Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

"'What d'ya mean, where the crawdads sing? Ma used to say that.' Kya remembered Ma always encouraging her to explore the marsh: 'Go as far as you can---way out where the crawdads sing.'"
                    -Kya, from the novel

This book was recommended to me weeks before it hit the top of the Best-Seller list and stayed there a long time. It was SO popular several of our Page Turners found themselves impatiently awaiting their turn to receive a library copy or a loan from a friend. My expectations were high!

I know there are several in our group who loved this book and I expect it to be one of our highest-rated in some time. I have struggled with my rating and it will be a 4. The writing is beautiful, giving lovely tribute to the natural world. It is not surprising that the author's background is biological science, particularly wildlife. It is likely she has projected her passion for nature onto her protagonist, Kya,

In this novel, Kya Clark is abandoned by one after another of her very large family until she is completely on her own at age 7. People in the nearby small town in North Carolina call her the "Marsh Girl" because of where she lives and, with few exceptions, they shun her. The novel tells of her survival alone in the woods which I found somewhat difficult to believe. And I found it strange that social services did not seem to care that this very young child was fending for herself.

The setting moves back and forth from the early 1950's to 1969, when Chase Andrews, a former Barkley Cove football hero. is found dead and authorities are suspicious of foul play. The plot becomes more engaging as an investigation is begun. When Kya meets a boy named Tate Walker, romance blossoms.

So take a survival story, add coming-of-age angst and society prejudice. Mix in a murder mystery and there you have Where the Crawdads Sing.

More after our meeting.....
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We met outdoors today, an appropriate setting for discussion about a book that celebrates so much of the natural world. A near-record number of attendees---18---could it have been the popularity of the book or the promise of a delicious brunch?

Our average rating was 4.4, the highest-rated book so far this year. Everyone appreciated the author's writing style. A few agreed with me that the survival of a child alone at Kya's age was a bit implausible but some argued that in other cultures it is likely common and one of our members shared personal experience to convince us of the real possibility.

Some of our folks made accurate predications about  how Chase met his unfortunate end and others of us were taken by surprise but you will get no spoilers from me! Needless to say, we enjoyed a stimulating discussion of this novel. Most of us would recommend it!