Where the Crawdads Sing

Spoiler Alert: She is not to be underestimated.

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A beautifully crafted and truly intriguing debut novel, Where the Crawdads Sing pulls readers in fast and hard -- a true read in one sitting type of book. The story follows the inquisitive and thoughtful Kya, who through one misfortune to another ends up living alone by the young age of 14. Plagued by the traumas of her past and completely ostracized by her community, she soon gets the nickname "Marsh Girl;" She quickly realizes that for her, it is better to stay hidden. In Kya's teens, she meets an unlikely friend, someone who cares enough to give her a world-changing gift: the gift of literacy. As doors open to Kya that she never dreamt possible, she realizes that her life alone does not have to be limiting. In fact, she is as wild and free as can be. The story shifts in its innocent tone however, when Kya is made the interest of the town's golden boy. With all the wrong intentions, he preys on the vulnerable Kya; Despite having been hurt too many times to count, she never even saw it coming. In this twisted and well-written tale, spanning Kya's entire life, readers will likely find the story as unique as it is entertaining. I was personally struck by all the many elements incorporated into the complex novel. The story heavily features poetry and biology -- as these two interests become central in Kya's life. Despite being heavily alienated, her interest in science gave Kya a way to connect with the world around her -- a way to learn about her little corner of the world. The setting of the Florida swamp served almost as a main character in this story, offering a beautiful backdrop to Kya's story. At times, I felt the book was in fact quite educational about the biology of a swamp ecosystem. This likely stemmed from the authors own scientific background, as she is, in fact a renowned biologist. As evidenced not only in this scientific motif, but also through the constant use of poetry, the author's own passions seemed to leap off every page. The beautiful poems used throughout the story, while well-written, are also keenly important to the novel's structure -- and ultimately, quite revealing about certain characters. This story was additionally unique in perhaps its genre bending attitude; It is as much a coming of age novel as it is a mystery, as much an epic romance as it is a thriller. With heavy themes of love, loss, redemption, alienation, and longing, this is truly a memorable story that keeps you waiting until the very end. Although Kya spent much of her life alone, she had only look in the pages of a book or to the world around her for comfort. She somehow managed to make her mark on the world without ever truly being a part of it.

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Favorite Quotes: “His dad had told him many times that the definition of a real man is one who cries without shame, reads poetry with his heart, feels opera in his soul, and does what’s necessary to defend a woman.” ~~ “I wasn't aware that words could hold so much. I didn't know a sentence could be so full.” ~~ “Unworthy boys make a lot of noise” ~~ “Why should the injured, the still bleeding, bear the onus of forgiveness?” ~~ “There are some who can live without wild things, and some who cannot.” ~~ “Even when [love] fails, it connects you to others and, in the end, that is all you have, the connections.” ~~ " Kya laid her hand upon the breathing, wet earth, and the marsh became her mother.”