In 1952, six-year-old Kya watches her mom leave their shack in the bog. In a little while, her kin, including her darling 12-year-old sibling Jodie, leave as well, abandoning Kya with Pa, a tipsy, debilitated World War II vet inclined to savage furies.
After that, Tate appears at the stump and offers to teach her to read. Tate and Kya begin to meet at a secret cabin in the marsh where he teaches her to read. As Kya matures, One day Tate finds Kya sick on Point Beach. He explains to her that she is having her period.
Kya draws nearer to Chase. Tate, who is home from school, needs to apologize to Kya, however sees her kissing Chase and dismisses. Pursue begins discussing marriage and welcomes Kya on a short-term trip
Joe and Ed find a red fleece cap in Kya's shack that Tate gave her and that matches the strands on Chase's jacket. With this data, they capture Kya for murder.After shutting explanations, everybody anticipates the decision. Kya is seen as not liable. Jodie brings her back home, where she is more than happy to see the marsh once more.
Tate finds a feather in his boat from Kya. At the shack, they express their love for each other and Tate moves in with her.Tate works at the nearby lab and Kya writes seven more books. One day Tate finds Kya in her boat, dead of a heart attack at age 64. On her tombstone, he inscribes “The Marsh Girl.” Many townspeople come to Kya’s funeral on her land. That night, Tate finds two items beneath the floorboards. One is a box of poems by Amanda Hamilton, a pseudonym Kya used, including a poem describing Chase Andrews’ death. Tate also finds the shell necklace Kya gave Chase.