(洋書を読んだ)Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

I always try to read the book before watching the movie. If I were to use one adjective to describe this book, it would be "powerful". The main character Kya is a prime suspect of a murder investigation. She is full of despair and sadness because all the people she loved deserts her and she is left all alone with an abusive father at a very young age. She has a few friends, who keep an eye on her, and she learns how to do everything on her own, mostly, how to survive on her own.

While I was reading the book, I loved it when Kya and her childhood friend Tate got together and found myself rooting for their relationship. I also loved how she found herself mesmerized by the beauty of the marsh. As a mother myself, my heart ached every time she imagined her mother returning home. My heart ached every time she was at home feeling lonely and all alone, especially after something horrible happens and she has to deal with it all alone, emotionally and physically.

I kept wondering if the people around Kya truly couldn't do anything more to help her, but then again, sadly, it's probably like that in the real world too. We see things, we don't know how much we are supposed to help or if we should help at all. What would I do if I were at the cash register and a girl with bare feet and dirty clothes came to buy groceries? What would be the right thing to do? This is not an easy question. I'd like to keep an open mind and wide open arms and be able to act when necessary. Easier said than done but having that mindset is perhaps a start??