where the crawdads sing book review npr

Skip to main content
Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Pop Culture Happy Hour

LISTEN & FOLLOW
Apple Podcasts
Amazon Music

Your support helps make our show possible and unlocks access to our sponsor-free feed.

In 'Where The Crawdads Sing,' a bestseller gets its big screen moment

Stephen Thompson

Barrie Hardymon

Greta Johnsen

Candice Lim

Rommel Wood

Jessica Reedy

Daisy Edgar-Jones as Kya Clark in Where the Crawdads Sing. Sony Pictures hide caption

Daisy Edgar-Jones as Kya Clark in Where the Crawdads Sing.

The new film Where The Crawdads Sing stars Daisy Edgar-Jones as Kya, a girl who was abandoned in the marshes of North Carolina as a child and raised herself into adulthood. It's part mystery, part courtroom drama, part love triangle, and part nature film. The film is based on Delia Owens' bestselling novel, and features a new Taylor Swift song.

Questions linger over 'Where the Crawdads Sing' author as film adaptation is released

There's a lingering mystery hanging over the author of "Where the Crawdads Sing," now adapted into a film.

Where the Crawdads Sing tells the fictional story of Kya, a girl left to raise herself along a North Carolina bayou in the 1950s and 60s. "The marsh girl," as she's known, is reviled and shunned by those in the nearby town. In time, Kya is put on trial for murder. Now, there's a film adapted from the novel by an author with a mysterious past.

It took wildlife scientist Delia Owens a decade to write Where the Crawdads Sing. Her first novel has now been on the New York Times best seller list for 168 weeks (most of that time at the top). Actress Reese Witherspoon loved it so much, she added it to her popular book club and produced the new film adaptation.

"It just blew me away," Witherspoon told CBS Sunday Morning . "It felt like when I was reading To Kill A Mockingbird or just any sort of classic Southern literature. She layers on this thriller element, there's a murder ..."

And murder — a real life murder in the mid 1990s — is the big elephant in the room. With the film's release, news has resurfaced that 73-year-old Owens is still wanted for questioning by Zambian authorities as a possible witness, co- conspirator and accessory to federal crimes . At the time, she and her then-husband Mark were living in Zambia as animal conservationists, trying to save elephants from poachers.

Journalist Jeffrey Goldberg first wrote about this for The New Yorker in 2010, and more recently, The Atlantic magazine, where he's now editor in chief. His reporting suggests the Owens set up a brutal operation to go after anyone who was a threat to the elephant reserve. In fact, an ABC news crew documenting the Owens's work in 1995 actually captured the execution of a suspected poacher.

"The bodies of the poachers are often left where they fall, for the animals to eat," narrator Meredith Viera said on the show Turning Point . "Conservation. Morality. Africa."

You can hear the gunshots, but the shooter of the unidentified man was never seen on camera, a body was never found, and no one has been formally charged with a crime. According to Jeffrey Goldberg, some witnesses reportedly implicated Mark Owens and his son Christopher. But the journalist says their attorneys have issued statements of denial in the killing. He quoted Delia Owens saying she had nothing to do with it.

For months, the movie's publicists have told me the author is not available to comment. So the news continues to hang over the film like Spanish moss over a murky bayou.

Taylor Swift wrote and sang on the film's soundtrack , saying on Instagram, she wanted "to create something haunting and ethereal to match this mesmerizing story." But she's faced social media backlash for her involvement in the film. In an interview, the director and star of the movie both told me they didn't know anything about this part of Delia Owens' past, though they did say she has a cameo in the film.

Instead, they talked up how the isolation and resilience of Where the Crawdads Sing resonated with readers, especially when the coronavirus pandemic left many feeling alone.

"There's this great murder mystery that keeps you turning the pages," director Olivia Newman said. "There's this survivalist tale and this observation of nature which is so gorgeously articulated by a scientist. There's this epic romance that provides a certain escape from some of the harsher realities of our lives And so I think especially during a pandemic it was so wonderful to be immersed in that world and that was the hope for the movie. That was the hope for the movie was to create that same sort of world that you didn't want to leave."

British actress Daisy Edgar-Jones , who plays Kya in the film, said she met with author Delia Owens when they shot on location in the marshlands around New Orleans.

"To actually film in these amazing sort of bayous and marshes with the Spanish moss and the sound of cicadas, oh, it was just absolutely magical," she said. "We had crazy thunder and lightening storms, and at one point the set flooded. We had alligators along the banks and snake wranglers. And it was just like it had been taken from my imagination."

Edgar-Jones says Delia Owens encouraged her to enjoy herself in portraying the main character.

"Kya's a very complex character," she said. "She is very sort of strong and and resilient. But she's also a very curious and gentle creature. And I think that kind of mixture of things was something I found very interesting about her, because she's complicated like so many of us are."

Early reviews of Where the Crawdads Sing have been mixed . It remains to be seen whether questions about the author will overshadow the film.

Supported by

‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ Review: A Wild Heroine, a Soothing Tale

Daisy Edgar-Jones stars as an orphaned girl in the marshes of North Carolina in this tame adaptation of Delia Owens’s popular novel.

Share full article

By A.O. Scott

“Where the Crawdads Sing,” Delia Owens’s first novel, is one of the best-selling fiction books in recent years , and if nothing else the new movie version can help you understand why.

Streamlining Owens’s elaborate narrative while remaining faithful to its tone and themes, the director, Olivia Newman, and the screenwriter, Lucy Alibar ( “Beasts of the Southern Wild” ), weave a courtroom drama around a romance that is also a hymn to individual resilience and the wonder of the natural world. Though it celebrates a wild, independent heroine, the film — like the book — is as decorous and soothing as a country-club luncheon.

Set in coastal North Carolina (though filmed in Louisiana), “Where the Crawdads Sing” spends a lot of time in the vast, sun-dappled wetlands its heroine calls home. The disapproving residents of the nearby hamlet of Barkley Cove refer to her as “the marsh girl.” In court, she’s addressed as Catherine Danielle Clark. We know her as Kya.

Played in childhood by Jojo Regina and then by Daisy Edgar-Jones (known for her role in “Normal People” ), Kya is an irresistible if not quite coherent assemblage of familiar literary tropes and traits. Abused and abandoned, she is like the orphan princess in a fairy-tale, stoic in the face of adversity and skilled in the ways of survival. She is brilliant and beautiful, tough and innocent, a natural-born artist and an intuitive naturalist, a scapegoat and something close to a superhero.

That’s a lot. Edgar-Jones has the good sense — or perhaps the brazen audacity — to play Kya as a fairly normal person who finds herself in circumstances that it would be an understatement to describe as improbable. Kya lives most of her life outside of human society, amid the flora and fauna of the marsh, and sometimes she resembles the feral creature the townspeople imagine her to be. Mostly, though, she seems like a skeptical, practical-minded young woman who wants to be left alone, except when she doesn’t.

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber? Log in .

Want all of The Times? Subscribe .

Reading Ladies

Where the crawdads sing [book review].

September 28, 2018

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Genre/Categories: Women’s Fiction, Southern Fiction, Coming of Age, Family Life, Survival

Living in the marsh outside a quiet, small town on the coast of North Carolina, Kya Clark, later known as the “Marsh Girl,” is abandoned by her entire family and learns to survive in the marsh on her own from the age of ten. One by one her older siblings abandon the family, her mother leaves when Kya is about seven, and finally, her father, a difficult, unreliable, and drunk man, leaves when she’s ten. Kya attends school for one day after a truant officer catches her. On that day, she is teased by the students, knows she’s hopelessly behind academically, and never returns. Preferring the isolation and safety of the marsh, she learns what she can through observing nature. Although she can survive on her own, she begins to long for companionship as she reaches her teen years. Two boys from town attract her attention. One of them turns up dead, and she is suspected of murder. The other becomes a life long supporter and friend. A coming of age story with a fair share of tragedy, mystery, and grit, this is an unforgettable read you’ll want to devour and recommend.

Amazon Rating: 4.8 Stars

My Thoughts:

While I loved Where the Crawdads Sing , this story might not be for everyone and comes with trigger warnings for some child neglect and abandonment.

What I loved most: structure and style. Where the Crawdads Sing is atmospheric and engaging from the first page to the last. In addition, it’s an easy reading narrative that flows well and is pleasingly balanced between character-driven and plot-driven. The author creates an amazing sense of place and a memorable and unforgettable character. As a bonus, the author’s background as a wildlife scientist enables her to include many fascinating scientific facts and details about the marsh.

This story came to me at the right time as I was in the mood for an intriguing, well written, page-turner, and Where the Crawdads Sing did not disappoint! It will most likely appear on my best of 2018 list.

Along with an emphasis on science and the marsh habitat, the author creates vivid and colorful local characters that enhance the story and includes a surprising plot twist at the end (which I have mixed feelings about).

Kya Clark is certainly a most compelling character . Resourceful, brave, cunning, a gritty survivor, and clever, Kya creates a life for herself despite the most difficult and disheartening circumstances. There is a person in town that she learns to trust and who becomes as important to her as a father. He watches out for her the best that he can which is difficult because he’s African-American and is dealing with issues of hate and segregation in his own life. He understands Kya and respects her freedom and her need to live her life on her terms even though she’s so young. Despite Kya’s ability to create a life for herself as a wildlife artist and illustrator and is eventually able to trust herself to love, there is a plot twist at the end that will force you to reevaluate Kya and the decisions she’s made.

Themes in Where the Crawdads Sing include belonging, abandonment, survival, trust, coming of age, family, and caring for others. There’s a great deal to reflect on or to discuss (if this is a book club pick) as the story unfolds.

The Ending: I have mixed feelings about the morally ambiguous ending. If you consider the author’s premise that Kya learned life’s lessons from marsh creatures, I guess the ending falls into perspective. However, I wonder if this is enough of a justification for Kya’s actions. Definitely a great topic for book club!

Recommended for readers who are looking for an engaging and unique story with a strong female protagonist. It would make an excellent book club selection because of the various discussion possibilities.

Triggers/Content Considerations: child neglect and abandonment.

My Rating 4.5 (rounded up to 5 Stars

Where the Crawdads Sing Information Here

Meet the Author, Delia Owens

She has won the John Burroughs Award for Nature Writing and has been published in Nature , The African Journal of Ecology , and many others.

She currently lives in Idaho. Where the Crawdads Sing is her first novel.

Have you read Where the Crawdads Sing or is it on your TBR? Who is the most memorable character in your recent reads?

Happy Reading Book Worms!

“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.” ~Rainer Maria Rilke

“I love the world of words, where life and literature connect.” ~Denise J Hughes

“Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.” ~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

“I read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection! Books take us to places we’ve never been, they teach us about our world, and they help us to understand human experience.” ~Madeleine Riley, Top Shelf Text

My Fall TBR

I’ll be updating my Fall TBR list as I complete each read, so check this link often!

Looking Ahead:

This week I’m reading an ARC of The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain (pub date: 10/2). It’s different from my usual genres: heavy on science fiction (time travel), a bit of hisfic (as the characters travel between 1970 and 2018), and some suspense. I would characterize this as an escapist read! Full review coming soon.

I’m also ready to begin The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris because my library hold came in. (taking a deep breath for this heavy read)

Let’s Get Social!

Thank you for visiting and reading today! I’d be honored and thrilled if you choose to enjoy and follow along (see subscribe or follow option), promote, and/or share my blog. Every share helps us grow.

Find me at: Twitter Instagram Goodreads Pinterest

***Blogs posts may contain affiliate links. This means that at no extra cost to you, I can earn a small percentage of your purchase price. This money will be used to offset the costs of running a blog and sponsoring giveaways, etc.

Unless explicitly stated that they are free, all books that I review have been purchased by me or borrowed from the library.

Book Cover and author photos are credited to Amazon or an author’s (or publisher’s) website.

Shares are appreciated:

28 comments.

[…] Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (debut author) (pub date: 8/14) I’ve read almost all glowing reviews of this one! It’s my most anticipated fall read which I’ll be reading and reviewing soon because my library hold just became available! ***Update: 5 Stars. Unforgettable character. (Full Review Here) […]

Such a wonderful post, Carol! I found Kya completely memorable, too! I loved your Crawdads review! It’s definitely worthy of five stars! I’m rushing off to work, and I’m going to think on another memorable character.

Thank you for stopping in and commenting! I love all the unforgettable characters we meet through reading!

[…] Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens Fiction/Family Life 5 Stars. Full Review Here. […]

Hi Carol– this is not a book I would pick up just based on it’s cover description– But your hearty recommendation makes it intriguing. I have it on my library list! thanks.

I think it’s worth trying….the story is unique and it’s well written and engaging…..but it may not be for everyone! I’ll be eager to hear what you think if you read it!

I just finished this book, and it was very intriguing–that plot twist at the very end has been on my mind too much ever since! Loved all the marsh wildlife and biology information. And right, not for everyone.

Thanks for commenting Ruth!

[…] Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens […]

[…] Using my five senses, can I envision a place? The time period? The atmosphere? The season? When I close my eyes and stop to think about the story, can I place myself in the story? What do I see, hear, touch, feel, taste, smell? What details do I notice? If I’m having difficulty in answering these questions, this might mean a low rating for this element of the story. How important is the setting to the story? Is the setting an important aspect of the story or could the story have taken place in any location or in any time period? Sometimes the setting can be as important in a story as a character. An example of this is Where the Crawdads Sing. […]

[…] that are too high and it ends up a disappointing read. The last book I read with a lot of buzz was Where the Crawdads Sing and it lived up to the buzz. What’s the last book you chose based on the buzz? Did you enjoy […]

[…] the most views day after day, week after week, and month after month is the review I wrote of Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. This title is also the most used search term that leads readers to my blog. When my bookish […]

[…] Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens 5 Stars […]

[…] viewed post: Where the Crawdads Sing (day after day, week after week, and month after month, this is the most searched for and viewed […]

[…] Where the Crawdads Sing (Fiction) by Delia Owens and The Scent Keeper (Fiction) by Erica Bauermeister (especially for readers who are interested in unique coming of age stories) […]

[…] Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (contemporary fiction, against the odds, *trigger: child abandonment) My review. […]

[…] popular post: Where the Crawdads Sing Review (week after week and month after month since the pub date, Crawdads has been my number one search […]

[…] My Summary: Living in the marsh outside a quiet, small town on the coast of North Carolina, Kya Clark, later known as the “Marsh Girl,” is abandoned by her entire family and learns to survive in the marsh on her own from the age of ten. One by one her older siblings abandon the family, her mother leaves when Kya is about seven, and finally her father, a difficult, unreliable, and drunk man, leaves when she’s ten. Kya attends school for one day after a truant officer catches her. On that day, she is teased by the students, knows she’s hopelessly behind academically, and never returns. Preferring the isolation and safety of the marsh, she learns what she can through observing nature. Although she can survive on her own, she begins to long for companionship as she reaches her teen years. Two boys from town attract her attention. One of them turns up dead, and she is suspected of murder. The other becomes a life long supporter and friend. A coming of age story with a fair share of tragedy, mystery, and grit, this is an unforgettable read you’ll want to devour and recommend. My Review. […]

[…] Most viewed post: Where the Crawdads Sing […]

[…] Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (contemporary fiction, against the odds, *trigger: child abandonment) My review of Crawdads here. […]

[…] most viewed posts. In 2017 (blogged for 6 months): 2017 Really Recommendable Reads (views); in 2018 Where the Crawdads Sing (495 views); in 2019 Where the Crawdads Sing (7,777 views)….I’m […]

[…] a few of these great reads, and today I’m eager to share my review of the page-turning Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens….a story of […]

This sounds like it would be perfect for me, but there’s something that just makes me not want to bother… can’t put my finger on it, I’m afraid. (Too much hype, maybe?)

I’m sure it’s the hype! Maybe in a few years!

[…] and resilient, Yona is a complicated character and survivalist. At times, she reminds me of Kya in Where the Crawdads Sing. As she overcomes her shyness around people, Yona becomes a strong and wise leader and saves many […]

[…] swamp setting in Where the Crawdads Sing comes to mind when I think of atmospheric settings. Also, unforgettably atmospheric is the dust […]

WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING

by Delia Owens ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 14, 2018

Despite some distractions, there’s an irresistible charm to Owens’ first foray into nature-infused romantic fiction.

A wild child’s isolated, dirt-poor upbringing in a Southern coastal wilderness fails to shield her from heartbreak or an accusation of murder.

“The Marsh Girl,” “swamp trash”—Catherine “Kya” Clark is a figure of mystery and prejudice in the remote North Carolina coastal community of Barkley Cove in the 1950s and '60s. Abandoned by a mother no longer able to endure her drunken husband’s beatings and then by her four siblings, Kya grows up in the careless, sometimes-savage company of her father, who eventually disappears, too. Alone, virtually or actually, from age 6, Kya learns both to be self-sufficient and to find solace and company in her fertile natural surroundings. Owens ( Secrets of the Savanna , 2006, etc.), the accomplished co-author of several nonfiction books on wildlife, is at her best reflecting Kya’s fascination with the birds, insects, dappled light, and shifting tides of the marshes. The girl’s collections of shells and feathers, her communion with the gulls, her exploration of the wetlands are evoked in lyrical phrasing which only occasionally tips into excess. But as the child turns teenager and is befriended by local boy Tate Walker, who teaches her to read, the novel settles into a less magical, more predictable pattern. Interspersed with Kya’s coming-of-age is the 1969 murder investigation arising from the discovery of a man’s body in the marsh. The victim is Chase Andrews, “star quarterback and town hot shot,” who was once Kya’s lover. In the eyes of a pair of semicomic local police officers, Kya will eventually become the chief suspect and must stand trial. By now the novel’s weaknesses have become apparent: the monochromatic characterization (good boy Tate, bad boy Chase) and implausibilities (Kya evolves into a polymath—a published writer, artist, and poet), yet the closing twist is perhaps its most memorable oddity.

Pub Date: Aug. 14, 2018

ISBN: 978-0-7352-1909-0

Page Count: 384

Publisher: Putnam

Review Posted Online: May 14, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2018

LITERARY FICTION

Share your opinion of this book

More by Mark Owens

BOOK REVIEW

by Mark Owens & Delia Owens

More About This Book

Where the Crawdads Sing and Michelle Obama’s Becoming Top Amazon’s Most-Sold List

SEEN & HEARD

Oscar Nominee Lucy Alibar to Adapt Where the Crawdads Sing

BOOK TO SCREEN

Edgar-Jones Goes Where the Crawdads Sing

THE SECRET HISTORY

by Donna Tartt ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 16, 1992

The Brat Pack meets The Bacchae in this precious, way-too-long, and utterly unsuspenseful town-and-gown murder tale. A bunch of ever-so-mandarin college kids in a small Vermont school are the eager epigones of an aloof classics professor, and in their exclusivity and snobbishness and eagerness to please their teacher, they are moved to try to enact Dionysian frenzies in the woods. During the only one that actually comes off, a local farmer happens upon them—and they kill him. But the death isn't ruled a murder—and might never have been if one of the gang—a cadging sybarite named Bunny Corcoran—hadn't shown signs of cracking under the secret's weight. And so he too is dispatched. The narrator, a blank-slate Californian named Richard Pepen chronicles the coverup. But if you're thinking remorse-drama, conscience masque, or even semi-trashy who'll-break-first? page-turner, forget it: This is a straight gee-whiz, first-to-have-ever-noticed college novel—"Hampden College, as a body, was always strangely prone to hysteria. Whether from isolation, malice, or simple boredom, people there were far more credulous and excitable than educated people are generally thought to be, and this hermetic, overheated atmosphere made it a thriving black petri dish of melodrama and distortion." First-novelist Tartt goes muzzy when she has to describe human confrontations (the murder, or sex, or even the ping-ponging of fear), and is much more comfortable in transcribing aimless dorm-room paranoia or the TV shows that the malefactors anesthetize themselves with as fate ticks down. By telegraphing the murders, Tartt wants us to be continually horrified at these kids—while inviting us to semi-enjoy their manneristic fetishes and refined tastes. This ersatz-Fitzgerald mix of moralizing and mirror-looking (Jay McInerney shook and poured the shaker first) is very 80's—and in Tartt's strenuous version already seems dated, formulaic. Les Nerds du Mal—and about as deep (if not nearly as involving) as a TV movie.

Pub Date: Sept. 16, 1992

ISBN: 1400031702

Page Count: 592

Publisher: Knopf

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 1992

More by Donna Tartt

by Donna Tartt

THINGS FALL APART

by Chinua Achebe ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 23, 1958

This book sings with the terrible silence of dead civilizations in which once there was valor.

Written with quiet dignity that builds to a climax of tragic force, this book about the dissolution of an African tribe, its traditions, and values, represents a welcome departure from the familiar "Me, white brother" genre.

Written by a Nigerian African trained in missionary schools, this novel tells quietly the story of a brave man, Okonkwo, whose life has absolute validity in terms of his culture, and who exercises his prerogative as a warrior, father, and husband with unflinching single mindedness. But into the complex Nigerian village filters the teachings of strangers, teachings so alien to the tribe, that resistance is impossible. One must distinguish a force to be able to oppose it, and to most, the talk of Christian salvation is no more than the babbling of incoherent children. Still, with his guns and persistence, the white man, amoeba-like, gradually absorbs the native culture and in despair, Okonkwo, unable to withstand the corrosion of what he, alone, understands to be the life force of his people, hangs himself. In the formlessness of the dying culture, it is the missionary who takes note of the event, reminding himself to give Okonkwo's gesture a line or two in his work, The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of the Lower Niger .

Pub Date: Jan. 23, 1958

ISBN: 0385474547

Page Count: 207

Publisher: McDowell, Obolensky

Review Posted Online: April 23, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1958

More by Chinua Achebe

by Chinua Achebe

THE EDUCATION OF A BRITISH-PROTECTED CHILD

Discover Books Fiction Thriller & Suspense Mystery & Detective Romance Science Fiction & Fantasy Nonfiction Biography & Memoir Teens & Young Adult Children's
News & Features Bestsellers Book Lists Profiles Perspectives Awards Seen & Heard Book to Screen Kirkus TV videos In the News
Kirkus Prize Winners & Finalists About the Kirkus Prize Kirkus Prize Judges
Magazine Current Issue All Issues Manage My Subscription Subscribe
Writers’ Center Hire a Professional Book Editor Get Your Book Reviewed Advertise Your Book Launch a Pro Connect Author Page Learn About The Book Industry
More Kirkus Diversity Collections Kirkus Pro Connect My Account/Login
About Kirkus History Our Team Contest FAQ Press Center Info For Publishers
Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Reprints, Permission & Excerpting Policy

Popular in this Genre

Hey there, book lover.

We’re glad you found a book that interests you!

Please select an existing bookshelf

Create a new bookshelf.

We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!

Please sign up to continue.

It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!

Already have an account? Log in.

Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.

Almost there!

Industry Professional

Welcome Back!

Sign in using your Kirkus account

Don’t fret. We’ll find you.

Magazine Subscribers ( How to Find Your Reader Number )

If You’ve Purchased Author Services

Don’t have an account yet? Sign Up.

Where the Crawdads Sing

The cicadas buzz and the moss drips and the sunset casts a golden shimmer on the water every single evening. But while “Where the Crawdads Sing” is rich in atmosphere, it’s sorely lacking in actual substance or suspense.

Maybe it was an impossible task, taking the best-selling source material and turning it into a cinematic experience that would please both devotees and newbies alike. Delia Owens ’ novel became a phenomenon in part as a Reese Witherspoon book club selection; Witherspoon is a producer on “Where the Crawdads Sing,” and Taylor Swift wrote and performs the theme song, adding to the expectation surrounding the film’s arrival.

But the result of its pulpy premise is a movie that’s surprisingly inert. Director Olivia Newman , working from a script by Lucy Alibar , jumps back and forth without much momentum between a young woman’s murder trial and the recollections of her rough-and-tumble childhood in 1950s and ‘60s North Carolina. (Alibar also wrote “ Beasts of the Southern Wild ,” which “Where the Crawdads Sing” resembles somewhat as a story of a resourceful little girl’s survival within a squalid, swampy setting.)

It is so loaded with plot that it ends up feeling superficial, rendering major revelations as rushed afterthoughts. For a film about a brave woman who’s grown up in the wild, living by her own rules, “Where the Crawdads Sing” is unusually tepid and restrained. And aside from Daisy Edgar-Jones ’ multi-layered performance as its central figure, the characters never evolve beyond a basic trait or two.

We begin in October 1969 in the marshes of fictional Barkley Cove, North Carolina, where a couple of boys stumble upon a dead body lying in the muck. It turns out to be Chase Andrews, a popular big fish in this insular small pond. And Edgar-Jones’ Kya, with whom he’d once had an unlikely romantic entanglement, becomes the prime suspect. She’s an easy target, having long been ostracized and vilified as The Marsh Girl—or when townsfolk are feeling particularly derisive toward her, That Marsh Girl. Flashbacks reveal the abuse she and her family suffered at the hands of her volatile, alcoholic father ( Garret Dillahunt , harrowing in just a few scenes), and the subsequent abandonment she endured as everyone left her, one by one, to fend for herself—starting with her mother. These vivid, early sections are the most emotionally powerful, with Jojo Regina giving an impressive, demanding performance in her first major film role as eight-year-old Kya.

As she grows into her teens and early 20s and Edgar-Jones takes over, two very different young men shape her formative years. There’s the too-good-to-be-true Tate (Taylor John Smith ), a childhood friend who teaches her to read and write and becomes her first love. (“There was something about that boy that eased the tautness in my chest,” Kya narrates, one of many clunky examples of transferring Owens’ words from page to screen.) And later, there’s the arrogant and bullying Chase ( Harris Dickinson ), who’s obviously bad news from the start, something the reclusive Kya is unable to recognize.

But what she lacks in emotional maturity, she makes up for in curiosity about the natural world around her, and she becomes a gifted artist and autodidact. Edgar-Jones embodies Kya’s raw impulses while also subtly registering her apprehension and mistrust. Pretty much everyone lets her down and underestimates her, except for the kindly Black couple who run the local convenience store and serve as makeshift parents (Sterling Macer Jr. and Michael Hyatt , bringing much-needed warmth, even though there’s not much to their characters). David Strathairn gets the least to work with in one of the film’s most crucial roles as Kya’s attorney: a sympathetic, Atticus Finch type who comes out of retirement to represent her.

This becomes especially obvious in the film’s courtroom scenes, which are universally perfunctory and offer only the blandest cliches and expected dramatic beats. Every time “Where the Crawdads Sing” cuts back to Kya’s murder trial—which happens seemingly out of nowhere, with no discernible rhythm or reason—the pacing drags and you’ll wish you were back in the sun-dappled marshes, investigating its many creatures. ( Polly Morgan provides the pleasing cinematography.)

What actually ends up happening here, though, is such a terrible twist—and it all plays out in such dizzyingly speedy fashion—that it’s unintentionally laughable. You get the sensation that everyone involved felt the need to cram it all in, yet still maintain a manageable running time. If you’ve read the book, you know what happened to Chase Andrews; if you haven’t, I wouldn’t dream of spoiling it here. But I will say I had a variety of far more intriguing conclusions swirling around in my head in the car ride home, and you probably will, too.

Now playing in theaters.

Christy Lemire

Christy Lemire is a longtime film critic who has written for RogerEbert.com since 2013. Before that, she was the film critic for The Associated Press for nearly 15 years and co-hosted the public television series “Ebert Presents At the Movies” opposite Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, with Roger Ebert serving as managing editor. Read her answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here .

Daisy Edgar-Jones as Catherine 'Kya' Clark
Taylor John Smith as Tate Walker
Harris Dickinson as Chase Andrews
Michael Hyatt as Mabel
Sterling MacEr Jr. as Jumpin'
David Strathairn as Tom Milton
Garret Dillahunt as Pa
Eric Ladin as Eric Chastain
Ahna O’Reilly as Ma
Jojo Regina as Young Kya
Alan Edward Bell

Writer (based upon the novel by)

Delia Owens
Lucy Alibar
Mychael Danna
Olivia Newman

Cinematographer

Polly Morgan

Now playing.

Megalopolis

The Last of the Sea Women

The Wild Robot

We Live in Time

Look Into My Eyes

The Front Room

Matt and Mara

The Thicket

The Mother of All Lies

TIFF 2024: Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Elton John: It’s Not Too Late, Paul Anka: His Way

TIFF 2024: Unstoppable, Triumph, April

TIFF 2024: Table of Contents

TIFF 2024: Paying For It, Viktor, Mr. K

The best movie reviews, in your inbox.

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

Upcoming Movies and TV shows
Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

About Rotten Tomatoes®
Login/signup

Movies in theaters

Opening This Week
Top Box Office
Coming Soon to Theaters
Certified Fresh Movies

Movies at Home

Fandango at Home
Prime Video
Most Popular Streaming Movies
What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

78% Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Link to Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
95% Rebel Ridge Link to Rebel Ridge
96% Red Rooms Link to Red Rooms

New TV Tonight

83% How to Die Alone: Season 1
59% Emily in Paris: Season 4
20% Three Women: Season 1
-- Universal Basic Guys: Season 1
-- My Brilliant Friend: Story of the Lost Child: Season 4
-- The Old Man: Season 2
-- Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy: Season 1
-- The Circle: Season 7
-- Jack Whitehall: Fatherhood with My Father: Season 1
-- In Vogue: The 90s: Season 1

Where the Crawdads Sing

Where to watch.

Watch Where the Crawdads Sing with a subscription on Hulu, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

What to Know

Daisy Edgar-Jones gives it her all, but Where the Crawdads Sing is ultimately unable to distill its source material into a tonally coherent drama.

A particular treat for viewers who love the book, Where the Crawdads Sing offers a faithfully told, well-acted story in a rich, beautifully filmed setting.

Critics Reviews

Audience reviews, cast & crew.

Olivia Newman

Daisy Edgar-Jones

Taylor John Smith

Tate Walker

Harris Dickinson

Chase Andrews

Garret Dillahunt

Michael Hyatt

Movie Clips

Where the Crawdads Sing

By delia owens.

Book review, full book summary and synopsis for Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, a coming-of-age crime drama about a girl growing up alone in the marshes of North Carolina.

In Where the Crawdads Sing , Kya is known in her town as the "Marsh Girl." She grows up in a shack out in the marshes bordering a small village on the coast of North Carolina. Her mother and her four older siblings all leave to get away from their abusive father, leaving her behind to fend for herself. Eventually, her father disappears as well.

Where the Crawdads Sing is part bildungsroman and part crime drama, centered around Kya, a wild and unkempt girl. The book follows the ups and downs of her life. She lives a lonely life, but her story is a hopeful one as well. With a little help, she's able to survive and even learn to read.

Despite her status as an outcast, her natural beauty catches the eye of two men in town. However, when the body of Chase Andrews, the local hotshot, is discovered in the marshes, she quickly becomes a prime suspect. The fragile life she has struggled and fought so hard to build is at risk.

(The Full Plot Summary is also available, below)

Full Plot Summary

The Prologue opens with the discovery of the body of Chase Andrews in a swamp in 1969.

In Part I , Kya Clark grows up with her abusive father in a shack in the swampy outskirts of town in the 1950's (her mother and siblings all leave due because of Pa's abuse). Kya meets Tate, a boy from town that befriends her. When Kya is 10, Pa disappears (a couple nearby, Jumpin' and Mabel, help Kya to survive). As she grows up, Kya develops a keen knowledge of the outdoors. Kya and Tate reconnect, he teaches her to read, and it grows into a romance. When Tate leaves for college, he promises to come back, but later Tate worries that Kya (wild and unkempt) can't fit into his world. He doesn't return, and Kya gives up on him.

(Flash forward) Many years later, the body of Chase Andrews, the town hotshot and ladies' man, is found in the swamp at the bottom of the fire tower. An investigation starts up.

In Part II , Kya is now 19. Chase Andrews has been pursuing Kya aggressively, and she finally gives in to his advances. One day, Chase takes her to the fire tower, and she gives him a shell necklace as a gift. He promises to marry her, but Kya soon discovers that Chase is actually engaged to someone else. She dumps him. Meanwhile, Tate comes back and apologizes for what happened. He also wants to help Kya turn her nature diagrams into a book. Eventually, Kya's book is published in 1968.

In 1969, Kya is identified as a suspect in the Chase Andrews murder. Notably, Chase's shell necklace that he always wore was not found on his body. Eventually, Kya is arrested for Chase's death. The trial proceeds (reviewing evidence such as the missing necklace, fibers found on Chase's body, Kya's whereabouts, plus Chase had attacked Kya after being rebuffed two months before his death). But Kya is found not guilty, and she and Tate profess their love for each other.

Time passes, and Kya and Tate turn her shack into a nice cottage and remain there. Kya passes away at 64. Tate goes through her things and discovers evidence (in the form of a poem Kya wrote under a pseudonym and notably Chase's shell necklace) that Kya killed Chase. The book ends with Tate destroying the poems and tossing the necklace into the ocean.

For more detail, see the full Section-by-Section Summary .

If this summary was useful to you, please consider supporting this site by leaving a tip ( $2 , $3 , or $5 ) or joining the Patreon !

Book Review

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens opens with a picture of a map and the discovery of a dead body in the marshes of North Carolina.

I was intrigued immediately when I saw it in the bookstore, though I put off reading it for a while. Ultimately, though, my curiosity won out as it hung in the bestseller lists, and I’m very glad it did.

where the crawdads sing reeses book club

Where the Crawdads Sing is about resiliency and survival, but also alienation. I loved the part about Kya’s childhood; it made for a unique story line as Kya learns to navigate the world on her own. The story focuses thematically a lot on her status as an outcast and sense of abandonment, as she is forced to fend for herself. In terms of pacing, it is eventful and mostly fast-moving.

Kya’s story has elements of romance, mystery and even a courtroom thriller interlude. Nature enthusiasts will also enjoy this book, as Kya’s love of the nature around her is conveyed through detailed descriptions of the flora and fauna, a reflection of the author’s background as a former wildlife scientist.

The compelling imagery is descriptive in the right places and sparse when it serves the story better instead. The book has a strong sense of place, transporting you to a different life where you can smell the salty air and sink your feet into the muddy grounds outside the seaside village.

Meanwhile, the discovery of a dead body leads to the Chase Andrews investigation that provides the suspense in the story. Kya’s story is also interspersed with flash-forwards detailing the progress of the investigation. I found this worked well, adding an element of mystery, since it’s not clear how it will play out for Kya or what exactly happened that night. There’s compelling evidence on both sides and the pacing of the investigation is spot-on, making for pleasurable and suspenseful reading.

Some Criticisms

As she heads into her teenage years, the romantic storylines start kicking in, and the melodrama starts ramping up as well. My enthusiasm waned a little bit at this point. The book is increasingly divorced from reality (the idea that a teenage boy would teach her not only to read but about her period seemed far-fetched, and it goes on from there) and plot events get a bit contrived.

Additionally, Kya’s internal journey, her mentally processing the events of her life, felt a little surface level. She struggles with being abandoned by her mother, and the book brings in interesting parallels to nature, but beyond that, events simply happen without much reflection. It felt like there were a number of missed opportunity for it to be a more insightful book.

But, for whatever criticisms I had while reading, the story easily won me over. As it approaches the date of the crime and the investigation ramps up, I was totally engrossed.

Read it or Skip It?

I read this book quickly and found myself delighted by it by the end. The book is more melodrama than a serious literary novel, but is such an engaging story that it’s easy to accept. It’s part romance, mystery, courtroom drama and ode to nature, all of which make for an appealing tale about the town outcast.

The setting is a distinctive “slice-of-life” that’s commonplace, yet not often portrayed clearly in books or movies. It is vividly drawn in a way that infuses the story with energy, a credit to Owen’s genuine love and respect for nature.

Where the Crawdads Sing has been very popular among book clubs, and deservedly so. It’s eventful and accessible, but thoughtfully written, all of which make it a good choice for readers of varying tastes. See it on Amazon or Book Depository .

Where the Crawdads Sing, Explained!

See Questions and Explanations for Where the Crawdads Sing .

Book Excerpt

Read the first pages of Where the Crawdads Sing

Movie / TV Show Adaptation

See Everything We Know About the 'Where the Crawdads Sing' Adaptation

Share this post

Bookshelf -- A literary set collection game

Middle of the Night

The Housemaid is Watching

She’s Not Sorry

The Seven Year Slip

Darling Girls

It Finally Happened + Summer Romances

Best Literary Fiction of 2024 (New & Anticipated)

The Housemaid Book Series Recap

2024’s Best Book Club Books (New & Anticipated)

Bookshelf: Development Diary

65 comments

Share your thoughts cancel reply.

well crafted review

Fantastic review! I’ve been wondering about this one and I think I’ll check it out :)

Thank you! Glad to hear it, and I hope you like it if you end up getting a chance to read it! :)

This sounds like a book I might enjoy, tossing another one on the TBR!

That’s awesome to hear, thanks for letting me know and thanks for reading!

What a beautifully written, helpfully compartmentalised review! Feeling very inspired. Sounds like an engaging read too x

Thank you so much and thanks for reading!

Wonderful, thorough review. You don’t see a lot of coming-of-age murder mysteries. I’m putting this on my TBR list. Thanks for the post.

Hey Rosi! Yes, I liked that it felt like a unique book and story, both in terms of the setting and the plot. Definitely not cookie cutter. Hope you love it if you get a chance to read it — it goes by quickly! Nice to hear from you as always, and cheers! :)

Jennifer, you are one of the best writers I have seen. I read your reviews because I love the way you talk about books. Your honesty is much appreciated and gives me insight into titles I may otherwise never pick up.

Hey Jen, that’s such a kind thing for you to say. I really appreciate your feedback and that you take the time to read my reviews! My goal in writing this blog has always been to help books find the right readers, so thank you for saying that. I genuinely value your encouragement, thanks again! :)

Nicely done review.

Hi Martie! Thank you very much and nice to hear from you again! :)

Melodrama irritates me, but the synopsis sounds so good that I need to read it. This book is high on my priority list. I’m happy it’s good. Great review!

Honestly, it bothered me a little at first, but I think there’s a lot of wonderful but unrealistic stories out there. If it didn’t all add up to something solid and interesting it would have bothered me more, but I think it came together in a way that made me feel like it was worth overlooking. Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did if you get a chance to read it! :)

You’ve motivated me to put this book on my TBR!

Thank you for reading and visiting! Hope you enjoy it if you get a chance to read it!

I’ve been interested in this one but a bit wary since I really didn’t like the other Reese’s Book Club pick I’ve read. Glad you enjoyed it. Your review definitely makes it likely I’ll give it a go after all.

Hey, that’s great to hear — yeah I mean I guess she picks out one new-ish book a month which is actually kind of a lot so I suppose they can’t all be winners. I think this one is definitely one of her better recs though, hope you like it!

Beautiful review of a beautiful book! I enjoyed this, too. It took some patience with all that description, but in the end, it worked to create that sense of place you described.

Thank you for reading! I usually don’t have a ton of patience for unnecessary description (I’m always a little wary of books that are described by reviewers as “lyrical” since sometimes that translates into lots of lengthy descriptive passages) but I thought Owens did a good job of balancing out creating atmosphere and moving the plot forward — thanks for dropping by! :)

Sounds like an interesting book – even with the negative parts.

I really enjoyed it, thanks for reading! :)

wow, you give thorough reviews…

haha what can I say, I love talking about books! :)

too bad, my genre doesn’t fit… have a wonderful weekend

Good to know that this is more melodrama than a serious literary novel. I do like the sound of this slice of life book. Great review!

Thank you and thanks for reading! :)

Thanks for the balanced review! Will consider picking this up.

Glad to hear that, and thanks for reading!

I thought the book was wonderful. I loved all of it. It had a perfect ending.

glad to hear it — yeah I was really impressed by the ending as well! thanks for dropping by!

I will definitely have to pick this one up. You make it sound compelling. Thanks for the post.

Very interesting review. I’ve been split on a lot of her book club picks but I have noticed that almost all of them she has the movie rights for which makes me a little cynical about her choices in some cases :)

yeah, I can understand that. On one hand, I’m glad that the adaptations are giving authors a way to make some big dollars. On the other hand, it is kind of annoying when I read books that seem to be written in a way that feels like the’re prepackaged for hollywood though. So I have mixed feelings.

Fabulous review

Please read my first post

I subscribed to your blog just now because you had such a thorough review of this book. I am about halfway through the book at this point, and while I have enjoyed it, I have found, as you, there were missed opportunities for more development in some areas, and some events which seemed unreasonable. Overall, I am enjoying the book. Great job! I look forward to reading more of your reviews!

Hi Sandra, thank you so much for the thoughtful comment! Much appreciated. Thanks for reading! Even with those criticisms, I’m glad I read it. I hope you enjoy the rest of it as well!

I’ve read 33 novels so far in 2019 and this is my favorite. Loved it!

NIcely written review.

Terrific. Will help at my book club. Ty.

Thanks for the review. I am yet to read this one!

Thanks so much. I appreciate you time to share.

The focus on nature was refreshing in contrast to the sadness of Kya literally raising herself. Changing back and forth with the time frame was a bit distracting as was the poetry inserted here and there ( not especially good poetry) but as you near the end that is explained. I was more impressed with how Kya, in school just a day, could educate herself enough to write books about the plants and critters living in the marsh and become a well respected author. Then the trial about who killed the jerk Chase Andrews with a surprising end when she is found not guilty. Kya goes on to live a happy life with her original friend and first love Tate, but in the end he discovers she really did kill Chase. There were some positive things in her life but such a disfunctional family and so much hatred from most of the townspeople offset the real beauty of the marsh .

Consider listening to it. The reader’s soft. N. Carolina accent lends an authenticity to the flora and fauna descriptions.

This is the most balanced review I’ve read yet of this book. It sounds like it goes a bit off the rails but is overall worth the read. Thanks for the post!

Not great literature at all. Just a story. Delia needs to read more of the best HEMINGWAY, STEINBECK, CATHER and the other great authors to learn symbolism, conflict and the art of not telling but showing.

My feelings about the character Kya are that she really could be cast as a Native American. She has the instincts and abilities of a Native American woman. Reese Witherspoon and Delia Owens, maybe you can consider this as a facet of the character.

I am looking for some good solid books for my avid pre teen reader. Do think the scope of details would be ok for someone that young?

Hmmm, I think it’s a little iffy. There’s definitely talk about sex, sexual desires and at one point one of the characters gets kind of aggressive about it.

Great start but then descended into a melodrama with an eye on the prize of a television or film adaptation. It was so obvious and disappointing. Unconvincing after the very promising first chapters onwards. The premise was unlikely and my interest waned when the story turned into a murder mystery. It was obvious that Kya killed Chase. Who else would bother?

Thank you for an excellent review. Loved the book but also felt it dragged at points. The Ode to Nature and the child that nature nourished when people failed was spell-binding.

I think it was proven that there was no time for Kya to kill Chase

Did Kaya have her own children with Tate or were they just a flashback of her childhood

I hope the movie stands up. I remember waiting with great anticipation for “the Prince of tides” movie to come out and feared it would digress from the book. I was delighted to be wrong.

I loved this book but have struggled to understand the absence of Chase’s wife in the courtroom. Why isn’t she there to support justice for her husband, staring down Kya and acting bereaved?And why did she allow her husband to wear a necklace every day of his life, fashioned for him by another woman? Why wasn’t she a suspect in her husband’s murder, given that jealousy and vengeance could have been her motive? She had as much reason as Kya to hate Chase and to remove the all-significant necklace. Anyone else agree?

I believe author wants reader to know who killed chase from early on. The phrase where the crawdads sings , essentially speaks to how nature will always try to ensure continuation of species. She was raised by nature.the references to female fire flies and praying mantis who kill males to continue survival of future generations. The mother fox who is injured who leaves her kits to die,so she can come day have future litters. Biggest disappointment in story line was that ” Tate” was not aware kya killed chase. She only received red hat after he attempted to rape her. It could only have been Tate or kya.

I found the book to be a quick read, and suspenseful until the last page. The characters were realistic and each one was well developed.

Thank you so much for your thoughtful review!!! this helps me to determine whether or not to read the book :) the movie was fantastic!

Member Login
Library Patron Login
Get a Free Issue of our Ezine! Claim

Summary and Reviews of Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Where the Crawdads Sing

BookBrowse Review:
Critics' Consensus:
Readers' Rating:
First Published:
Aug 14, 2018, 384 pages
Mar 2021, 400 pages

Literary Fiction
Romance/Love Stories
N & S Carolina
1960s & '70s
Adult-YA Crossover Fiction
Nature & Environment
Top 20 Best Books of 2018
Publication Information
Write a Review
Buy This Book

About This Book

Book Club Questions

Book Summary

Winner of the 2018 BookBrowse Debut Author Award How long can you protect your heart?

For years, rumors of the "Marsh Girl" have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life - until the unthinkable happens. Perfect for fans of Barbara Kingsolver and Karen Russell, Where the Crawdads Sing is at once an exquisite ode to the natural world, a heartbreaking coming-of-age story, and a surprising tale of possible murder. Owens reminds us that we are forever shaped by the children we once were, and that we are all subject to the beautiful and violent secrets that nature keeps.

The morning burned so August-hot, the marsh's moist breath hung the oaks and pines with fog. The palmetto patches stood unusually quiet except for the low, slow flap of the heron's wings lifting from the lagoon. And then, Kya, only six at the time, heard the screen door slap. Standing on the stool, she stopped scrubbing grits from the pot and lowered it into the basin of worn-out suds. No sounds now but her own breathing. Who had left the shack? Not Ma. She never let the door slam. But when Kya ran to the porch, she saw her mother in a long brown skirt, kick pleats nipping at her ankles, as she walked down the sandy lane in high heels. The stubby-nosed shoes were fake alligator skin. Her only going-out pair. Kya wanted to holler out but knew not to rouse Pa, so opened the door and stood on the brick-'n'-board steps. From there she saw the blue train case Ma carried. Usually, with the confidence of a pup, Kya knew her mother would return with meat wrapped in greasy brown paper ...

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

The North Carolina marsh where Kya lives has long been a sanctuary for outsiders. How does this setting shape the novel? How does growing up in this isolation affect Kya? In what ways does her status as an “outsider” change how others see her?
Why does Kya choose not to go back to school? Do you think she makes the wrong decision? How does Kya’s lack of formal education shape her vision of the world? Would her character be different if she had gone to school?
After Jodie and Pa leave Kya alone, she becomes close to Jumpin’ and Mabel. Why are these two adults drawn to Kya? What do they teach her about the world? Do you agree with Jumpin’s decision to protect Kya from social services (p. 110) and to encourage...
"Beyond the Book" articles
Free books to read and review (US only)
Find books by time period, setting & theme
Read-alike suggestions by book and author
Book club discussions
and much more!
Just $45 for 12 months or $15 for 3 months.
More about membership!

BookBrowse Awards 2018

Media Reviews

Reader reviews, bookbrowse review.

Although the novel focuses on the years between 1965 and 1970, it encompasses the whole span of Kya’s life. At times I found it hard to believe that the plucky urchin living off of grits and evading truant officers is the same character as the willowy nature writer wondering who will love her and never leave. Also, the chronology becomes slightly difficult to follow as it approaches 1969...The use of animal behavior metaphors works very well, though. Kya understands her fellow humans by analogy, asking why a mother animal might leave her cubs or why males compete for female attention. The title refers to places where wild creatures do what comes naturally, and throughout the book we are invited to ponder how instinct and altruism interact and what impact human actions can have in the grand scheme of things... In Kya, Owens has created a truly outstanding character. The extremity of her loneliness makes her a sympathetic figure in spite of her oddities. If you like the idea of a literary novel flavored with elements of mystery and romance, and of a poetic writing style tempered with folksy Southern dialect, Crawdads is a real treat... continued

Full Review (775 words) This review is available to non-members for a limited time. For full access, become a member today .

(Reviewed by Rebecca Foster ).

Write your own review!

Beyond the Book

Nature writers who also write fiction.

This "beyond the book" feature is available to non-members for a limited time. Join today for full access.

Read-Alikes

Genres & Themes

If you liked Where the Crawdads Sing, try these:

by Margaret Verble

Published 2024

About this book

More by this author

A gripping, gut-punch of a novel about a Cherokee child removed from her family and sent to a Christian boarding school in the 1950s—an ambitious, eye-opening reckoning of history and small-town prejudices from Pulitzer Prize finalist Margaret Verble.

Carolina Moonset

by Matt Goldman

Published 2022

Both suspenseful and deeply moving, Carolina Moonset is an engrossing novel about family, memories both golden and terrible, and secrets too dangerous to stay hidden forever, from New York Times bestselling and Emmy Award–winning author, Matt Goldman.

Books with similar themes

BookBrowse Book Club

Members Recommend

We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida

Discover the bestselling Japanese novel celebrating the healing power of cats.

Solve this clue:

K U with T J

and be entered to win..

Book Club Giveaway!

Before the Mango Ripens by Afabwaje Kurian

Both epic and intimate, this debut announces a brilliant new talent for readers of Imbolo Mbue and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Free Weekly Newsletters

Discover what's happening in the world of books: reviews, previews, interviews, giveaways, and more plus when you subscribe, we'll send you a free issue of our member's only ezine..

Spam Free : Your email is never shared with anyone; opt out any time.

Review: Where the Crawdads Sing

Well, it finally happened: After months of waiting on the library list for Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, my number came up. Yep, this best-selling hyped up literary fiction read was finally in my hands. Huzzah! Here’s what I thought about it.

The Plot Summary

For those who don’t know what this one’s about, I’ll give you a brief overview (without giving anything away). The basic premise is that a young girl (Kya) living in the marshlands of the North Carolina coast is left by her family to fend for herself. Her youngest years were spent with an abusive father, which is what causes her family members (starting with her mother) to leave. Eventually, it’s just her and her father left. He spends a little time trying to better himself and be a father to her, but slides back to the drink and then leaves too. Kya grows up fending for herself in her shack, uneducated and mostly alone.

More about the book :

For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life–until the unthinkable happens.

My Thoughts

This book starts off super slow. To be honest, for about the first third-to-half of the book, I didn’t understand what people were talking about when they went on about how good it was. Sure, there are some beautiful passages about nature and life among it, but the plot is pretty slow. It’s a long book, too, so you look at how far you are and think “hm, is this going to pick up at some point?”.

Of course, I do enjoy character-driven novels (such as A Tree Grows in Brooklyn ), but for some reason that first bit of this book was soo slow. I think maybe it was the anticipation of the whatever it was that was going to happen to make the book best-seller worthy!

Anyway, when the plot finally did pick up, I didn’t want to put the book down. The whodunnit part of the plot starts to get pretty intense, leading to a whole bunch of happenings that kept me super engaged. Combine all of that with the truly gorgeous passages about nature, human nature, growing up, and loneliness, and this book really sucked me in.

Here’s one particular passage I highlighted:

Kya stood and walked into the night, into the creamy light of a three-quarter moon. The marsh’s soft air fell silklike around her shoulders. The moonlight chose an unexpected path through the pines, laying shadows about in rhymes. She strolled like a sleepwalker as the moon pulled herself naked from the waters and climbed limb by limb through the oaks. The slick mud of the lagoon shore glowed in the intense light, and hundreds of fireflies dotted the woods. Wearing a secondhand white dress with a flowing skirt and waving her arms slowly about, Kya waltzed to the music of katydids and leopard frogs.

Does Where the Crawdads Sing live up to the hype?

For me, yes, it did. Although it was dragging for me at first, the way the plot picks up and climaxes and the way the book ends pulled me in so hard, I fell in love with it. Looking back at the book as a whole, I think it’s okay that it starts off so slow. There’s so much character development there, so much backstory, so many necessary words.

If you’re a literary fiction lover, I think you’ll eat this one up. If you’re reading it for the whodunnit, you might be disappointed. For me, 5 stars, would recommend!

Perfect for fans of Barbara Kingsolver and Karen Russell, Where the Crawdads Sing is at once an exquisite ode to the natural world, a heartbreaking coming-of-age story, and a surprising tale of possible murder. Owens reminds us that we are forever shaped by the children we once were, and that we are all subject to the beautiful and violent secrets that nature keeps.

Review: going to maine by sally chaffin brooks, review: the sky is everywhere by jandy nelson, review: the favor by adele griffin, review: the fallen fruit by shawntelle madison, review: when women were dragons by kelly barnhill, review: playing for freedom by zarifa adiba, review: translation state by anne leckie, review: bodies to die for by lori brand, review: the waves take you home by maría....

[…] Literary Quicksand […]

Where The Crawdads Sing Reviews Are In, See What Critics Are Saying About The Adaptation Of The Bestselling Book

Daisy Edgar-Jones stars in the book-to-film adaptation.

Delia Owens took the literary world by storm with her 2018 novel Where the Crawdads Sing , and it was little surprise when the film got picked up to be adapted as a movie . Reese Witherspoon is a producer on the upcoming mystery drama after selecting the book for her Hello Sunshine Book Club, and now audiences are about to see the struggles of Marsh Girl Kya play out on the big screen. Where the Crawdads Sing has screened for critics ahead of its July 22 release, and the reviews are in.

Daisy Edgar-Jones stars as Kya Clark, a girl who is forced to grow up early and learn to survive on her own in the North Carolina marsh after being abandoned by her parents and siblings. Kya finds herself a suspect in a murder when her ex-boyfriend Chace Andrews (Harris Dickinson) turns up dead.

So how did critics feel about director Olivia Newman’s vision of Delia Owens’ best-selling book ? Let’s turn to the reviews, starting with CinemaBlend’s review of Where the Crawdads Sing . Our own Sarah El-Mahmoud rates the film 3 stars out 5, saying the film loses some of the spirit of the beloved book, as Olivia Newman seems to avoid the story’s grittiness in a somewhat glossy adaptation. She argues:

Just because a story is popular and is given a sizable budget to be adapted to the big screen, why should the spirit of the character be made nice and marketable, when the very core of her being is someone who is rough around the edges and cast out by the mainstream?

Hoai-Tran Bui of SlashFilm was similarly underwhelmed with the film, rating it 6 out of 10. This review says the murder mystery is turned into a glossy romance, resulting in a “soapy snooze”:

Despite the sordid stories surrounding its author and despite the sensationalist murder trial which makes up the bulk of its narrative, Where the Crawdads Sing is pretty banal. Its attempts at social commentary comes up short, while its heartstring-tugging is half-assed. The bildungsroman beats are promising before it gives way to the soapy love triangle that feels like a Nicholas Sparks reject. The saving graces are Edgar-Jones and David Straithairn, the latter of whom gives a warm, folksy performance as Kya's lawyer and lone sympathetic ear during the trial that seems like it's all but convicted her for murder based on evidence that is clearly circumstantial.

Lovia Gyarkye of The Hollywood Reporter calls the adaptation a “muddled moral fantasy” whose narrative relies heavily on racial and gender stereotypes. This review says while the Black characters are underdeveloped (a fault of the book as well, the critic argues), Kya is painted as so beautiful and delicate that she comes off as more “manic pixie dream girl than misanthropic protagonist”:

Where the Crawdads Sing is the kind of tedious moral fantasy that fuels America’s misguided idealism. It’s an attempt at a complex tale about rejection, difference and survival. But the film, like the novel it’s based on, skirts the issues — of race, gender and class — that would texture its narrative and strengthen its broad thesis, resulting in a story that says more about how whiteness operates in a society allergic to interdependence than it does about how communities fail young people.

David Ehrlich of IndieWire grades the movie a C+, saying Olivia Newman made Delia Owens’ literary sensation into a summer popcorn flick, as it never dives deeper than surface level. The film adaptation isn’t worthy of same celebration received by the book, but it finds just enough ways to endure, in large part thanks to its star, the review says:

The film version of Where the Crawdads Sing is a lot more fun as a hothouse page-turner than it is as a soulful tale of feminine self-sufficiency. That it’s able to split the difference between Nicholas Sparks and Nell with any measure of believability is a testament to Daisy Edgar-Jones’ careful performance as Kya Clark.

Owen Gleiberman of Variety , meanwhile, finds Where the Crawdads Sing “compelling,” but says Daisy Edgar-Jones’ Kya is quite “poised” and “refined” for a character who learned to survive on her own and is known as a “wild child.” Overall, Where the Crawdads Sing is as dark as it is romantic, he says:

CINEMABLEND NEWSLETTER

Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News

Where the Crawdads Sing is at once a mystery, a romance, a back-to-nature reverie full of gnarled trees and hanging moss, and a parable of women’s power and independence in a world crushed under by masculine will. ... The ending is a genuine jaw-dropper, and while I wouldn’t go near reveling it, I’ll just say that this is a movie about fighting back against male intransigence that has the courage of its outsider spirit.

If you want to see what all the fuss is about, you’ll be able to check out Where the Crawdads Sing when it hits theaters on Friday, July 22. Until then, be sure to check out our 2022 Movie Release Schedule to see what other films will be gracing a theater near you in the near future.

Heidi Venable is a Content Producer for CinemaBlend, a mom of two and a hard-core '90s kid. She started freelancing for CinemaBlend in 2020 and officially came on board in 2021. Her job entails writing news stories and TV reactions from some of her favorite prime-time shows like Grey's Anatomy and The Bachelor. She graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a degree in Journalism and worked in the newspaper industry for almost two decades in multiple roles including Sports Editor, Page Designer and Online Editor. Unprovoked, will quote Friends in any situation. Thrives on New Orleans Saints football, The West Wing and taco trucks.

DreamWorks Animation's The Wild Robot Is Equal Parts Beautiful, Emotional, And Darkly Hilarious

Speak No Evil’s James McAvoy Explains Why He Didn't Watch Watch The Original Horror Movie

Why Talking About Laci Peterson's Story Right Now Is Still So Incredibly 'Relevant,' Per The Netflix Doc's Creator

Regular Features

Author spotlights, "bookreporter talks to" videos & podcasts, "bookaccino live: a lively talk about books", favorite monthly lists & picks, seasonal features, book festivals, sports features, bookshelves.

Coming Soon

Newsletters

Weekly Update
On Sale This Week

Fall Reading

Summer Reading
Spring Preview
Winter Reading
Holiday Cheer

Word of Mouth

Submitting a book for review, write the editor, you are here:, where the crawdads sing.

Kya is just six years old when her mother leaves, never to return. Her father is a mean drunk and a gambler who regularly beats her mother, and sometimes inflicts similar abuse on her and her four brothers and sisters. Soon after their mother’s abrupt departure, her three older siblings disappear. Then one day, her brother, whom she loves dearly, also decides to leave. So Kya is left alone with her father, who, when he isn’t consuming alcohol, takes her fishing and teaches her how to steer a boat. Yet that soon changes, as he becomes violent and starts drinking again. One day he leaves and doesn’t return.

So, when she is just 10, Kya is left all alone in the marsh. She learns fairly quickly how to take care of herself, but her life is a hard, lonesome and sad one. All this time, Kya longs for human interaction. She is fortunate enough to befriend local gas seller Jumpin’ and his wife, Mabel, along with a boy named Tate, who teaches her to read, write and count. Tate has opened up a whole new world to Kya, and she starts to record the wildlife of the marsh. Nonetheless, for residents of Barkley Cove, a small town on the North Carolina coast, Kya is just a “Marsh Girl.” Thus, when Chase Andrews, a young local, is found dead, Kya is the first and only suspect.

"What Owens has done is pure magic. She has managed to write a story that has resonated with me and that I will remember for a very long time."

WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING has it all --- beautiful characters, a wonderful plot and magnificent descriptions --- and provides in-depth insight into the marsh’s flora and fauna. Author Delia Owens is also masterful at describing life in the small town, whose citizens are highly distrustful of those who live on its outskirts, and provides a fine critique of how easily people jump to conclusions.

Although the novel contains elements that I am not very fond of --- a child who is abandoned and rejected, detailed descriptions of nature, a non-linear narrative (the story goes back and forth between 1952 and 1970, describing Kya’s life from her childhood to her early 20s) --- it made me cry and turned out to be a fantastic read. While wiping away my tears, I was frantically turning pages to find out what would happen next and if Kya would finally get her happy ending.

What Owens has done is pure magic. She has managed to write a story that has resonated with me and that I will remember for a very long time. It is so obvious that she cares deeply for both Kya and nature; the connection between this beautiful girl and the marsh in which she lives is palpable. WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING is absolutely worth reading, and I give it my highest possible recommendation.

Reviewed by Dunja Bonacci Skenderović on August 17, 2018

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Publication Date: March 30, 2021
Genres: Fiction , Women's Fiction
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
ISBN-10: 0735219109
ISBN-13: 9780735219106

Where the Crawdads Sing Book Review

I finally just finished reading Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens . I don’t think I would have read the book, but for the fact that for the past several years, Where the Crawdads Sing has comfortably taken residence near the top of the New York Times Bestseller’s list for fiction in both the hardcover and paperback categories. I finally gave in and had to see for myself what all the fuss was about. I’m sure that curiosity is also part of why the book has dominated the bestseller’s list for so long.

I have to admit that I had a couple of false starts with the book. A while back I tried reading it as part of a book club, but after about a dozen pages, life and work caught up with me and I didn’t finish. About half a year ago, in the midst of the pandemic, I tried reading it again and gave up about 50 pages in. I found the prose as slow as marsh water. The language was occasionally good, but not excellent, and certainly not material for literary classic in the making.

And yet, week after week Where the Crawdads Sing taunted me from its perch atop the New York Times Bestseller’s list and from its dusty place on my bookshelf, and I got more and more curious.

The ending must be good , I kept thinking. It must start slow and then pick up pace . And so, last week, when I sat down to read Where the Crawdads Sing , I set my mind to finishing it. I’ll admit I had to force myself through the first two hundred pages, a slow-paced ramble through the life of a child abandoned in the swamp. But the last hundred or so pages of the book delivered all the promise of a bestseller, and I can see why it has appealed to such a wide audience.

I found myself somewhat heartened by the fact that such a slow-paced book could be so popular. Maybe American readers still have patience for the tale carefully and slowly told. Maybe there is still room in the American psyche for the subtle. The poetic, even.

The Times reports that Where the Crawdads Sing has sold over 4.5 million copies. But why? In a world where sexy romance and Stephen King-style horror dominates the market, what is it about Where the Crawdads Sing that draws such a crowd?

I have several theories why this slow-paced novel succeeded.

First, the last 100 or so pages of the novel deliver a fast-paced courtroom drama climax to the murder mystery that tantalizingly opens the novel. If the novel is a roller coaster, the last 100 pages are its thrilling drop, but I was left feeling uncertain if the drop was worth all that climb.

Where the Crawdads Sing feels almost like two novels, folded into one. There is the slow life of the marsh and Kya, the protagonist abandoned in it, woven together with syntactical acrobatics that only a former naturalist could perform (Delia Owens is a zoologist and conservationist), and then there’s the murder mystery and courtroom thriller that make up only one-third of the novel.

Owens weaves the two together decently well. There’s a fascinating tenebrism between Kya’s slow-paced marsh life and the fast-paced courtroom thriller that closes the novel. I’d be willing to endure Kya’s obsession with insects and marsh plants for 100 pages, while I wait to find out what really happened to the deceased and possibly murdered Chase Andrews, but 200 pages buoyed by a thin and somewhat maudlin love story, felt like a little much. When Kya’s brother returns later in the book and asks her how she made it, Kya herself says, “That’s a long boring story.” I couldn’t help but agree.

Leaf. Watercolor. Janice Greenwood. Original Art.

Still, I can see the last 100 pages of the novel keeping many readers awake late into the night, and sometimes, that’s all you need as a reader to make the book a good recommendation. Like restaurants, books succeed and die based on the recommendations of their guests, and I can see Where the Crawdads Sing getting passed around merely on the strength of its ending.

But that brings me to my second point, and the second reason why I think the novel succeeded. While Owens is hardly a poet, poetry is woven so intimately into this tale, it is ultimately impossible to extricate poetry from the story itself. Again, Owens’s Where the Crawdads Sing is hardly the material of literary legend, but its use of light verse will appeal to a certain audience raised to believe that Rupi Kaur should be our modern poet laureate. For readers whose interaction with poetry likely ends at Mary Oliver, there will be delight in the poetry on offer here. What fascinates me about the inclusion of poetry in this novel is that the novel itself admits to the weakness of its own poetry. About one of the poets featured in the book, the narration notes, “Tate had thought Hamilton’s poems rather weak.”

Yet, it is not the verse itself that holds the narrative together, but the quiet poetic moments that serve as the real structure of the story, its true joints and beams. Owens has her moments.

There’s Owens’s description of the angry ocean, where “Waves slammed one another, awash in their own white saliva, breaking apart on the shore with loud booms.”

The first sentence Kya ever reads is this: “There are some who can live without wild things, and some who cannot.” Tate, Kya’s love interest is a good critic, and he notes, “That’s a very good sentence. Not all words hold that much.”

But again, these lines hardly elevate the book to the realm of the bards.

So what is it, really about Where the Crawdads Sing that drew so many people in?

Where the Crawdads Sing debuted at a time when Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird was seeing renewed attention due to Lee’s publication of Go Set a Watchman . You can’t read Where the Crawdads Sing , with its southern drawl and courtroom drama and not think of To Kill a Mockingbird . In Where the Crawdads Sing , Boo Radley is Kya, and Jumpin’, the Black man who helps her survive, Atticus. For those who wanted Harper Lee’s Go Set a Watchman to offer more of the redemptive air of To Kill a Mockingbird than it had, perhaps Where the Crawdads Sing satisfied that unmet need that Harper Lee could not or would not give.

The book also manages to skirt divisive politics, only lightly addressing issues of racial inequalities and segregation, while depicting a somewhat separate, but peaceful co-existence between the White and Black members of this particular fictional southern town. Racial issues are all but glossed over. For those looking for an escape from racial consciousness, politics, or civilization at large, Where the Crawdads Sing lets readers hide in the woods with Kya for a while. The book is hardly progressive, and violence against women plays a central role in furthering the narrative. Perhaps the most political moment in the whole book was when Owens discusses the fact that the big developers plan to drain the swamp and build hotels, hinting at the reality that Kya’s world won’t last for long. We all emerge from Where the Crawdads Sing and return to the real world, where the destructive phrase “drain the swamp,” triggers something very different, but perhaps something not so different, at all.

About the Writer

Janice Greenwood is a writer, surfer, and poet. She holds an M.F.A. in poetry and creative writing from Columbia University.

Created to Read

The blog of poet & book reviewer – rachel carney.

Book Review: Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Kya soon learns to fend for herself, to hide from strangers, or from the school truant officers. She must learn how to forage for food, how to cook, how to find her way around the marsh, and how to live with her abandonment, always hoping that her mother will return. Eventually, she begins to seek refuge amongst the creatures of the marsh, learning their language and their habits, making a family out of gulls and herons and hawks.

Meanwhile, the novel pulls us into Kya’s future. When a body is found in the marsh, with no witnesses, and no evidence to explain how it got there, the local townspeople seek someone to blame, and Kya’s strange life on the marsh falls under suspicion.

I loved reading Owens’ evocative depictions of the marshland, and the way that Kya begins to learn from the natural world around her.

However, the use of poems in the novel seemed a little odd to me. Kya becomes interested in poetry when she encounters a boy on the marsh who offers friendship, teaching her to read. Then at various points she recites poems out loud in deep frustration, or desire, or heartache. I’m not against characters who recite poetry, being a poet myself, it just felt as though the poems were shoe-horned into the narrative, in a way that didn’t seem natural, more of a plot device than anything else.

Despite this occasional awkwardness, I loved the book, and would definitely recommend it as a gripping, entertaining, and emotive novel that will capture your imagination and open your eyes to the marvels of nature, and the depths of human kindness.

Buy Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

If you enjoyed reading this review, why not subscribe to my blog and get regular features and book reviews sent to your inbox?

Email Address

Subscribe to Blog

God Gathers

An Ode to the Past and the Future

How to Plan a Wedding While in College

On Cultural Idolatry

Writing Contest Winner: Roger’s Dream

What Time is It?

Writing Contest Update

Where the crawdads sing: a spoiler-free book review.

When Where the Crawdads Sing hit theaters this summer, I, like many others, found myself enchanted with this story set in the middle of the marshes of North Carolina. While I enjoyed the movie, I wanted to read the book, since I had heard that it was even better. The book exceeded my expectations, as the movie fantastically spins this tale, but the book portrays the story in even more delightful detail. This book is full of deep emotions, and it can be dark at times, containing descriptions of murder, abuse, and sexual assault, so it is not for everyone. However, if you’re in the mood for an intriguing, touching, bittersweet read, then this is the book for you.

Where the Crawdads Sing is the story of Catherine “Kya” Clark. The book centers on her life and her supposed involvement in the death of Chase Andrews. Abandoned by her entire family, Kya grows up basically alone, known by the local people as “the Marsh Girl.” Only a few people dare to reach out to her, until the body of Chase Andrews is found in the marsh. Suspicion swirls around Kya, resulting in her arrest and trial, leaving the reader to question if Kya is responsible for Chase’s death. The plot shifts from Kya’s past to the present, giving the reader an interesting perspective, as they learn the facts along with the detectives and learn about Kya’s life in flashbacks.

This book is set in the fictional Barkley’s Cove, North Carolina, and much of the action takes place in the marshes. The setting is one of the things that makes this book stand out, as it is the perfect background for this dark, romantic mystery. For anyone who loves the North Carolina coast, the vivid, detailed descriptions of the shore and the nearby town awaken feelings of nostalgia.

The marsh itself could be considered a character, as it shapes Kya’s life; it’s the only constant that Kya has ever known. She learns almost everything she knows from the marsh, and she compares her relationships to the swans and fireflies that live in the marsh. In essence, the marsh becomes Kya’s defining personality trait. Like the marshes, Kya’s life is isolated and unknown, yet lush and full of life.

The setting also shows some of the main themes of the story, particularly isolation and discrimination. Kya spends her life separated from the rest of the world, and the town collectively judges Kya, shutting her out and labeling her as an outsider before she even tries to be accepted. Rather than risk the pain of being ostracized and being alone in a crowded room, Kya chooses to live alone with the marsh as her best friend. This feeling of loneliness is all too familiar for many readers, including myself. The picture of Kya’s isolation is touching, relatable, and beautiful, and it is one of the highlights of the book.

Not only does Where the Crawdads Sing convey the heartbreak of isolation, but it also shows the heartbreak of growing up, falling in love, and being betrayed. We see Kya grow from a scared, resilient child into a brave, resourceful woman, and our hearts break with her as she is broken throughout the years. The mystery of who killed Chase Andrews is compelling, but the true magic of this story lies in the deep themes and bittersweet relatability. Where the Crawdads Sing is more than just a mystery; it’s also a perfect mixture of coming-of age and romance.

Lauren Raab

Returning to the Classics: Anne of Green Gables Review

Surprisingly Sanderson: A Tress of the Emerald Sea Review

“Hebel”: A Dr. Jean Minto Writing Contribution 2023

Where the Crawdads Sing Review (Author Delia Owens)

Before starting this Where the Crawdads Sing review and in all my years of book blogging, I’ve learnt that, on the whole, books are divisive. Much like many things in life – such as, for example, whether north or south of the Thames is the better part of London, or which city – Melbourne or Sydney – is the more liveable one (I’m a south London and Sydney-sider for anyone who’s remotely interested) opinions are, more often than not, split. There will be those that adore a book, those that don’t, and those that fall somewhere in between. This was until I read – and posted about my reading – Delia Owens’ Where the Crawdads Sing, on both my Facebook and Instagram account, to entirely unanimous praise of Owens debut.

And no sooner had I started to read Where the Crawdads Sing than I began to see why it was so consistently adored by all who had already read it.

Where the Crawdads Sing Review

A story of resilience, survival and hope, Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens tells the story of Kya – known locally in the North Carolina town in which she resides as the Marsh Girl – who is abandoned at a young age by her parents, siblings and finally the school system; and left to fend for herself.

As Kya grows and learns more about life through her interactions with the creatures of the Marsh, two young men enter her life. One is her brother’s older friend, Tate, who teaches her to read and shows her acceptance and happiness. But when he, too, leaves the Marsh behind for a learned life at university, she learned not to trust nor depend on anyone but herself, and resigns herself to a life spent along on the marsh, until Chase Andrews comes along.

And so when Chase is later found dead, rumours are rife as to Kya’s possible involvement in his murder. Over the years there’s been much hearsay as to the nature of Kya and Chase’s relationship, and with no other suspects so-to-speak, the finger is swiftly pointed at Kya.

Rich with poetic prose, lyrical depictions of the marshlands and atmosphere, Where the Crawdads Sing is a beautiful and compelling read steeped in nature. A fusion of murder, mystery, coming-of-age and love-story, Where the Crawdads Sing is a poignant and powerful tale that will stay with its readers long after its gripping finale and I couldn’t wait to review Where the Crawdads Sing.

Where the Crawdads Sing Summary

Perfect for fans of Barbara Kingsolver and Karen Russell, Where the Crawdads Sing is at once an exquisite ode to the natural world, a heartbreaking coming-of-age story, and a surprising tale of possible murder. Owens reminds us that we are forever shaped by the children we once were and that we are all subject to the beautiful and violent secrets that nature keeps.

About Delia Owens

Delia Owens is the co-author of three internationally bestselling nonfiction books about her life as a wildlife scientist in Africa— Cry of the Kalahari, The Eye of the Elephant , and Secrets of the Savanna . She has won the John Burroughs Award for Nature Writing and has been published in Nature, The African Journal of Ecology , and International Wildlife , among many others. She currently lives in Idaho, where she continues her support for the people and wildlife of Zambia. Where the Crawdads Sing is her first novel. Check out her website for a detailed biography .

Need more reading inspiration? Take a look at more of my book reviews here .

Love my Where the Crawdads Sing book review? Click here to subscribe.

5 comments on “Where the Crawdads Sing Review (Author Delia Owens)”

I somehow missed this book. Adding this to my summer reading list. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Lucy!

Thanks for stopping by Crystal! I hope you love it as much as I did xo

I finished reading this book only few days ago, and I can say it’s one of the most “unputdownable” books I’ve ever read! And when I think that I hadn’t heard about it before I received it as a gift from a dear friend 🙂

Hi Georgiana, I’m so glad you enjoyed it too – it really is a wonderful book! xo

Pingback: Thirteen of the Best Book Blogs to Follow - The Literary Edit

Sorry, there was a problem.

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

Where the Crawdads Sing: Reese's Book Club (A Novel)

To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

Where the Crawdads Sing: Reese's Book Club (A Novel) Paperback – March 30, 2021

Print length 400 pages
Language English
Publication date March 30, 2021
Dimensions 5.48 x 0.81 x 8.17 inches
ISBN-10 0735219109
ISBN-13 978-0735219106
See all details

4 stars and above

No More Secrets: A Small Town Love Story (Blue Moon Book 1)

From the Publisher

Now In Paperback. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Celebrate the wonder and beauty of Kya's world with Where the Crawdads Sing gifts!




Customer Reviews
	Where the Crawdads Sing 2022 Wall Calendar	Where the Crawdads Sing 1000-piece Puzzle

Editorial Reviews

Publisher ‏ : ‎ G.P. Putnam's Sons; Standard Edition (March 30, 2021)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0735219109
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0735219106
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.48 x 0.81 x 8.17 inches
#39 in Coming of Age Fiction (Books)
#113 in Literary Fiction (Books)
#273 in Women's Literature & Fiction

Videos for this product

Click to play video

A book to keep you turning the pages

Amber - Short N Sweet Desserts

Is This Worth The Hype? - Where The Crawdads Sing Book Review!

Sophia Doyle

My Honest Review of Where The Crawdads Sing!

AllThingsIntentional

REVIEW | Love, Family, Murder, Scandal. This book as it all!

😁 Real Reviews with Steph

Should You Read Where the Crawdads Sing?

Review of book with no spoilers!

Our Point of View on the Where the Crawdads Sing Book

WTI | We Tried It!

Where The Crawdads Sing - My honest review - Likes/dislikes

Gaming Indoors

an absolute MUST read!!!

The Toasted Pine Nut

Where the Crawdads Sing Video Review!

Honest Reviews From Real People

About the author

Delia owens.

Delia Owens is the co-author of three internationally bestselling nonfiction books about her life as a wildlife scientist in Africa including Cry of the Kalahari.

She has won the John Burroughs Award for Nature Writing and has been published in Nature, The African Journal of Ecology, and many others.

She currently lives in Idaho. Where the Crawdads Sing is her first novel.

Products related to this item

Things We Never Got Over (Knockemout Book 1)

Customer reviews

5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 5 star 81% 13% 3% 1% 1% 81%
5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 4 star 81% 13% 3% 1% 1% 13%
5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 3 star 81% 13% 3% 1% 1% 3%
5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 2 star 81% 13% 3% 1% 1% 1%
5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 81% 13% 3% 1% 1% 1%

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers find the book great, stunning, and worth the time. They describe the writing quality as beautiful, literary, and vivid. Readers describe the storytelling as compelling, intriguing, and truly brings the book to life. They also describe the story as heartbreaking, unforgettable, and unusual. Reader also appreciate the character development, saying they're compelling, multifaceted, and flawed. They mention the emotional content tugs on their heartstrings and gives great insight into the human psyche.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the book great, stunning, and worth their time. They also say the storyline is beautiful and delves into themes of love.

"...Overall, Where the Crawdads Sing is a stunning debut novel that showcases Delia Owens' talent for storytelling and her deep understanding of human..." Read more

"...the romance in the story adds a tender, sweet layer that feels so genuine. it really got to me...." Read more

"...marsh itself and its many inhabitants, including Kya, is worth the price of the book yet the reader gets all these bonuses: a mystery, human survival..." Read more

"...write this entire review by simply using the copious examples of the gorgeous , sumptuous and sensual language of he novel...." Read more

Customers find the writing quality of the book beautiful, descriptive, and poetic. They also say the book is an easy read with stirring poetry. Readers mention the zoology lessons along with some stirring poetry make it a unique experience.

"...Owens masterfully brings Kya’s world to life with vivid descriptions of the natural landscape and a deep, atmospheric narrative that immerses you..." Read more

"...kya’s connection with the wild around her is so beautifully written , and the way she grows up alone in nature is both heartbreaking and..." Read more

"...In fact, the book is one long canvas of beautifully written words , page after page...." Read more

"...I didn’t know a sentence could be so full.” He smiled. “That’s a very good sentence . Not all words hold that much.”“..." Read more

Customers find the plot captivating, interwoven among beautiful, haunting words. They also appreciate the thrill, adventure, suspense, and awe. Readers say the story is well-told and transports them into the unique world of the main character.

"...The plot twists and turns are engaging and well-crafted, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they piece together the mystery alongside Kya...." Read more

"...the themes of survival , resilience, and the deep bond between humans and nature really resonated with me...." Read more

"...Highly recommended for those who like a great story interwoven amongst beautiful , haunting words...." Read more

"...up for it by putting you inside an interesting and ultimately surprising courtroom drama ...." Read more

Customers find the story unforgettable, heartbreaking, and beautiful. They say the ending is well-structured and emotional. Readers also mention the book has a lot of twists and turns with a wonderful surprise ending. They also mention that the mystery is handled perfectly.

"...Delia Owens is a breathtaking novel that effortlessly blends mystery, romance , and coming-of-age elements into a beautifully written and emotionally..." Read more

"...anyone who loves stories about overcoming adversity with a blend of mystery and romance . this book has definitely earned a spot in my top favorites...." Read more

"...The mystery is handled perfectly . But that mystery is only one element of the book. It is so much more than that...." Read more

"...The novel offered not only stunning language, but also a pretty good mystery , that for me became increasingly more..." Read more

Customers find the characters in the book damaged and lovable. They also appreciate the writing.

"...Her character is compelling and multifaceted , and her struggle for survival and acceptance is both heart-wrenching and inspiring...." Read more

"Great bookto read, Characters were beievable , Vivid descriptions of the North Carolina marshes and its wildlife...." Read more

"Nicely written and easy to identify with the characters ." Read more

"...characters challenged by real-life issues, with the characters' basic motivations well described and integrated into a story of how the characters..." Read more

Customers find the book sympathetic and moving. They say it tugs at their heartstrings, giving great insight into the human psyche. Readers also mention the book gives lessons in compassion and non-violent resilience.

"...those with Tate Walker and Chase Andrews, are complex and add layers of emotional depth to the story...." Read more

"...if you’re looking for a book that’s beautifully written and emotionally gripping , you have to read where the crawdads sing...." Read more

"So many emotions going on in this book, love, hate, pain, grief , forgiveness!..." Read more

"...The book certainly pulls on your sympathetic emotions ...." Read more

Customers find the book thought-provoking, informative, and well-written. They say it touches on sensitive subjects such as child abuse, racism, and masterful characterization. Readers also appreciate the prose and scientific facts. They mention the book resonates with them on many levels.

"...The ending is both satisfying and thought-provoking , leaving a lasting impression...." Read more

"...there’s a quiet strength in kya that i found incredibly empowering , almost like reading a memoir of surviving against all odds...." Read more

"...a protagonist that most people would love to root for, and the setting is great ...." Read more

"...her scenes with detailed observations couched in beautiful, poetic metaphors . This is the hallmark of talented, commercially successful writers...." Read more

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book. Some mention it's great, and the story doesn't lag too much. However, others say the book is slow at first and extremely rushed.

"...As she wrote, he said the letters out loud. Softly, slowly ...." Read more

"...The book was uneven to say the least , and it's certainly not going to be on the AP English literature reading list one day...." Read more

"...The first section (‘The Marsh’) of the book is very slowly paced ...." Read more

"...However, the middle slowed down and I almost stopped reading. It became heavy with scientific language and poetry...." Read more

Reviews with images

Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

Top reviews from other countries

About Amazon
Investor Relations
Amazon Devices
Amazon Science
Sell products on Amazon
Sell on Amazon Business
Sell apps on Amazon
Become an Affiliate
Advertise Your Products
Self-Publish with Us
Host an Amazon Hub
› See More Make Money with Us
Amazon Business Card
Shop with Points
Reload Your Balance
Amazon Currency Converter
Amazon and COVID-19
Your Account
Your Orders
Shipping Rates & Policies
Returns & Replacements
Manage Your Content and Devices

Conditions of Use
Privacy Notice
Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
Your Ads Privacy Choices

IMAGES

Where The Crawdads Sing Book Review
Where the Crawdads Sing
Book Review: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Where the Crawdads Sing Book Review! » Author Eliza Stopps
Review: Where the Crawdads Sing
Book Review: Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

VIDEO

11 Where the Crawdads Sing Facts You Didn't Know

COMMENTS

Questions linger over 'Where the Crawdads Sing' author as film ...
There's a lingering mystery hanging over the author of "Where the Crawdads Sing," now adapted into a film. Where the Crawdads Sing tells the fictional story of Kya, a girl left to raise herself ...
In 'Where The Crawdads Sing,' a bestseller gets its big screen moment
The new film Where The Crawdads Sing stars Daisy Edgar-Jones as Kya, a girl who was abandoned in the marshes of North Carolina as a child and raised herself into adulthood. ... Review Pop Culture ...
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
November 20, 2018. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens is a 2018 G.P. Putnam's Sons publication. One part mystery, one part legal drama, one part coming of age story, and one part love story- equals a full heartrending poignant tale that will leave you gasping for air. Barkley Cove, North Carolina- 1969Kya Clark- aka- "The Marsh Girl ...
Questions linger over 'Where the Crawdads Sing' author as film
Sony Pictures. There's a lingering mystery hanging over the author of "Where the Crawdads Sing," now adapted into a film. Where the Crawdads Sing tells the fictional story of Kya, a girl left to raise herself along a North Carolina bayou in the 1950s and 60s. "The marsh girl," as she's known, is reviled and shunned by those in the nearby town.
The Debut Novel That Rules the Best-Seller List
It was a lucky break. The debut novel — which had a solid first printing of 27,500 — landed at No. 9 on the paper's best-seller list on Sept. 16. Then the book, about a young girl surviving ...
From a Marsh to a Mountain, Crime Fiction Heads Outdoors
By Marilyn Stasio. Aug. 17, 2018. The wildlife scientist Delia Owens has found her voice in WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING (Putnam, $26), a painfully beautiful first novel that is at once a murder ...
'Where the Crawdads Sing' Review: A Wild Heroine, a Soothing Tale
July 13, 2022. Where the Crawdads Sing. Directed by Olivia Newman. Drama, Mystery, Thriller. PG-13. 2h 5m. Find Tickets. When you purchase a ticket for an independently reviewed film through our ...
Where the Crawdads Sing [Book Review]
Two boys from town attract her attention. One of them turns up dead, and she is suspected of murder. The other becomes a life long supporter and friend. A coming of age story with a fair share of tragedy, mystery, and grit, this is an unforgettable read you'll want to devour and recommend. Amazon Rating: 4.8 Stars.
WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING
15. Our Verdict. GET IT. New York Times Bestseller. IndieBound Bestseller. A wild child's isolated, dirt-poor upbringing in a Southern coastal wilderness fails to shield her from heartbreak or an accusation of murder. "The Marsh Girl," "swamp trash"—Catherine "Kya" Clark is a figure of mystery and prejudice in the remote North ...
Where the Crawdads Sing movie review (2022)
4 min read. The cicadas buzz and the moss drips and the sunset casts a golden shimmer on the water every single evening. But while "Where the Crawdads Sing" is rich in atmosphere, it's sorely lacking in actual substance or suspense. Maybe it was an impossible task, taking the best-selling source material and turning it into a cinematic ...
Where the Crawdads Sing
A particular treat for viewers who love the book, Where the Crawdads Sing offers a faithfully told, well-acted story in a rich, beautifully filmed setting. Read Audience Reviews.
Review: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Where the Crawdads Sing is part bildungsroman and part crime drama, centered around Kya, a wild and unkempt girl. The book follows the ups and downs of her life. She lives a lonely life, but her story is a hopeful one as well. With a little help, she's able to survive and even learn to read. Despite her status as an outcast, her natural beauty ...
Summary and Reviews of Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
A gripping, gut-punch of a novel about a Cherokee child removed from her family and sent to a Christian boarding school in the 1950s—an ambitious, eye-opening reckoning of history and small-town prejudices from Pulitzer Prize finalist Margaret Verble. Carolina Moonset. by Matt Goldman. Published 2022.
Where the Crawdads Sing
Where the Crawdads Sing is a 2018 coming-of-age [2] [3] murder mystery novel by American zoologist Delia Owens. [4] The story follows two timelines that slowly intertwine. The first timeline describes the life and adventures of a young girl named Kya as she grows up isolated in the marshes of North Carolina.The second timeline follows an investigation into the apparent murder of Chase Andrews ...
Now that we've all read 'Where the Crawdads Sing,' can we talk about
Sure, there are a few Kya-esque animal-hierarchy analogies: the judge, Kya sees as "alpha male"; her lawyer, Tom, a "powerful buck"; the bailiff, the "lowest-ranking male [who] depended ...
Book Review: Where the Crawdads Sing
Where the Crawdads Sing Delia Owens Literary Fiction Penguin Random House Aug 14, 2018 Ebook 384. For years, rumors of the "Marsh Girl" have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl.
Where The Crawdads Sing Reviews Are In, See What Critics Are Saying
Where the Crawdads Sing is at once a mystery, a romance, a back-to-nature reverie full of gnarled trees and hanging moss, and a parable of women's power and independence in a world crushed under ...
Where the Crawdads Sing
Join us as we dive into the mesmerizing world of "Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens. In this in-depth review, we explore the intricate character develo...
Where the Crawdads Sing
Where the Crawdads Sing. by Delia Owens. Publication Date: March 30, 2021. Genres: Fiction, Women's Fiction. Paperback: 400 pages. Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons. ISBN-10: 0735219109. ISBN-13: 9780735219106. For years, rumors of the "Marsh Girl" have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast.
Where the Crawdads Sing Book Review
First, the last 100 or so pages of the novel deliver a fast-paced courtroom drama climax to the murder mystery that tantalizingly opens the novel. If the novel is a roller coaster, the last 100 pages are its thrilling drop, but I was left feeling uncertain if the drop was worth all that climb. Where the Crawdads Sing feels almost like two ...
Book Review: Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Where The Crawdads Sing is full of despair, poverty, prejudice and loneliness beyond all imagining. But it is also a book that delights in the wonderous gifts of the natural world. It tells the heart-breaking story of Kya, the 'marsh girl'. Her mother walks off when she is still a young child, walking away without saying goodbye or even waving.
Where the Crawdads Sing: A Spoiler-Free Book Review
Where the Crawdads Sing is the story of Catherine "Kya" Clark. The book centers on her life and her supposed involvement in the death of Chase Andrews. Abandoned by her entire family, Kya grows up basically alone, known by the local people as "the Marsh Girl.". Only a few people dare to reach out to her, until the body of Chase Andrews ...
Where the Crawdads Sing Review (Author Delia Owens ...
When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life-until the unthinkable happens. Perfect for fans of Barbara Kingsolver and Karen Russell, Where the Crawdads Sing is at once an exquisite ode to the natural world, a heartbreaking coming-of-age story, and a surprising tale of possible murder ...
Where the Crawdads Sing: Reese's Book Club (A Novel) Paperback
NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE—The #1 New York Times bestselling worldwide sensation with more than 18 million copies sold, hailed by The New York Times Book Review as "a painfully beautiful first novel that is at once a murder mystery, a coming-of-age narrative and a celebration of nature." New York Times Readers Pick: 100 Best Books of the 21st Century For years, rumors of the "Marsh ...

Pop Culture Happy Hour

In 'Where The Crawdads Sing,' a bestseller gets its big screen moment

Questions linger over 'Where the Crawdads Sing' author as film adaptation is released

‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ Review: A Wild Heroine, a Soothing Tale

Reading Ladies

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

My Thoughts:

Meet the Author, Delia Owens

Happy Reading Book Worms!

My Fall TBR

Looking Ahead:

Let’s Get Social!

Shares are appreciated:

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING

THE SECRET HISTORY

THINGS FALL APART

Please select an existing bookshelf

Please sign up to continue.

Almost there!

Sign in using your Kirkus account

Where the Crawdads Sing

Christy Lemire

Writer (based upon the novel by)

Cinematographer

Leave a comment

Megalopolis

The Last of the Sea Women

The Wild Robot

We Live in Time

Look Into My Eyes

The Front Room

Matt and Mara

The Thicket

The Mother of All Lies

TIFF 2024: Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Elton John: It’s Not Too Late, Paul Anka: His Way

TIFF 2024: Unstoppable, Triumph, April

TIFF 2024: Table of Contents

TIFF 2024: Paying For It, Viktor, Mr. K

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Email not verified

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

Where the Crawdads Sing

What to Know

Critics Reviews

Movie Clips

Where the Crawdads Sing

Full Plot Summary

Book Review

Some Criticisms

Read it or Skip It?

Where the Crawdads Sing, Explained!

Book Excerpt

Movie / TV Show Adaptation

65 comments

Summary and Reviews of Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Where the Crawdads Sing

About This Book

Book Summary

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

Media Reviews

Beyond the Book

Read-Alikes

Books with similar themes

BookBrowse Book Club

Members Recommend

Book Club Giveaway!

Free Weekly Newsletters

Review: Where the Crawdads Sing

The Plot Summary

My Thoughts

Does Where the Crawdads Sing live up to the hype?

Related Posts

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Where The Crawdads Sing Reviews Are In, See What Critics Are Saying About The Adaptation Of The Bestselling Book

CINEMABLEND NEWSLETTER

Most Popular

Regular Features

Newsletters

Fall Reading