Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - Where the Crawdads Sing

"Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens is a fantastic mix of mystery, romance, and nature. The story is about Kya Clark, known as the "Marsh Girl," who grows up alone in the marshlands of North Carolina. Owens does an amazing job describing the marsh and Kya's connection with nature. It is so beautiful and detailed that you can almost feel the mud, hear the birds, and see the wildlife through her words. It’s like the marsh itself is a character in the story. The book is not just about Kya's life but also a gripping murder mystery.

I particularly enjoyed reading this book because I love random facts about nature - maybe this is why I'm a vet? 😆

And then there's the ending. Wow. It’s shocking and will totally surprise you. I already knew the ending beforehand, but it felt different reading it. The last sentence is so powerful that it gave me goosebumps. It’s one of those endings that sticks with you long after you’ve finished reading.

Overall, "Where the Crawdads Sing" is a wonderfully written book with vivid descriptions of nature and a story that keeps you hooked. If you love a good mystery and the beauty of the natural world, this book is a must-read. A definite 5 🌟 read!

Content Warnings

cannaebehorsed's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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sebnia_05's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Content Warnings

britbreeze's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Content Warnings

mareli's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Content Warnings

evelynnnn33333's review against another edition

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inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Content Warnings

bookgirlieee's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Content Warnings

annie_brewer's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Read via audiobook (Little Brown Audio)
Read for Bookclub - Wasn't going to pick up for myself as I try to avoid popular books as I am usually dissappointed, but so glad I did not skip over it!

An incredible read!

The first little treat was the voice actress of the audiobook sounding like Moira from 'Schitt's Creek'. The main treat is the delightful descriptions of the Marsh!

Due to the context of the time period and location, I had reservations that Kya was the author's attempt to parralel or represent the experience of a Black person and segregation. Thankfully, upon finishing the novel, I was left satisfied that was not the case.

Owens was able to create an original bildungsroman about a girl who is challenged to survive in a unique environment, and while not oblivious to the racial tension, the limited display in the novel of the injustices and hate crimes against the Black community (despite segregation, which Kya is unlikely to have considered anything other than typical) help demonstrate Kya's isolation to society as a whole.

It was a pleasure to read Kya champion the odds stacked against her, and I celebrated as she persued opportunities presented to her. I respected her resourcefulness as she replicated natural occurences within interpersonal interations, despite the methods being unorthodox.

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