Delia Owens: Where the Crawdads Sing

Several students recommended this book, which was really popular a few years ago. I finally bought it and read it.

Kya Clark has been abandoned her whole life. First, by her mother, who walked out on the family, then each sibling drifted off into the marsh and never came back. Kya was left with her abusive father until he, too, never returned. Kya took attachment wherever she could get it, first from Tate, who taught her to read and write, and then from Chase, the star football player from town. When Chase is found dead, it is Kya, the Marsh Girl, who is their primary suspect. Is Kya responsible for Chase's death, and can she hide in the marsh that only she knows?

All around, this book is sad. Kya's story is heartbreaking as she is abandoned over and over again throughout the story. I truly felt for her as the story unfolded. Kya's character is a little flat; I feel like she remains the aloof Marsh Girl throughout the story, and she doesn't get past that personality trait. With all that happens in the story, I ignored that.

This book bounces in time, flashing back to the past and continuing in the present. It's helpful to get the back story, but sometimes the time switching was confusing, particularly as the two stories start to meet. Both lines were necessary, as Kya's character is really solidified in her experiences as a child and teenager, and it just got complicated to keep track of where I was in time.

I did like the book. Kya's story is sad, but captivating, and I found myself wanting to read more.

I rate this book PG-13 for some sexual scenes, and I gave it ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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