Protagonist: 4/5
Kya is an independent, hardworking, resourceful main character living off the land in the marsh. She’s the type of protagonist that you can’t help but root for her til the very end.

Plot: 4.5/5
This book is quite multifaceted: while it is a tale of survival and love, it is also a murder mystery, and a brilliant one at that.

Setting: 3/5
The beautiful marshland setting is incredibly easy to imagine for readers, so much so that you’ll feel like you’re exploring the marsh with Kya. However, the community of the nearby town is so cold to her that they tone down the pleasant nature of the book considerably.

Diversity: 2/5
The characters in Where the Crawdads Sing are mostly Caucasian, except for two Black American characters that provide Kya with the supplies and support she needs to survive in the marsh.

Engagement: 4/5
While this story can be a bit description-heavy at times, you won’t be able to put it down. It’s an absorbing experience unlike anything you’ve read, so much so that it truly doesn’t fit into any exact genre.