Book Review: American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

I learned of the controversy surrounding this book only after I read it. And after reading other people’s reviews and articles, I felt like I should be ashamed for enjoying the book. It discouraged me from writing a review… which is exactly why I’m writing a review. 

This book was recommended to me as a beautiful work of fiction, and I read it as such. If I’m being honest, I kind of assumed the author would be Latin, and when I found out she was white, I realized that her experience could only be secondary, but I didn’t find anything wrong with it. She was called to write a story, she did her research, and she wrote a piece of fiction that called attention to the plights of other people. And she did it well. 

I respect others when they say that Latin authors are not receiving the same publicity, and their voices are not being heard. I hear that. But, I don’t think that is grounds to attack this author or her novel. Again, it’s a novel. She is not advertising it as a memoir; she is not trying to steal other people’s stories. She is trying to represent other people in a humane way. You may think that she may not have the right to do it. But empathizing and representing other people in (hopefully) a humane way is what literature is all about. Cummins had the resources to do just that, and I can’t help but think that is a good thing. Even from the outrage surrounding it, more attention has been garnered toward more authentic resources and Latin authors. I obviously can’t speak for the Latin community; I’ve read some reviews from people within that community that are dreadfully offended, others that loved the book. A novel that sparks a debate about an important issue would be beautiful if there wasn’t so much antagonism involved. People refuse to understand each other lately. 

Was there a little too much melodrama in the novel? Absolutely. It could be unbelievable at times. I’m not going to list them here, because I don’t want to give spoilers. And it is entirely reasonable to not want to read this book because of Cummins’ lack of experience and unfamiliarity with the culture. Go read and support Latin authors. I understand that people are angry about the sheer amount of money Cummins has made off of this book. Honestly, I could go on a mile-long rant about the amount of money given to entertainers. It’s unfair, especially when there are people giving their lives to better this country and receiving an abysmally small salary. But I’d rather the money be given to an author who wants to spark an important conversation than an athlete who bounces a ball around in circles for a living. 

For those of you who do want to read it and form your own opinions, I think it’s a beautifully written piece of fiction with a downright compelling cast of characters. The melodrama can be a bit much at times, like I said, but it didn’t stop me from enjoying the novel. The descriptions of emotions felt new to me, but relatable. The characters were nuanced and flawed. I became attached to the secondary characters, and was practically begging the author not to make the protagonists leave them. The author moved smoothly from perspective to perspective, and the pace flowed along perfectly. It sparked empathy for anyone going through a similar experience. I don’t necessarily perceive this novel as an accurate portrayal of Latin culture or of an immigrant’s journey. It’s a work of fiction. And as a work of fiction, I think it’s written very well and with compassion.