Host a Fantastic Book Club for Where the Crawdads Sing With Questions

Delia Owens’ debut novel, Where the Crawdads Sing, rocketed to success after Reese Witherspoon chose it as a book club pick for Hello Sunshine. We loved the book so much that we knew we needed to host a book club for Where the Crawdads Sing in our IRL book club…months before Reese chose it for hers.

We decided to theme up and create a menu to go along with our Where the Crawdads Sing book club questions! When we threw it all together at the last minute, we realized how much depth the food added to the discussion, so we decided to share our menu and questions with you. We hope you find it helpful should you choose to host a book club for Where the Crawdads Sing.

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Where the Crawdads Sing Book Summary

Where the Crawdads Sing by Dehlia Owens is both a murder mystery and a coming-of-age story set in the North Carolina marshes. Kya Clark, The Marsh Girl, is abandoned first by her mother, then her siblings, and eventually her father at a very young age. She is forced to fend for herself in the marshes, away from society.

With the help of two beloved friends, she is able to learn to care for herself but not without experiencing cruelty and violence.  Then, she finds herself faced with murder charges and is forced to confront her secrets and past that have shaped her into the woman that she has become. 

This is a novel that is so much more than the sum of its parts. It is a story that is about love, nature, perseverance, and the importance of human connections. I will not give away the ending, but if you have not read this book, it is perfect for your next book club

Book Club for Where the Crawdads Sing: Menu

First, we set the mood for our mini-book club with food! Food is an essential part of the book club for Where the Crawdads Sing. The book takes place in the marshlands of North Carolina, so it’s only appropriate that our menu is inspired by Carolina cuisine!

All of the food items were super fast to make (or buy!) and could easily be divided up for a potluck-style book club evening. We can’t say the meal is the most nutritious, but it is WELL worth the calories!

• Fried Chicken- There are tons of recipes online and many families have their own favorites. You can even purchase some at your local grocery store.
• Mac and Cheese- We know that mac and cheese recipes can be a family secret and for good reason. If you do not have a favorite recipe, ask one of the members of your book club to make their favorite and bring it along!
• Greens- We wanted to add our greens with brussel sprouts. We love them roasted with olive oil, salt and pepper. They will be crispy and delicious.
• Baked sweet potatoes- cover these bad boys in salt and olive oil and roast them in the oven for an amazing treat.
• Biscuits- Who doesn’t love a good biscuit? If you are short on time, you can even use Pillsbury!
• Peach Cobbler- A good peach cobbler is an amazing and delectable treat

Where the Crawdads Sing Book Club Questions

1. Everyone in Kya’s family leaves her one by one. Did you see this coming? Do you think this is realistic?
   
2. Do you think Kya could have fended for herself in the marshes of North Carolina?
   
3. Why do you think Kya’s mother never tried to come back to the marsh?
   
4. Do you think Kya’s life would have been better or worse if her father had stayed
   
5. Kya decides not to return to school. How would her life have changed if she stayed in school?
   
6. Jumpin’ and Mabel play a major role in Kya’s upbringing. How do you think they influenced the person she became?
   
7. Describe how Chase and Tate shaped Kya. Why do you think Chase was simultaneously attracted to Kya and repelled by her?
   
8. Who do you think had the bigger influence on Kya- Chase or Tate?
   
9. We get to see Kya become a successful author and illustrator. How do we see her creativity influence her throughout the book?
   
10. Kya has spent her whole life ostracized by the community of Barkley Cove. Do you think they owed her anything?
    
11. Were you surprised by the outcome of the trial?
    
12. What do you think about Tate’s discovery at the end of the novel and Does it change your view of Kya?
    
13. How does Tate’s discovery change your view of the rest of the book?

Did you host a book club for Where to Crawdads Sing? We would love to hear all about it!