When critics write that the author does not have street cred to write a migra book, they are somewhat misinformed. Her grandmother, her husband, and her research are permission enough to write a good book about the middle class mother, Lydia, who fights for the life of her son. Good and merciful Mexicans along the way feed and shelter the migrant groups. Empathy and action for the migras is what I hope the reader takes to heart.

This book is brilliant. I could not put it down. Despite some reviewers stating it is “racist” and a white Woman should not be writing from a Mexican woman’s point of view, they only racist thing about it is their reviews. The author, married to an undocumented immigrant, is well versed and clearly researched the issues around illegal immigration into America. She highlights issues I’d never thought deeply about and if her aim was to get this story told, this story of hundreds, thousands of disp...

I was surprised by how much I loved this book. I found the story compelling. Thought it was well written. Found the characters well formed. Liked getting their back stories. Am still thinking about the characters and themes and want to know more about how their lives unfold. This last comment happens to me rarely.

This is a very straightforward book. Lydia and her son, Luca, have to escape from Acapulco because the local druglord wants to kill them. They decide go north to America. From there it's one damn thing after another--they go through about every difficulty that's possible. The book gives the reader a good idea of how hard it is for South American migrants to get here. Maybe we ought to treat them a little better.

Okay. I read this. Why? Because I was told not to. Review a book honestly and I'll use that information to decide whether or not it's for me. But please don't try to shame me into not reading it. That having been said, I'd like to say that I loved the book just to spite the book burners. I can't. It lacks authenticity. The setting descriptions are stilted and the characters lack depth. Some call this cultural appropriation. I just call it a failure to write what you know. To be completely fair,

I am anxiously awaiting this book’s release date. I loved the sample.

American DirtBy Jeanine CumminsI could not quite work out which screamed the loudest, the media-hyped adverse commentary on American Dirt or the superlative promotional accolades plastered in the front and back of the book. The opening chapter immediately drew me in with it subtle and deliberate unfolding of the story. My appetite was whetted. This was just the kind of stuff I liked – original story told in the tradition of great creative non-fiction. But my disappointment emerged within the nex...

This book is the best book I have read in quite some time. It’s heartbreaking, tragic, inspirational, and something that will stay with me for a very long time. I think everyone should read this book. You can’t help but think about you being in this situation and how you would react. How would others treat you? Excellent storytelling.

My second read of this book so I can discuss with my book club and it was just as good as the first time. Highly recommend!

Spellbinding. I finished in two days. An unlikely friendship between the seemingly mild mannered bookish Jefe of a brutal mexican drug cartel and a woman who owns a bookshop. Carnage ensues and she has to flee for her life. An educated woman becomes one of the migrants who come looking for a better life in El Norte. I know that there has been controversy about a white woman who dares to write about Latino community. I could care less what background she comes from. Her writing shines forth wit

Bala Mudaley writes in Good Reads:American DirtBy Jeanine CumminsI could not quite work out which screamed the loudest, the media-hyped adverse commentary on American Dirt or the superlative promotional accolades plastered in the front and back of the book.The opening chapter immediately drew me in with it subtle and deliberate unfolding of the story. My appetite was whetted. This was just the kind of stuff I liked – original story told in the tradition of great creative non-fiction.But my disap...

Written by someone who didn't identified as Latinx nor brown a couple of years ago, before receiving a millionaire contract to write the experience of other Latinx immigrant brown people. Her research about my culture was clearly done online and uses pure sterotypes that she clearly does not understand. Sadly, this is getting way too much attention and publicity since someone big realky wants it to succeed. This is concerning since this can mark the new way white Americans view at the Latinx com...

“On this side, too, there are dreams.”I loved this book. I loved that it personalizes a group of people we have dehumanized. The publicity surrounding it should only encourage more people to read it- it should be required reading for all people I think as it speaks not only for immigrants to the US but for immigrants around the world.

I wish Trump could read so he could read this book and develop some empathy. As the author states, humans are human. As disturbing as parts of the book were, they ring true.

I will think of migrants much differently now that I’ve read this book! The comforts I take for granted: food, shelter, safety, and so much more will all be appreciated in a profoundly different way now!

nice

I know there's a lot of back lash about this book, but we just read it for our book club and it was incredibly moving. Don't let the back lash stop you from reading. Then once your heart is broken for the plight of migrants coming into America, read other books on the subject as well. There's room and need for many books on this issue. Let this be one of them too.

I choose to honor Latino protests and will not be reading this book.

Before I read this book I had heard rave reviews. I did read one that didn’t rate it called it “ Trauma porn” and unauthentic in every detail. Interesting! I have to say from the moment I started “ American Dirt” I found it riveting. I particularly enjoyed the first part which was well paced, engaging and just gripping. It is an easy and exciting read and I did enjoy it very much. However, I felt as the book progressed it became “ sensational”, trite and a little bit predictable. You could make

I had read American Dirt in October (and wrote a review) but my book club is only discussing it tonight (almost 3 months later!) and so I wanted a review! I loved re-reading the whole book... Cummins writes beautifully and for non-Mexicans, gives a flavor of the complexity of this country and Central America with the peppering of Spanish. Her deft touches such as Luca wearing his father's hat "so currents of his scent puff out" then realizing he might use up this possibility... so he stops touch...