Possibly, a perfect novel.
I had heard all the buzz about this book, so my mom, also a voracious reader herself, gave it to me for Christmas.
Took me two days to read it. Sorry, family. I just couldn't stop.
Fantastic read. Kya is raised in near isolation in the marsh and is perfectly capable of taking care of herself. She is schooled by nature, by Mother Earth, and avoids contact with the "townies" as much as possible. They all think she is stupid, dirty, and white trash anyway. All except for one boy, who accepts her for who she is, and gives her a chance.
But then, murder. And accusation, and trial. This is not the heart of the story though. Loneliness, acceptance, abandonment, prejudice, survival, trust and oh, the feathers. The author is herself a wildlife scientist and her insight into animal behavior and the pulses of life in the marsh become as much a main character as Kya herself. So well woven into the story, you might learn something without even realizing it (right, Sheriff?).
I loved the painting of Kya and the boy....the exchange of gifts on the stump....the cat in the courtroom.....Jumpin's warning...Jumpin' himself...feeding the gulls....painting like her mama.....alligator shoes....the unexpected way she revealed the expected ending.....and one unexpected but anticipated homecoming. Part sad, heartbreaking, and inspiring, this was beautifully done - a great book club choice!
No comments:
Post a Comment