Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens is a realistic fiction novel. The book follows the character Kya as she navigates growing up alone and apart from the rest of society. The novel details her journey and her constant growth of knowledge through the highs and lows of friendships, romantic relationships, work, etc. She lives in an area called “the Marsh” and enjoys her lifestyle being one with the wilderness. Kya learns how to be independent, yet two men named Tate Walker and Chase Andrews desire to change Kya’s lifestyle with a romantic relationship. She faces the ridicule of society, which only intensifies when Chase Andrews dies and Kya is suspected of foul play.
Where the Crawdads Sing is not only a coming-of-age novel but also a mystery. This mystery aspect was the most interesting part of the novel to me. I enjoyed this part of the storyline and how Delia Owens used flashbacks to provide more information about events that happened. My biggest complaint with this book is that it is slow. At some points, it is a slow read because not much action occurs. However, I would recommend this book to someone who is looking for a suspenseful literary work. The book is well written and aimed at older readers who can deal with adult topics.