Scan barcode
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
dlsmk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Cursing, Violence, Death of parent, Gore, Blood, Kidnapping, Racism, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Torture, Chronic illness, Body horror, Child death, Death, Deportation, Grief, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, and Suicidal thoughts
alli_k20's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Murder, Blood, Miscarriage, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Body horror, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Child death, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
texashippie'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
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Child death, Grief, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Police brutality, Murder, Racism, Sexual violence, Violence, Death, Rape, Sexism, Stalking, Vomit, Domestic abuse, Gore, Medical content, Mental illness, Suicide, Trafficking, Misogyny, Body horror, Death of parent, Deportation, and Emotional abuse
murve's review against another edition
Countless other reviews and websites have covered the full issues with this book. But since this author identifies as white and is attempting to cover a very sensitive Mexican/Latinx perspective, I will not be finishing this title.
For a more eloquent review from a Mexican American reader with additional resources: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3083591534
Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Murder, Death, Death of parent, Blood, Child death, Hate crime, Gun violence, Body horror, Gore, and Violence
This is an author you should avoid supporting.escaping_america's review
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Trafficking, Murder, Rape, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Sexism, Racism, Death of parent, Death, Alcohol, Violence, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Deportation, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Child death, Body horror, Racial slurs, and Panic attacks/disorders
beccadamb's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Cultural appropriation, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, Stalking, Torture, Trafficking, Violence, and Vomit
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