Reviews

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

bex2024's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

4.0

pick_ren's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

mccarthygirl25's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative

4.0

This is a bit of a long thought. But stick with me! Going into this book I had already been aware of the difficulties illegal immigrants have to go through. In college I read a book called Enrique’s Journey by Sonia Nazario. This book really opened my eyes and I highly recommend it. American Dirt did remind me of that book and overall I liked the story. “These people would leave their home, their cultures, their families, even their languages and venture into tremendous peril, risking their lives, for the chance to get to the dream of some far away country that doesn’t even want them.” Pg 94 After looking at Goodreads reviews I wanted to include on by David Bowles a writer for NYT. I’m still thinking about this review. I feel it’s difficult because the author is not part of the community going through this trauma. But at the same time I do think it’s important to shine a light on these issues. #booklover #readersofinstagram

trumombooks's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

hilarymofi's review against another edition

1.0

This is a hard review for me to write because, although Mrs. Cummin’s is a great writer, she is not Mexican.

I feel very conflicted about American Dirt. On one hand, I do agree with the author that migrant stories must be told. Migrants must be humanized. However, I have a very big problem with a woman who identifies as white telling a migrant’s story. We need people to tell their own. I felt she reverted to some long lingering stereotypes associated with the Latin community. She cheapens the characters to the point where I feel like I’m “watching” a melodramatic telenovela for sheer entertainment. You have this Mexican woman who flirts with a drug cartel Jefe and is surprised when he murders her entire family. The story feels meretricious and rubbishy in her hands. Why can’t brown people tell their own stories, and get as much of the money making publishing machine to front them loads of cash? Oh, that’s right, because the publishing industry is over 80% white...

Sigh...I’m glad the story was told in a sense, but I want to see it written by the hands of those whose story it actually is.

psmak's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

marliehallett's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

misslaurielou88's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

jcoryv's review against another edition

5.0

Listened to this on Audible... narrator was excellent.

Heard there was controversy about the author not being Hispanic. Gatekeeping, ugh. My take: it’s an important story and well told.

Highly recommend.

rhour3's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A very good novel full of tension, anguish and uneasiness. Made me never want to visit Mexico.