Discussion Questions
1.The story starts with Kya’s Ma leaving and Kya waiting for her to come back. Later Jodie, then her Pa also left. How do you think abandonment shaped Kaya’s outlook in life. What repercussions did it have? Why did she leave?
2. Kya’s dad started taking her out on the boat. Did you think that it was a turning point in their relationship? Why did he leave?
3. A letter came from Kya’s mother but Kya could not read it. What impact do you think it would have made on her life if she was able to read it? Do you think Kya’s future would have been different?
4. The story is set in the North Carolina’s marshes. Did you enjoy the setting? Was it accurately depicted? Did it impact your reading enjoyment?
5. Kya went to school for one day. She decided to not go back. Why did she do that? Was it the right decision? How different would her life be if she went to school?
6. Jumpin’ and Mabel helped Kya survive in the marshes. Do you think it was the right decision to encourage her to live alone?
7. Could you survive alone all those years in the marsh? Do you think it’s plausible for Kya to raise herself at such a young age?
8. Which character did you admire or liked the most?
9. How did you feel about Kya’s and Chase relationship? Did you think that they were suitable for each other? Why did Kya stay with Chase for so long?
10. What did you think about Kya and Tate’s relationship? Did you think that they would end up together? Do you think they were compatible? How did their relationship change over the years? How does Tate’s view of Kya change over time?
11. Why did Tate not come back to see Kya after he left for college?
12. Where you surprise by any of the events in the book?
13. Who did you think killed Chase? Did your thoughts changed as you read the book?
14. Why do you think Kya’s brother Jodie came back in the end?
15. Did you enjoy the ending? Why?
16. After reading the book, would you recommend it?
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Check out Summary of Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens: Conversation Starters. This discussion aid contains plot, character analyses, theme analyses and more.
Hi just wanted to give you a brief heads up and let you know a few of the pictures aren’t loading correctly. I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different internet browsers and both show the same outcome.
Thanks for the heads up. I did check on my phone and it seemed okay.
Thanks for your marvelous posting! I actually enjoyed reading it. Crazy ending huh?
Hi Helene!
Yep the ending was crazy!
Thanks for stopping by at Arlene’s Book Club!
I found the book compelling, the narrative of the marsh and her learned wisdom of the nature that surrounded her. Kristine had a lot of good points in the answered proposed questions, I agreed with her. I kept wondering who killed Chase, the timing of him being there and the storyline did not add up. It just mentioned the sound of his boat while she was in the water. I had also thought it was his wife, or a business deal went bad, with the character that he was portrayed. Ending? Still wondering if she really pushed him? He was mad at her he could have thrown it at her? As noted, we lost her narrative thoughts. I would refer to this book, to a friend or two!
Hi Marion!
Where the Crawdads Sing is definitely a compelling read. 🙂
Glad you will refer this book to your friends. The word is getting around now and it’s a very popular read.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I think Kristine had lots of good points too.
I loved this book!
Yes the murder situation was unrealistic- I didn’t care, that was not the focus for me.
Brilliant writer, poetry!!
Hi Janet!
Yes the book was very good and I also loved the writing.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. 🙂
The time line about Kya’s trips back and forth to Greenville and the marsh do not coincide with the testimony in court or the bus schedule. So, how did she have the time to kill Chase? That part of the book was weak.
Hi Deborah!
I agree with you that on how Kya managed to kill Chase was weak. At least the author gave us the killer in the ending! I would have been mad if I didn’t know if she did it or not. The shell necklace and its location implied that she did kill him.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. 🙂
I wanted it to be Chase’s wife. But then I realized her character wasn’t developed. Still, there were clues: she didn’t come with Chase that night to his parents’ house for dinner, and I imagined that shell necklace really irked her. I just can’t see Kya doing all those machinations to get back from Greenville, push him, then get back in time for breakfast. Just doesn’t seem like her.
That’s too funny Kate!
I never thought about Chase’s wife, but that’s a good possibility if her character was developed.
I agree with you that it’s not like Kya. I can’t see her planning it, making sure that she doesn’t get caught and then hiding the necklace in her house? It didn’t make sense to me.
Kya was a survivor for sure so why jeopardize her situation?
Kate, I was thinking the same thing for similar reasons. As the reader, I had to suspend a bits of reality, like how could Kya know that the moon would be waning, the tide would be swift enough to cut her time and a few other things that had to happen to make her crime work, when she had no control over what date she was to meet her publisher.
Her views on life, death; relationships; came from living and observing nature around her. There were a couple of references about the female insect killing the male after mating. What turned out to be her poetry were also a clues after the fact, that she might kill Chase, especially as she would never be safe to live without fear until he would come back. Still, I did enjoy the book.
This book was rediculous and boring I quit after the first chapter I actually hated I paid a lot of money for it in the trash it went
If you only read the first chapter, I don’t think you can comment on “The book”. One chapter is nothing. And I’m sure you can resell the book. Plenty of interest in it!
The book is not for readers who can’t read beyond the printed word. I don’t know of anyone who hasn’t loved this book and I’m in three book clubs.
I’m 80 years old, and the book held me from beginning to end, like no book has done in a long time! I suspected how it would end, but hoped it would not be that way!
Hi Carol!
I am glad that the book helped you 🙂
It’s always fantastic to hear from our readers and how a book has impacted them.
Happy reading!
I used to be able to find good info from your articles.
1.The story starts with Kya’s Ma leaving and Kya waiting for her to come back. Later Jodie, then her Pa also left. How do you think abandonment shaped Kaya’s outlook in life. What repercussions did it have? Why did she leave?
Growing up in a Marsh without contact with the outside world, and abandonment is all she ever knew. I can understand why her Ma left, but she must have been in a very bad place to not take her kids with her. I assumed she wasn’t in her right mind and just knew she had to get away. That is revealed to you later in the book after Jodie comes back to see Kya.
2. Kya’s dad started taking her out on the boat. Did you think that it was a turning point in their relationship? Why did he leave?
My thought was her dad was lonely too, so maybe taking Kya fishing would fill the gap of all the other kids that left. Why he left in the end, I wondered the same thing. Another of those things that was just left to your imagination without enough to really go on since his character was painted as a depressed drunk.
3. A letter came from Kya’s mother but Kya could not read it. What impact do you think it would have made on her life if she was able to read it? Do you think Kya’s future would have been different?
If her mother was as sick as you find out later in the book, then I don’t think Kya could have saved herself or her mom.
4. The story is set in the North Carolina’s marshes. Did you enjoy the setting? Was it accurately depicted? Did it impact your reading enjoyment?
Personally, I loved the setting as I am familiar with this area of NC having lived in the Carolinas for 10 years.
5. Kya went to school for one day. She decided to not go back. Why did she do that? Was it the right decision? How different would her life be if she went to school?
This was totally unrealistic that she could have hidden the fact that she lived alone. If she had gone to school, the story of her and Tate would never have happened.
6. Jumpin’ and Mabel helped Kya survive in the marshes. Do you think it was the right decision to encourage her to live alone?
They didn’t know any better.
7. Could you survive alone all those years in the marsh? Do you think it’s plausible for Kya to raise herself at such a young age? NO. This fact alone is why it was not believable for me even realizing it was fiction, still left me shaking my head.
8. Which character did you admire or liked the most? Tate and Jumpin’
9. How did you feel about Kya’s and Chase relationship? Did you think that they were suitable for each other? Why did Kya stay with Chase for so long?
When you get attention from a man after all the men in your life leave you, you enjoy and crave the attention and associate it with love.
10. What did you think about Kya and Tate’s relationship? Did you think that they would end up together? Do you think they were compatible? How did their relationship change over the years? How does Tate’s view of Kya change over time?
A school boy crush that turned into love. It was sweet.
11. Why did Tate not come back to see Kya after he left for college? I think he felt obligated to take care of her, but he just wasn’t ready.
12. Where you surprise by any of the events in the book? The ending.
13. Who did you think killed Chase? Did your thoughts changed as you read the book?
I thought Tate did it to get revenge for Kya. It just seemed so logical, but I was wrong.
14. Why do you think Kya’s brother Jodie came back in the end? He didn’t want to leave her in the beginning, but being just a child himself he couldn’t take care of the both of them. She was safer at home.
15. Did you enjoy the ending? Why?
It was just ok to me. Left me hanging and wanting more information about the “how” she accomplished it.
16. After reading the book, would you recommend it?
It wasn’t my favorite, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t recommend it. It still got me thinking and wondering if I could decipher who murdered Chase.
Hi Kristine!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I was laughing out loud when I saw your reply that Jumpin’ and Mabel didn’t know better on why they encouraged Kya to live in the marshes.
I agree with you on your comments! I know it wasn’t a murder mystery book, but I too wanted to know more about the murder details. I didn’t really get why Kya stayed with Chase. She’s smart and I thought she would have seen through his falseness. Or did he love her in his crazy way?
I felt that Jumpin and Mabel helped Kya since they certainly experienced prejudice and powerless because they were colored. They most likely would not dream of turning her into any authorities because most likely they would have a deep seated mistrust of them. Instead they showed her love and kindness and helped in the best way they could.
Hi Donna!
You’re right about the prejudices Mabel and Jumpin experienced. I agree with you that they looked out for her the best they could. It was heart-breaking to read that she had to take care of herself all those years with no one to love her except Mabel and Jumpin.
I just kept thinking that he did love her in his “own crazy way” or why would he wear that necklace she gave him every day of his life.
Good book but as I find with many “good” books, the ending was disappointing. I agree totally with answer number 15.
Hi Judy!
I agree with Kristine too. 🙂
Horrible stupid book don’t bother with it
Read some real books not fiction get off your chair and quit reading this stuff Makes no difference in your life go out and volunteer your help for real people
This is such an uneducated comment
Does reading keep anyone from volunteering?
I think Jumpin’ and Mabel knew better , but what would they do with a little white girl?
I loved “Where The Crawdads Sing” from the very first page. And I cried at the very last page.
Hi Helene!
I am happy to hear you loved the book!
I enjoyed the book too but it didn’t move me to tears. I liked that it transported me to the marshes. I felt like I was there!
Thanks for stopping by at Arlene’s Book Club!