American Dirt

Locations
Call Number: Adult Book / Fiction / General / Cummins, Jeanine, Fiction / Cummins, Jeanine
On Shelf At: Malletts Creek Branch, Pittsfield Branch

Acapulco. Lydia Quixano Perez lruns a bookstore. She has a son, Luca; her wonderful husband is a journalist. And while there are cracks beginning to show in Acapulco because of the drug cartels, her life is fairly comfortable. Javier browses at the store and comes up to the register with two of her favorites books. Javier is charming... and the jefe of the newest drug cartel that has gruesomely taken over the city. When her husband's tell-all profile of Javier is published, Lydia and Luca find themselves making their way north toward the United States, the only place Javier's reach doesn't extend. But what exactly are they running to? -- adapted from jacket

REVIEWS & SUMMARIES

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Excellent submitted by 21621031390949 on June 15, 2020, 11:13am There’s lots of controversy about this book and whether or not the author had “the right” to write it. Some complaints about its authenticity. That said, for this white American it was an eye-opening story, both believable and well-written. Anyone opposed to allowing refugees to immigrate to the US needs to read it.

Gripping, compelling... but I have mixed feelings submitted by selujules on June 27, 2020, 3:03pm As a piece of fiction that will grab your heart and bring you on an odyssey, I loved it. It was beautiful and compelling, eye-opening (for me; I don't know much about this topic), and I could not put it down.

However, about half way through the book, I mentioned I was reading it to a coworker, who alerted me to the (very justified, IMO) controversy about the book's authorship, and whether the writer engaged in appropriation, or whether her book was exploitative. I did some reading about this, and was torn about whether or not I wanted to finish it.

I did. I was too committed, too attached to the characters, too invested in the outcome. It's a beautiful, haunting story that has stayed with me since I put it down, and I would recommend it. I agree with the above reviewer wholeheartedly.

Great Read! submitted by danayerace on July 24, 2020, 11:05am I loved how this book took me through Mexico. It is a hard subject matter but I thought the story and journey made it understandable.

gripping story, beautiful writing submitted by apknapp on August 18, 2020, 11:09pm Wow, this was intense. The level of detail was astonishing; every scene was vivid, every character fully realized. The author spent years researching, and it really shows. The story was devastating, as it damn well should be. As far as the controversy about whether a white author has the right to portray this story, and questions as to the authenticity of that portrayal, obviously the publishing industry should be doing more to amplify marginalized voices. But until that happens, I'm glad someone who has a platform used it to tell this very important story, and told it so beautifully.

Amercian Dirt and Cancel Culture submitted by CarolSeidl on August 28, 2020, 1:52pm My rating clearly indicates that I loved the book. However, with all of the controversy swirling around it, I felt I should also take time to understand its harshest critics. I've posted my reflections, which contain no spoilers, here:

https://casdinteret.com/2020/08/american-dirt-the-out-crowd-and-cancel-culture/

Struggled submitted by smgop on June 14, 2021, 11:33am I had a hard time from the get-go with this book. It is a story that should be told - and there is much controversy about it - but I plodded through it painfully.

Fascinating submitted by mandevil on August 10, 2021, 4:48pm Horrifying and mesmerizing

Compelling read submitted by cindyannoconnor on June 12, 2023, 11:01am I found this a compelling read. It was action was emotional and horrifying at times but I was drawn into the main characters story and wanted to find out what happened in the end. What an ordeal traveling through Mexico and the dangers they encountered. I felt this was as close to the real story as I will ever get and I felt empathic towards immigrants trying to get into our country at our southern border.

Really Powerful submitted by bll1010 on August 2, 2023, 10:17pm I was incredibly moved by this story. It was frequently heart-breaking, but the characters were so deeply drawn. Super compelling and full of powerful emotions.