Kya is a child when her whole family leaves her alone in the marsh. First, her mother, fleeing her brutal husband, then her brothers and sisters and finally her father. She has to survive by herself, being considered “marsh trash” by the people of Barkley Cove, a small town in South Carolina. She will grow and learn and love but will be permanently abandoned. Then, a young man from the village dies, falling from a tower, in what looks like a murder. Kya is immediately a suspect and imprisoned for two months, but the jury finds her not guilty… and her life goes on in the march. This story is an ode to nature and resilience. It carries the softness of a magnificent story. The best book I have read this year. But… beware of the final twist.
“Never underrate
the heart,
Capable of deeds
The mind cannot conceive.
The heart dictates as well as feels.
How else can you explain
The path I have taken,
That you have taken
The long way through this pass?“
Listened to as an audiobook