Review by Luca I.
Where the Crawdads Sing is the story of Kya, female marsh-dweller, and her struggles with the concepts of sex, love, and isolation. At one point the text reads, “She knew the years of isolation had altered her behavior until she was different from others, but it wasn’t her fault she’d been alone.” She loses both of her parents by the age of ten, and is forced to survive on her own in a desolate cabin. She solely provides for herself through harvesting and selling sea creatures, and develops her skills in cooking through trial and error. Ultimately Kya overcomes her hardship; she becomes a published author and finds a man to live with.
Rating (10 being the best): The novel deserves an eight out of ten. The character of Kya is intricate enough to spark fascination. Her character drastically develops with the story; the reader slowly witnesses her slow entry into society and aging into adulthood. Not only can one enjoy a fascinating story, but one can also learn certain ways to utilize a marsh environment. The novel is worth a read if not for the story then for the quality of writing.