Book Groups Comment on AMERICAN DIRT by Jeanine Cummins

In November, a selection of book groups won copies of AMERICAN DIRT by Jeanine Cummins, Oprah's latest book club pick, February's Barnes & Noble Book Club selection, and a Bookreporter.com Bets On title. They were asked to read the book and answer some questions about it. We are happy to share their comments with you here. Many thanks to all who took the time to give us such wonderful feedback.

Barbara W. of Boulevard Book Group from Westfield, NJ

What did your group think of AMERICAN DIRT?
Every person loved the book. We found it current, educational and an emotional rollercoaster. The pace was breathtaking. It was hard to put down, but at the same time, it made us nervous to see what would happen next. People thought it was beautifully written and the characters well drawn. We had a long discussion on the kindness of many of the characters and how good can overcome evil. A few of us referenced our town’s recent MLK service, where the theme was Dr. King’s quote, “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way” and how it applied so many times to events in the book.

We did address the current controversies surrounding the book, and while certainly acknowledging the need for Latinx voices telling their stories, we thought there is room for Cummins’ book. We think she had the best intentions in writing it and did her research. If it brings attention to books about the issue or encourages us to read books by Latinx authors, that’s a good thing. Awareness of the current plight of migrants is such an important issue in modern-day America. We liked how the story personalized the situation of those trying to immigrate to the US. We all took note of the amazing strategies to survive and what one would do in this kind of situation.

A couple of us felt the relationship between Lydia and Javier was a little contrived and that Luca was a bit too grown up for his chronological age.

Please rate AMERICAN DIRT on a scale of 1-5.
Between 4.5 and 5

What three words would your group use to describe AMERICAN DIRT?
Emotional, important, unsettling

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
Absolutely. Several members already have passed the book on to friends and/or family. One member gave it to her contractor, who used to live near the Mexican border and has personal experience with migrants.

In two or three sentences, how would you describe this book to a friend?
From one of our members: “AMERICAN DIRT is a fictional story of why and how people, including comfortable middle-class families, from Mexico and Central America flee their homes and make the dangerous trip to uncertain futures in the United States. It is eye-opening in many ways and helped me better understand the magnitude and desperate nature of the migrant issues.

Please tell us what platforms you/your group posted about AMERICAN DIRT.
I have posted to Goodreads and NetGalley. I also have commented and will continue to comment on various Facebook groups. Unfortunately, as I’m sure you're aware, Amazon restricted reviews to those who purchased from the site. I will post on Bookreporter, and I’ve encouraged others to do so as well.

Lauren B. of Briarcliff Book Club from Fort Thomas, KY

What did your group think of AMERICAN DIRT?
The character development, horror of the circumstances and heart-beating journey kept us mesmerized from the first page. There were so many important moments/relationships in the book. We loved that Lydia was the owner of a book shop. Here are a few lines that captivated our attention and generated endless discussion into the night: 1) The statement “this is not normal” was a brilliant line in the book; 2) Newton’s third law (page 337); and 3) If you’re a person who has the capacity to be a bridge, why not be a bridge?

Please rate AMERICAN DIRT on a scale of 1-5.
5+

What three words would your group use to describe AMERICAN DIRT?
Call to Action

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
Yes, we already have passed our book copies on to many friends/family members, spreading the word on how the book completely changed our perception of the plight of migrants and refugees.

In two or three sentences, how would you describe this book to a friend?
AMERICAN DIRT is a compelling story of the experiences surrounding the journey of migrants from Mexico to the United States. It will keep you turning the pages as you follow Lydia, Luca and their companions eluding the cartels, developing relationships and riding la bestia. A masterful book full of eye-opening circumstances that mimic the current reality at our border, it is a must-read for all Americans!

Please tell us what platforms you/your group posted about AMERICAN DIRT.
Unfortunately, we do not post our discussions on any public platforms. We all have started to follow Cummins through her different media outlets and would be willing to comment on any posts.

P.S. An elementary teacher in our book club stated that they are legally not allowed to know if a student is undocumented or not (page 376). Everyone is allowed to participate in all school activities.

I could write forever about this book as our discussion filled many pages.

Jean B. of Woodbury Y Book Club from Woodbury, MN

What did your group think of AMERICAN DIRT?
General consensus: "Couldn't put it down." AMERICAN DIRT is a good, powerful, thought-provoking story. Overall our group is impressed with the writing style and use of rich language. Very descriptive.

Please rate AMERICAN DIRT on a scale of 1-5.
Five members rated it a 5, and two members rated it a 4.

What three words would your group use to describe AMERICAN DIRT?
Our club couldn't limit this to three words. Among the most mentioned and agreed on are enlightening, tragic, riveting, hopeful and touching.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
Definitely. "Already have." "Have a waiting list for my copy." "Recommended it to another book club."

In two or three sentences, how would you describe this book to a friend?
This is a story that needs to be told (but keeping in mind that it is fiction). It is a compelling story of individual people regarding the current immigration crisis facing the US southern border.

One of our members said, "I only know how the story and characters have captured my conscience and heart. Told through the perspective of immigrants, it gives insight into each person's humanity and desire to be free from terror.”

This book prompted an ongoing discussion of the current immigration problem and that something is wrong with the system.

One sentence (and thought) resonated with everyone: I always thought of immigrants as “those people,” but not anymore.

A member questioned the authenticity of massacring a whole family. Another said, "Because I worked with gangs, the book really resonated with me. Regarding massacring the family, they can't afford to leave witnesses. It happens."

Apparently, whoever is causing the author trouble has not read the book or the ending Author Notes. She does not claim to have firsthand knowledge, but did research and was encouraged to write the story ("...we need as many voices as we can get..."). To say the book is “exploitative” or “oversimplified” is simply untrue...it is fiction. The backlash against her is simply unwarranted.

Please tell us what platforms you/your group posted about AMERICAN DIRT.
Goodreads, Amazon, Pinterest, Bookreporter and Facebook

Karan S. of Saguaro Trails Book Group from Peoria, AZ

What did your group think of AMERICAN DIRT?
Everyone liked/loved the book. Most had read it before the controversy regarding cultural appropriation, so their opinions were not tainted by that issue.

Please rate AMERICAN DIRT on a scale of 1-5.
We had 18 members participate, and there were 13 ratings of 5 and five ratings of 4. No ratings of 3 or lower. This is a tough group, and most of the books we read do not get such overwhelming ratings of 5.

What three words would your group use to describe AMERICAN DIRT?
Powerful, heartbreaking, thought-provoking

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
Yes, we will recommend it to others! Many already had recommended it to friends. Some had loaned it to spouses and other family members. They thought it was beautifully written and told an important and timely story.

In two or three sentences, how would you describe this book to a friend?
This book explores the depth of a mother’s love and the extreme measures she takes to save her son’s life. It shares the harrowing details of their perilous journey as they attempt to escape from the deadly cartel.

Please tell us what platforms you/your group posted about AMERICAN DIRT.
Several posted on Facebook and Instagram.

Thank you for the opportunity to share these advance copies with my neighborhood book group. As residents of Arizona, we could all relate to the hot blistering sun as El Chacal guides them through the desert. The group includes a wide spectrum of political opinions, and this book generated an excellent discussion.

Sherrie E. of The Read and Feed Book Club from Bloomfield Hills, MI

What did your group think of AMERICAN DIRT?
We all liked the book very much, and for different reasons. It’s a story of immigration, a mother’s story, and it’s about the kindness of strangers. The novel is gut-wrenching and eye-opening.

Please rate AMERICAN DIRT on a scale of 1-5.
We're agreed on a definite 5.

What three words would your group use to describe AMERICAN DIRT?
Courageous, empathetic, survival

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
Absolutely. In fact we all have.

In two or three sentences, how would you describe this book to a friend?
It is a story of determination. There are cliffhangers at the end of all the chapters. This powerful story of a mother’s love for her son is so well-written.

Please tell us what platforms you/your group posted about AMERICAN DIRT.
Goodreads, NetGalley, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Amazon

Thank you for the opportunity to enjoy this magnificent story.

Charie V. of Wine & Worms from Arlington, TX

What did your group think of AMERICAN DIRT?
We thought it was amazing! We couldn't stop discussing it. Best book we have read in a long time!

Please rate AMERICAN DIRT on a scale of 1-5.
5!!!

What three words would your group use to describe AMERICAN DIRT?
Intense, powerful, gut-wrenching

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
I already have! It's just so powerful and eye-opening.

In two or three sentences, how would you describe this book to a friend?
An intense story of a mother and son on a desperate journey into America from Mexico while trying to escape the cartel. A good glimpse of how some people come to America and the struggles they face.

Please tell us what platforms you/your group posted about AMERICAN DIRT.
Facebook, Goodreads and Instagram

Thank you so much for this opportunity! We felt "Big Time" when we found out we read this book before Oprah!

Leslie S. of Feckin’ Book Club from Cedar Rapids, IA

What did your group think of AMERICAN DIRT?
Everyone really liked it and thought it was well written. We knew there was a lot of controversy about the book, but still felt it humanized the characters. They are people just like us --- they love their families, care about others and just want a good life for their loved ones. We felt this book was more about the journey --- the anxiety, all the unknowns, the kindness of strangers, the cruelty of those who take advantage of those most vulnerable. Although we wouldn’t say this is a GRAPES OF WRATH kind of book, it is a book any person of privilege needs to read.

We felt that drawing attention to the immigrant experience will draw us to more books on this subject --- and maybe this will give more voice to Hispanic writers that aren’t getting published right now. I appreciated learning how biased the publishing world is (like many industries), and we hope this will give more opportunities to non-white authors.

Please rate AMERICAN DIRT on a scale of 1-5.
4.5

What three words would your group use to describe AMERICAN DIRT?
Anxious, compelling, heart-wrenching

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
Absolutely. Considering all the discussions on immigration right now, this puts the immigrant experience front and center.

In two or three sentences, how would you describe this book to a friend?
This is a book about the immigration experience. It is a necessary read if you care about what immigrants are going through in order to reach the United States. If our President could read, I would recommend it to him.

Please tell us what platforms you/your group posted about AMERICAN DIRT.
Some of us posted on Goodreads. We have a Facebook page, but it’s just for our group.

  Marylisa B. of Class of 2016 Mom’s Book Club from Pasadena, CA

What did your group think of AMERICAN DIRT?
We all loved AMERICAN DIRT! Even though we knew this book was fiction, it brought the risks and hardships of those immigrating north to the reader's attention. "This book is a great read that is relevant to what is happening right now." "It was a page-turner." "This book was enlightening and helped me understand what is going on." "I loved this book. I gave it to my sister to read."

Please rate AMERICAN DIRT on a scale of 1-5.
4.5

What three words would your group use to describe AMERICAN DIRT?
Heart-pounding, illuminating, thrilling

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
YES!! Most members of our group have already recommended AMERICAN DIRT to either family members, co-workers or friends. The book creates an awareness to the story of Lydia and Luca, and Jeanine Cummins gives faces to immigrants.

In two or three sentences, how would you describe this book to a friend?
AMERICAN DIRT is a well-written novel about a mother and son fleeing Acapulco and the cartel to make their way to the US. It is a compelling story with page-turning details regarding what immigrants go through to come to the US and what they are fleeing from.

Please tell us what platforms you/your group posted about AMERICAN DIRT.
Instagram and Goodreads

Pamela S. of Read Between the Wines from Kitty Hawk, NC (The Outer Banks)

What did your group think of AMERICAN DIRT?
We all loved the book. It was educational and made us think of what we would do in the same situation. An excellent read. 

Please rate AMERICAN DIRT on a scale of 1-5.
Of the eight members, half rated it a 4 and the other half a 5.

What three words would your group use to describe AMERICAN DIRT?
Suspenseful, provocative, eye-opening

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
Yes, we all have already recommended the book to several people. We couldn’t put it down and loved all the characters. An excellent story.

In two or three sentences, how would you describe this book to a friend?
AMERICAN DIRT is the story of a mother and son forced to leave Mexico due to a horrible tragedy and the interesting journey as (now) migrants to the US.

Please tell us what platforms you/your group posted about AMERICAN DIRT.
Facebook and Instagram

Michelle T. of High Society Ladies from Denver, CO

What did your group think of AMERICAN DIRT?

• A gripping book for “people like us” to read and learn about
• Completely relatable to us as mothers and readers, especially with its bookstore owner as the main character
• Frustrated by criticisms of Jeanine Cummins writing the book --- we felt that she never meant to pretend that this was her lived experience or for it to be the official narrative of the Latinx immigration experience. It was meant to be worthy, socially relevant fiction. A good writer will put the reader in these types of positions and give you that experience --- in this case, of fleeing for your life from the cartels.
• Worth discussing is the title “American Dirt”: whether it refers to the actual north-of-the-border soil that the migrants are striving to reach, the “dirty laundry” of failed US immigration policies, or a reference to the migrants themselves and whether or not they are considered to be “dirt.”

From one of our members: "True, the story may be a bit far-fetched (the love story part), but from reports I have heard from men, women and children, the brutal rape, assault, robbery, physical and mental degradation of trying to travel to a safe place in El Norte is very real. Working with Catholic charities and refugee clinics, I have been in tears on several occasions listening to the horror stories of innocent people. As a midwife, I have examined women who have been tortured and carry the scars both physically and emotionally --- all to get to a country that does not want them. The author did a great deal of field research, and I praise her for getting the message out to a broader audience."

Please rate AMERICAN DIRT on a scale of 1-5.
3.66

What three words would your group use to describe AMERICAN DIRT?
Gripping, gorgeous, frightening

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
Yes. All but one of our members would recommend this as essential reading --- if not for the narrative of this migration experience, then for the chance to understand why the book has stirred up such controversy. It’s a wonderful tale, with equal portions of terror and grace detailed along the journey. Some of the logistics of the journey defied believability, such as her Mexico City airport identification crisis and her decision to pay a coyote for a perilous desert border passage rather than go directly to the US border and request asylum based on the documentable account of her family's murders. But the journey as viewed through the eyes of Lydia and Luca humanizes the story and makes the novel a compelling read.

In two or three sentences, how would you describe this book to a friend?
This is gorgeous, beautiful writing. You need to read this book; you cannot read it and not be changed. Here is a graphic account of the perils faced by migrants both in Central America and Mexico, and in other places like Syria, Turkey and North Africa.

Please tell us what platforms you/your group posted about AMERICAN DIRT.
Members posted about AMERICAN DIRT on Goodreads, Amazon and Pinterest.