“Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor, and it can never be used to hurt you.” – Tyrion Lannister’s first words to Jon Snow ⁽¹⁾

Kya was never gifted this advice, but, despite her heartbreaking upbringing, she never let her reputation of the “Marsh Girl” hold her back. My favorite part of the heroin’s journey was that her (completely warranted) distrust of others did not force her into a life of complete isolation. Sure, she secluded herself to the woodlands, but she also relied on a small group of people who assisted and enriched her life.

In the end, her commitment to be true to herself gave her success, happiness, and closure. Owens’ first novel was a huge success, and I hope her subsequent novels put her on the level of one of our favorite authors, Kristin Hannah.

Every once in awhile, you need to just buy into the hype. Where the Crawdads Sing is the perfect example. I feel confident recommending this book to any and all readers. If you don’t believe us, Reese Witherspoon’s production company has already scooped up the movie rights for this coming-of-age tale.

Jen’s Take:

For me, this story was The Great Alone meets To Kill a Mockingbird. It was heartbreaking, yet hopeful. It was also a great reminder to be kind – to yourself as well as others – because you never know what someone is going through.

Kya is smart, strong and self-reliant. Instead of feeling sorry for herself in her difficult situation and wallowing or giving up, she instead fights harder. I saw many parallels between her, Leni and Scout as all three are young fierce female protagonists, facing seemingly impossible situations.

This is a MUST read book for both of us – add it to your list ASAP!!!

⁽¹⁾ Jen and I are currently rewatching Game of Thrones. Well, I am rewatching Game of Thrones and forcing Jen to give it a try… expect future posts on our progression.

Verdict: Read it! (5/5 Stars)
Length: 379 pages
When: For your next book. Seriously, no matter your mood.
Quote: For years I longed to be with people.  I really believed that someone would stay with me, that I would actually have friends and a family.  Be part of a group.  But no one stayed.  Not you or one member of my family. Now I’ve finally learned how to deal with that and how to protect myself.
Also Try: The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah (B2C Review)

Buy Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens