X Get weekly book recommendations + our Most Anticipated Books of 2026 Summary and Reviews of Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Summary | Excerpt | Reading Guide | Discuss | Reviews | Beyond the book | Read-Alikes | Genres & Themes | Author Bio
Where the Crawdads Sing
by Delia Owens
BookBrowse Review:
Critics' Consensus (9):
Readers' Rating (96):
First Published:
Aug 14, 2018, 384 pages
Paperback:
Mar 2021, 400 pages
Book Reviewed by:Rebecca Foster
X
Literary Fiction
Romance/Love Stories
USA
South, USA
N & S Carolina
1960s & '70s
Debuts
Adult-YA Crossover Fiction
Nature & Environment
Top 20 Best Books of 2018
Genres & Themes
Publication Information
Rate this book
Write a Review
Buy This Book Amazon Bookshop.org
About This Book
Summary
Excerpt
Book Club Questions
Discuss
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.
1.Ma1952
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 ...
Read Full Excerpt
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...
Read More
Please be aware that this discussion may contain spoilers!
See what our members are saying about this book in our Community Forum.
What audience would you recommend Broken Country to? Is there another book or author you’d recommend that you feel has a similar theme or style? I would recommend it to Book Clubs. It has a few good themes to discuss, a few of them would lead to a great discussion. To me there is a slight similarity to author's like: Delia Owens: "Where the Crawdads Sing" and William Kent Krueger "Ordinary Grace". -Lillian_T View Post
All time favorite book club books? ...ese (2009, Knopf) 2.91% 8 Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (2022, Harper) 2.78% 9 Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger (2013, Atria) 2.41% 10 Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (2018, G.P. Putnam's Sons) 2.15% -nick View Post
Book to screen adaptations I actually have two books that were made into movies and that I very much enjoyed (I hope that's OK😊). And those two books are: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens and Whalerider by Witi Ihimaera. -Sunny View Post
Membership Advantages
Reviews
"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 $60 for 12 months or $20 for 3 months.
More about membership!
BookBrowse Awards2018
Reviews
BookBrowse
Media Reviews
Reader Reviews
BookBrowse Review
BookBrowse
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 (776 words)
(Reviewed by Rebecca Foster).
Media Reviews
Historical Novel Society Kya’s loneliness and heartbreak each time someone abandons her is palpable and heart-wrenching. We feel her yearning to connect with others and to be loved. Owens adeptly alternates plotlines, which creates the anticipation of what is to come. Both Kya and the marsh are the main characters of this immersive and moving story of love and belonging mixed with mystery and suspense. This is a deeply affecting novel, lyrical and unforgettable. New York Journal of Books Owens’ writing is tight, yet sumptuous. It is abundant with descriptive prose and brings the reader straight to the edges of the briny marsh waters, and directly into the mind of the Marsh Girl. Reading this story is at once a study in the ecological environment as much as it is an exquisite virtual experience to a unique place in our natural world. The conclusion is haunting and unexpected, yet leaves a sense of fulfillment as all well-told stories do. New York Times The wildlife scientist Delia Owens has found her voice in Where the Crawdads Sing, a painfully beautiful first novel that is at once a murder mystery, a coming-of-age narrative and a celebration of nature. The author, with her husband, Mark, of three books about southern Africa, Owens here surveys the desolate marshlands of the North Carolina coast through the eyes of an abandoned child. And in her isolation that child makes us open our own eyes to the secret wonders — and dangers — of her private world. People Steeped in the rhythms and shadows of the coastal marshes of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, this fierce and hauntingly beautiful novel centers on...Kya’s heartbreaking story of learning to trust human connections, intertwine[d] with a gripping murder mystery, revealing savage truths. An astonishing debut. Reese Witherspoon I can’t even express how much I love this book! My September pick is Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. It’s about a young woman named Kya, who’s left to raise herself in the marshes of North Carolina when her family abandons her at a young age. There is so much to her story: romance, mystery, and a murder… and it takes place in the breathtaking backdrop of the South. I didn’t want this story to end! Booklist Because the characters are painted in broad, unambiguous strokes, this is not so much a naturalistic novel as a mythic one, with its appeal rising from Kya's deep connection to the place where she makes her home, and to all of its creatures. Kirkus Reviews Despite some distractions, there's an irresistible charm to Owens' first foray into nature-infused romantic fiction. Publishers Weekly Owens memorably depicts the small-town drama and courtroom theatrics, but perhaps best of all is her vivid portrayal of the singular North Carolina setting. Alexandra Fuller, author of Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight A lush debut; Owens delivers her mystery wrapped in gorgeous, lyrical prose. Christopher Scotton, author of The Secret Wisdom of the Earth With prose luminous as a low-country moon, Owens weaves a compelling tale of a forgotten girl in the unforgiving coastal marshes of North Carolina. It is a murder mystery/love story/courtroom drama that readers will love, but the novel delves so much deeper into the bone and sinew of our very nature, asking often unanswerable questions, old and intractable as the marsh itself. A stunning debut! David Joy, author of The Line That Held UsWhere The Crawdads Sing carries the rhythm of an old time ballad. It is clear Owens knows this land intimately, from the black mud sucking at footsteps to the taste of saltwater and the cry of seagulls.
Reader Reviews
Cloggie Downunder an outstanding debut. Where The Crawdads Sing is the first novel by award-winning, best-selling American wildlife scientist and author, Delia Owens. In 1952, when she is almost seven, Miss Catherine Daniella Clark, known to everyone as Kya, watches her mother leave. She ... Read More Cathryn Conroy Ingenious! Incredible! A Must-Read Book That Will Grab Your Heart and Soul Oh. My. Goodness. Yes, all the hype is true. This is an incredible book that broke my heart, made me laugh out loud, made me shake my head in wonder, made me cry real tears several times, and made me oh-so-sad when it ended. (Book hangover!) ... Read More Andrea Stone Where The Crawdads Sing Awesome Book! Maggie Wow What a good read! I hope the author writes another novel - this was a superbly written book. ...Read 20 More Reader Reviews
Write your own review!
Membership Advantages
Reviews
"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 $60 for 12 months or $20 for 3 months.
More about membership!
Beyond the Book
Nature Writers Who Also Write Fiction
Before she wrote Where the Crawdads Sing, Idaho-based Delia Owens co-authored three nature books (with her former husband, Mark Owens) based on wildlife research in Africa: Cry of the Kalahari (1984), which won the John Burroughs Medal for natural history writing, The Eye of the Elephant (1992), and Secrets of the Savanna (2006). She's not the only author who has turned to fiction after a long career in science or nature writing. Others have alternated between the two genres throughout their working life. Here are four more authors who have had similar cross-genre success. Edward Abbey (1927‒1989) mostly wrote about the American West. He studied English and philosophy at the University of New Mexico. In 1957 he was a Wallace ...
Continued... Membership Advantages
Reviews
"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 $60 for 12 months or $20 for 3 months.
More about membership!
Read-Alikes
Read-Alikes
Genres & Themes
Read-Alikes
If you liked Where the Crawdads Sing, try these:
Stealing
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
About this book
More by this author
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.
We have 14 read-alikes for Where the Crawdads Sing, but non-members are limited to two results. To see the complete list of this book's read-alikes, you need to be a member. Search read-alikes How we choose read-alikes
Books with similar themes
Literary Fiction
Romance/Love Stories
USA
South, USA
N & S Carolina
1960s & '70s
Debuts
Adult-YA Crossover Fiction
Nature & Environment
Top 20 Best Books of 2018
Membership Advantages
Reviews
"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 $60 for 12 months or $20 for 3 months.
More about membership!
BookBrowse Book Club
Cursed Daughtersby Oyinkan Braithwaite A woman confronts a family curse and rumors she’s her dead cousin reborn in a witty, sharp novel about love and rivalry. About Discuss
Members Recommend
The Botanist's Assistantby Peggy Townsend A lab murder shatters a woman's quiet life, driving her to solve the crime in this entertaining, uplifting mystery. Read the Reviews
Next Time Will Be Our Turnby Jesse Q. Sutanto A grandmother shares her surprising life story in this sweeping love tale by USA Today bestselling author Jesse Q. Sutanto. Read the Reviews
The Heart-Shaped Tinby Bee Wilson “The Heart-Shaped Tin is heart-wrenching yet full of warmth.” —Letitia Clark, author of Bitter Honey. Read the Reviews
Who Said...
Experience is not what happens to you; it's what you do with what happens to you
Click Here to find out who said this, as well as discovering other famous literary quotes!
Book Trivia
Can you name the title?
Test your book knowledge with our daily trivia challenge!
Wordplay
Big Holiday Wordplay 2025
Enter Now
Book Submissions
Advertising
Newsletter Subscriptions
Library Subscriptions
Reviewing for BookBrowse
Contact Us
X
Subscribe to our weekly newsletters and receive our Best Book Club Books of 2026 eBook!
Join thousands of book lovers! Get our weekly newsletters and receive our Most Anticipated Books for 2026 eBook!
Spam Free: Your email is never shared with anyone; opt out any time.
Join Member Login Patron Login 
Book Reviewed by:Rebecca Foster .png)
(776 words) 
Alexandra Fuller, author of Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight A lush debut; Owens delivers her mystery wrapped in gorgeous, lyrical prose. 
Before she wrote Where the Crawdads Sing, Idaho-based Delia Owens co-authored three nature books (with her former husband, Mark Owens) based on wildlife research in Africa: Cry of the Kalahari (1984), which won the John Burroughs Medal for natural history writing, The Eye of the Elephant (1992), and Secrets of the Savanna (2006). She's not the only author who has turned to fiction after a long career in science or nature writing. Others have alternated between the two genres throughout their working life. Here are four more authors who have had similar cross-genre success. 
Edward Abbey (1927‒1989) mostly wrote about the American West. He studied English and philosophy at the University of New Mexico. In 1957 he was a Wallace ...
.png)
