What can I say that hasn't already been said? Delia Owens has crafted a beautiful ode to nature and the power of human connection in Where the Crawdads Sing. It's of little surprise that it was so quickly snapped up for the movie rights; Gorgeous prose and interesting characters will quickly pull you in.

It’s time for another round-up of Pickett’s Picks, Fall 2018 Edition! Each season, I spotlight a selection of brand new books from favorite authors, intriguing debut novels, must-read crossover releases, and at least one jaw-dropping cover (can you guess which one?). Here are just a few of the books that I’m looking forward to reading and sharing with students at Ridley High School during the upcoming semester. What are YOUR picks?? Leave a comment and let me know!

Unclaimed Baggage by Jen Doll
Told from three viewpoints, teens Doris, Nell, and Grant find friendship and the possibility of love while working in Unclaimed Baggage, a store that sells items that went missing during airline travel. I love stories about people thrown together by a quirky summer job, and Unclaimed Baggage promises to be charming, funny, and heartfelt.

Dream Country by Shannon Gibney
Dream Country is the story of five generations of young people caught in the dangerous spiral connecting Liberia and the United States, and how one determined young dreamer grapples for control of her destiny. This novel has been compared to Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, one of my all-time favorites!

We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix
A new novel of supernatural horror (and pop culture) from the author of Horrorstor and My Best Friend’s Exorcism. Yes, please!

The War Outside by Monica Hesse
The War Outside is the story of two girls from very different backgrounds who meet in a Texas internment camp during WWII. Margot and Haruko find solace in their secret friendship. But in a prison that the government claims is full of spies, can they trust anyone? I adored Monica Hesse’s brilliant previous books, Girl in the Blue Coat and American Fire. If Monica Hesse writes it, I will read it!

Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
This is the debut novel that everyone is talking about! During Darius Kellner’s sophomore year he travels to Iran to meet his grandparents, but it is their next-door neighbor who changes his life for the better. Hilarious and heartbreaking, this unforgettable book is for anyone who’s ever felt not good enough, but then met a friend who makes them feel so much better than okay.

Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand
Who are the Sawkill Girls? Marion: the new girl. Zoey: the pariah. Val: the queen bee. Their stories come together on the island of Sawkill Rock, where gleaming horses graze in rolling pastures and cold waves crash against black cliffs. Where kids whisper the legend of an insidious monster at parties and around campfires. Where girls have been disappearing for decades, stolen away by a ravenous evil no one has dared to fight … until now.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Every once in a while, a book comes along that just has my name on it. Where the Crawdads Sing is one of those books! In this “crossover” novel (written for adults but perfect for teen readers), author Delia Owens blends an exquisite ode to the natural world with a heartbreaking coming-of-age story and a surprising murder investigation.

Dry by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
When the California drought escalates to catastrophic proportions, one teen is forced to make life and death decisions for her family in this harrowing story of survival. Neal Shusterman is the author of Unwind and Scythe, two of Ridley High School’s all-time most popular books. I am here for his latest!

A Room Away from the Wolves by Nova Ren Suma
Teenage Bina runs away to New York City’s Catherine House, a young women’s residence in Greenwich Village with a tragic history, dark secrets, and a painting that seems to be alive. As Bina’s memories become entangled with the present, she will be forced to face the terrible truth of why she’s come to Catherine House and what it will cost for her to leave. I will drop everything for a lost-in-time house of secrets, which is what the novel promises!

Sadie by Courtney Summers
Told from the alternating perspectives of nineteen-year-old Sadie, who has run away from her isolated Colorado town to find her younger sister’s killer, and a true crime podcast exploring Sadie’s disappearance. Sadie is a close second to Where the Crawdads Sing for the “Book with My Name On It” prize!

Slayer by Kiersten White
From bestselling author Kiersten White comes a brand-new series set in the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, introducing a new Slayer as she grapples with the responsibility of managing her incredible powers. It’s true … they had me at “Buffy”!

Wow. This book is incredibly written. It was so atmospheric, I felt like I was right there in the marsh with Kya. Her story is tragic and she really rose above so much to just be able to live her life in peace. I loved the bonds she formed with people who really cared about her. I loved all of the characters and how they were developed and written. The ending had me shook! I thought this was brilliant. I hope she writes more fiction!

Amazing story of heartbreak and resilience in the low-country of the Carolinas. Poverty and alcohol split a family up and cause the abandonment of the youngest child. The gentle girl survives and thrives in her beautiful surroundings. Her passion for the flora and fauna of her home goad her into learning and becoming an expert in the field. Soaring story of success and overcoming extreme odds.

I know, I am in a minority. The hidden Marsh Girl storyline just couldn't meld with my disbelief. The prose is wonderful, a reason so many love it I am sure.

I had a hard time with this. The character development wasn't there, there was a lot of lag, I definitely feel like this book was overhyped and is definitely loosely based off of what the author experienced in Africa.

Kya Clark is known in her small North Carolina settlement as 'the Marsh Girl'. That sounds romantic until you drill down. What it really means is that her family has drifted away, one by one, until she has been left out in the swamp in a rundown cabin since she was around ten. She knows how to survive in the wild but it is a day to day survival with lots of hunger, no trust in humanity and loneliness and despair.

Kya only has a few bright spots in her life. Tate was a friend of her brother before the brother left her life and he befriends Kya also. Tate is the son of a shrimper and loves the marsh and its inhabitants as much as Kya does. He teaches her to read and opens the world up for her. She believes he is her love but he goes off to college and then there is no word from him. Handsome Chase Andrews is quick to step into the breech. He is the town star; the former quarterback who is handsome with rich parents. He isn't a good man and only wants to take advantage of Kya. They start a love affair but her heart is broken again when she realizes he has other women.

Kya becomes a woman the hard way on her own. She breaks through the isolation by studying and documenting the lives of the animals and plants around her and her work is accepted for publication. But when Chase is found dead, suspicion falls on Kya and she finds herself snatched from the marsh and put on trial. Will she lose her way of life forever?

This was the buzz book of the last year. It is a debut novel and the writing is luminous in places as the author describes the flora and fauna of the coastal environment. It is hard to believe that a situation like Kya's could exist but the novel moves the reader along with a suspension of belief that flows. The reader cannot help but sympathize with Kya and her life. This book is recommended for readers of literary fiction.

Kya is an astonishingly bright young woman. Abandoned at a young age and left to fend for herself in her family’s North Carolina marshland home, she learns to survive. She makes the most of what she has (with a little help from Jumpin’- who has a gas depot in the marsh - and his wife Mabel). When she meets Tate, she gains the first friend of her life, He teachers her to read and she shares her marsh knowledge. But when he goes off to college, she feels abandoned once again. Then she meets chase, a young man from a wealthy family, who nearly destroys the entire course of her life. Rich character-driven plot, in which the marsh itself is a character. Illuminating look at the treatment of rural poor in mid-century America. Engrossing prose and a storyline reminiscent of To Kill a Mockingbird. Read if you like: The Great Alone, Educated, Tell the Wolves I’m Home, I Am Still Alice, and stories by Sara Gruen and Charles Frazier. (Many thanks to GP Putnam & Sons, and Netgalley.)

Absolutely fantastic.
Kya is just six years old when her mother leaves, never to return. Her father is a mean drunk and a gambler who regularly beats her mother, and sometimes inflicts similar abuse on her and her four brothers and sisters. Soon after their mother’s abrupt departure, her three older siblings disappear. Then one day, her brother, whom she loves dearly, also decides to leave. So Kya is left alone with her father, who, when he isn’t consuming alcohol, takes her fishing and teaches her how to steer a boat. Yet that soon changes, as he becomes violent and starts drinking again. One day he leaves and doesn’t return.

So, when she is just 10, Kya is left all alone in the marsh. She learns fairly quickly how to take care of herself, but her life is a hard, lonesome and sad one. All this time, Kya longs for human interaction. She is fortunate enough to befriend local gas seller Jumpin’ and his wife, Mabel, along with a boy named Tate, who teaches her to read, write and count. Tate has opened up a whole new world to Kya, and she starts to record the wildlife of the marsh. Nonetheless, for residents of Barkley Cove, a small town on the North Carolina coast, Kya is just a “Marsh Girl.” Thus, when Chase Andrews, a young local, is found dead, Kya is the first and only suspect.
Full review available at: <a href="https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/where-the-crawdads-sing">Bookreporter</a>

I really enjoyed this book but I have to confess: I do not get what all of the hype has been about (including having it on many lists of the best books of 2019). I had several issues with the writing that couldn't get me over the hump to give this 5 stars. The story centers around a young girl who has been completely abandoned by her family and lives on the marsh alone in North Carolina, learning to survive by becoming one with nature and animals and relying on the kindness of a few select people. Owens does have a beautiful way with language and because of her own naturalist background has a great deal of knowledge about plants and animals and can describe them in a unique and interesting way. However, there were tons of aspects of the novel that felt hugely unrealistic to me. Without getting too spoiler-y, most of the main plot points had major holes in them (especially the resolution of a trial involving the main character). Also, I felt like the pacing was way off - the beginning and some of the middle felt tedious and then the ending was incredibly rushed. While Owens did a good job fleshing out her characters, it also felt jumbled the way she switched back and forth between perspectives (often totally unnecessarily). I have to give this four stars since I appreciate the overall story and themes of prejudice and loneliness, but I'm still stumped by this one's fandom.

Beautifully written book, with a wonderful sense of atmosphere and fantastic descriptions of nature. The main character is sympathetic and easy to root for, while the interjecting mystery is fascinating and keeps you wanting to know more. Really enjoyed this one.

This book is destined to be a classic. It's yet to leave the charts and envelopes you into a world that is so pure and fascinating. The characters seem real and you feel a deep connection with them. You definitely do not want to miss this book. Buy a copy today and put it on the top of your TBR.

Oh my God how this book broke my heart! The story of Kya is one that pulls at your heartstrings she is left alone after her mother took off and in time all her siblings leave and leave her alone with her father. After not being able to take it any longer she takes off into the marsh and soon she is accused of killing Chase. Kya past and family life is one that will bring you to tears, I dare you to read this and not be effective in some way.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was so beautifully written that it's hard to believe that this is the author's first novel. I was pulled in at the beginning and it held my interest all the way through. I kept trying to guess the ending, but never figured it out; I was very surprised! All-around great read and I look forward to other books written by Owens!
Grateful to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book, but beating myself up that I just now got around to reading it!

Where the Crawdads Sing is now one of my top ten favorite books ever! (And I read about 100 books a year.) It is beautifully written: I love her descriptions of nature that are lyrical yet not too long or over=the-top. The pace of the story is perfect, keeping the reader in suspense. Love, love, love this book.

Wow. This book was everything I could ever want in a book. It kept me engaged until the very end. The premise was interesting and kept me guessing. I also loved the characters and was intrigued to see what they would do.

First book of the year did not disappoint. There are several things about this book that are phenomenal including the language which paints such vivid pictures, and just the description of the world in which Kya inhabits. The book also does such a great job of describing her relationships with people. That is the part that I found so emotional.. how can so many people just turn a blind eye to someone who is clearly in need! The pacing is good and I finished the second half of the book in one sitting.

I can’t wait to see the movie. I was trying to cast Kya in my head but I guess I just don’t know young actresses anymore.. I have no idea who I’d cast.

Anyway. I thought the book was excellent and I recommend it highly.

This book is a runaway hit so I don't think my review will help propel it much further! It was a cross between Terry Tempest Williams' "Refuge" and Scott O'Dell's "The Island of the Blue Dolphins" with a splash of Karen Russell's "Swamplandia." A beautiful book.

An absolutely phenomenal debut novel with a story that I predict will stay with me for years to come. I have stopped keeping track of the number of people to whom I've recommended this book; it's must-reading, in my opinion! I will certainly keep an eye out for anything by Delia Owens in the future; highly recommend.

In a word, Where the Crawdads Sing is BEAUTIFUL, sad but beautiful.
Kya Clark is abandoned in a marsh shack by her family first then by young men whom she thought loved and cared for her.
The detailed, ornate language used to describe the marshlands of North Carolina was enchanting. I could not only see the flora and fauna but hear, smell, feel, and even taste Kya’s world.
In many ways, the trial scenes reminded me of To Kill a Mockingbird. In fact, I was often making connections to Mockingbird without even realizing it.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy.