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missai's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Unfortunately, this book falls into the paradoxically "sanitized-yet-still-trauma-porn" category that is endemic in women's historical fiction. One could argue that the numbness experienced by the characters is mirrored in the reader's own experience, where every new terrible thing is no longer shocking. To me, though, this concept wasn't executed well enough, and reads as more of a stylistic issue, which extends to other areas of the writing.
Narrated from third-person, the POV sporadically jumps around to various characters outside the main one. Consequently, all of the perspectives are watered down. The son's POV felt contrived and didn't add any emotional depth for me. Once the twins were introduced, I actually found the main character's plot line wholly uninteresting and wanted to know more about the girls. They experience so much intimate trauma that is largely brushed aside and used as a plot device.
And I have issues with the world building in general. I didn't come out of this novel feeling like I learned much about how cartels operate, how migrants navigate the "legal" systems in Mexico, or how U.S. government decisions regarding the border impacted migrants' journeys. All of these elements are included superficially, so I was disappointed that the novel didn't add any depth to my existing understanding of these topics. It also rubbed me the wrong way how the story romanticized the cartel leader; I'm all for humanizing villains, but it was done in a light-handed way that I think leans more towards problematic than nuanced.
Overall, the prose was good and so was the narration, but American Dirt is certainly not the tell-all on Mexican migrants' experiences the way positive reviews make it out to be.
Graphic: Trafficking and Blood
Moderate: Sexual assault, Police brutality, Suicide, Violence, Rape, Child death, Death, and Kidnapping
Minor: Body horror, Misogyny, Gun violence, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Death of parent, and Deportation
bookellys's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Police brutality, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Trafficking, Grief, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Deportation, Confinement, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, and Torture
moniipeters's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Death of parent, Gore, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Child death, Murder, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual harassment, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Deportation, Misogyny, Medical content, Miscarriage, Police brutality, Rape, and Xenophobia
orlagal's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Cancer, Car accident, Child death, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Pedophilia, Vomit, Violence, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Rape, Racism, and Pregnancy