While it is somewhat uncomfortable to consider Kya’s sexual maturity because she is only 14, her development is indeed one of Owens’s focuses in
Where the Crawdads Sing, as the author charts Kya’s transition from childhood to adulthood. This dynamic emerges when Tate notices Kya’s body and notes that her physical maturity clashes with her otherwise childish demeanor—a consideration that will be important to bear in mind as their relationship progresses. On another note, Tate’s offer to teach Kya how to read once more emphasizes his unbridled kindness, proving that he truly means her no harm and simply wants to connect with her.