Reviewed by Leigha on
My book club pick for August! I was a little nervous reading this book with all the hype surrounding it, but it turned out to be an engrossing page turner. The heart and soul of this book is nature – it’s beauty, it’s cruelty, and it’s cleverness. The author is a wildlife scientist, and her prose of nature, habitats, and animals shines. I’d be interested in reading her nonfiction novels just to see if they are as beautifully written.
The story focuses on Kya, a young girl abandoned by her family at an early age in the coastal area of North Carolina. Kya’s ability to overcome her circumstances, to learn to survive off the land, is admirable. She’s a survivor – of neglect, of abuse, of the system, of society. It’s hard not to like her. Her relationships with others, particularly Tate and Jumpin, are endearing and sweet. I was pleasantly surprised at how much romance plays a role in the novel.
The narrative is split between Kya growing up and a current murder in the town. While the murder mystery was interesting, it was Kya’s development from child to adolescent to woman that kept me reading. I will say I had mixed feelings about the ending. It does wrap up everything, but it’s too spot on to make it truly memorable.
tl;dr Well-written prose and a memorable protagonist make this book club darling truly memorable.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 28 July, 2019: Finished reading
- 28 July, 2019: Reviewed