intriguing and thought provoking. 

I rated this book five stars, and I would recommend it to anyone. I think it has some really important themes that a lot of people should explore. While at some points it was a bit hard to read, it was important to see the world through Kya’s eyes.  

A special thanks to Mrs. Burns for recommending this book to me through my AP literature class!