The story is a bit slow to start, as we are immersed in Kya’s childhood. After a few chapters, we are brought forward in time, many years later, to a bumbling murder investigation. This story runs parallel to Kya’s upbringing and eventually these two “stories” catch up in time. 

Overall I had some conflicting thoughts about this book. Where the Crawdads Sing is a study on loneliness. I felt sad for Kya, who had to take care of herself from a very young age. Many studies have shown the negative effects that loneliness – and malnutrition in Kya’s case – have on one’s physical and mental health. I would have expected her to be a bit more savage, especially with the lack of schooling. I couldn’t help but feel sadness and empathy for the author as well, who had to deal with loneliness for years. Owens drew inspiration from her own life to write this book.

I did find some instances a bit hard to believe – Kya had to become extremely independent very quickly – I know children can surprise us in many ways but for a 7-year-old to maneuver a boat all by herself was pushing it a little bit in the credibility department for me. However, the author made sure to describe how Kya nourished herself throughout the years; to add some realism to the story. Food plays an important role throughout the novel, so much so that there are recipes at the end of the book, how neat! And yes, the Piggly Wiggly so-often mentioned in this story is a real grocery store for those who’ve never heard of it before, I certainly hadn’t before my first visit to Alabama.

On a different note, I’m not sure if Kya’s relationship with Tate, a local boy, was meant to be a great love story but it sounded more like a grooming situation to me; an older boy teaching a young girl how to read, among other things, and eventually, the relationship turns romantic. Personally, I was uncomfortable with that relationship, it felt creepy. I understand that as a young impressionable girl, the idea that an older boy is interested in us is attractive and I might have seen nothing wrong with it if I had read a story like this in my teens. But now that I’m older I see it in a completely different way. Some of the intimate scenes made me particularly uneasy as they had unnecessary details, especially as they involved an underage Kya. I also had an issue with how Kya’s character was described, often referring to her physical attributes, which was disappointing coming from a woman author.

Kya’s situation, unfortunately, puts her in a vulnerable situation with men – as the novelty of the “Marsh Girl” is exciting to some sick men. As she matures, she learns the true nature of men and relationships, with the help of marsh critters. It’s amusing how she compares animal mating and courting techniques to those of humans. In a way, they serve as a guide.