pickledpotato1021's reviews
181 reviews

My review is my thoughts, my opinions, and my POV. Trigger/Content warnings may be considered spoilers about certain themes or plot twists in the story. 

TW/CW: Attempted rape; Abandonment; Alcoholism; Racism; Racial slurs; Murder; Underage relationship

Minor spoilers ahead

Disclaimer: I am a POC, who has suffered from DV, abusive relationships, child neglect, and severe isolation, therefore I think all my criticisms surrounding these topics are valid. Are they "correct" or set in stone? No. It's my point of view. Don't agree? That's cool. Still my opinion tho. 

Reasons I didn't like it in order from serious to down right petty: 

1. The authors husband is wanted for questioning in Africa for a murder. Let's just get that outta the way. Did I know about it before I bought the book? No. Will I watch the movie? No. Will I buy her work again? No, not just because of this, but because every other reason below as well. 

2. Tate is attracted to Kya because she doesn't look like a woman, she looks like a little girl. Also, she's 14 and he's 18 when he KISSES HER, acknowledges that she might be too young, but after she says she "knows feathers and other girls don't" he's like yeah sure I'll date a child. Even going into mild detail on how he wants to see her breasts, feel her thighs, and how thinking about past her thighs made him horny. She is a CHILD. Tate even acknowledged she's a child when they almost have sex, but he decides otherwise because she's a child. And then says "you sound like a child" as he pulls her closer. We also learn that Tate knew Kya since she was 3 years old which makes it all worse. I don't care if it's the time period, we know it's wrong, we could have written it better couldn't we Delia? 

3. Nagging someone until they say yes does not mean consent. Coercion or persuasion does not mean consent. Both of those are rape. 

4. Why is the main character portrayed as this smart, nature forged survivalist but she makes some of the worst choices? She herself at 10 years old after being abandoned by EVERYONE acknowledged that she COULD turn herself in to get help, and then says "no I can't leave the marsh." Why, why can't you leave the marsh? You are broke, starving, and have the wear withal to know you're broke and starving and could benefit from help but didn't seek it. This isn't an "I'm in an abusive relationship and can't get out because I'm trapped" situation. In this case the ONLY thing holding her back at the marsh is herself. 

5. The writing is atrocious. Specifically the dialogue. I understand what Owens was trying to do, but she didn't do it. 

6. This is set in a time where segregation was still a thing, however our MC is a white child. The bits added about there being "colored schools" and such added nothing to the plot. We all know segregation was a thing in the 1950s. I feel it was just really unnecessary and gave me the ick. That doesn't apply to "Colored Town" because it was in fact a real place and a setting in the book where the colored schools and restaurants didn't matter, and wouldn't have effected the plot had they been left out. That's just my POV as a POC. 

7. After the pointless mentions of the colored schools and restaurants that again hold no plot value, we learn that Kya doesn't know about or understand racism based on her reaction to the boys throwing rocks at Jumpin. 

8. Why wouldn't she hug him? We saw back when she was younger she didn't realize what racism was, and even if she does now we know she's not racist because she's been friends with Jumpin for years, so why is it that "in another time and place a black man and white woman would hug" when that's completely out of character for Kya? 

9. The fact that Jumpin' is tricking Kya into bringing the fish instead of telling her that these clothes and shoes and such are being donated to her is weird. They're gonna give her the clothes anyway, they're basically exploiting her for free bad fish to make stew. The fish trading goes on for 4 years and Jumpin' nor any of the others think to follow Kya on the boat and find out what in the world is happening on the marsh and why Kya is the one bartering. They let this 10-14 year old girl keep coming and no one thinks maybe we should check this out? Maybe we should talk to her dad and see if we can bring more for the family? Because if they had this book would be 200 pages shorter. 

10. You're telling me after just learning how to read and write Kya jumps from "cab" to "Pleistocene?" No. No she doesn't. 

11. So slave hymns are now romantic songs to sing in a boat with your lover, during the Jim Crow era? At least she's an adult now so I guess that's all I can ask for.   

12. The blurb says Kya is immediately suspected of the murder. She's not. In fact the police don't mention the marsh for 5 of the 1969 chapters, it takes 6 of the 1969 chapters for Kya to be named, and even mentioned other possible suspects before she was thought of. 

13. Tate says he'll be back in "about a month for the 4th of July" in 1960. The next chapter is July 4th of 1961 with no mention of the fact we skipped ahead a year. Petty? Maybe. Do I care? No. 

14. After ALL that, that's the end? Really? 

15. Why didn't she cook the hen? She couldn't save it, it's food, why didn't she cook the hen??

16. Why is there 2 pages on animal reproduction? I didn't sign up for a zoology class. 

17. Does this not have a striking resemblance to To Kill a Mocking Bird just.. flip the races and change the crime? 

18. Fishwife.

“You don’t really know what they are smiling about; still, you hope they’re smiling because of you.”
A young girl born in Seoul recounts her time as a child, when she is taught only a man can provide for a family. The message behind this is important, but it was just a struggle to finish.