A local bookstore owner in Acapulco, Mexico is forced to flee Mexico with her eight-year-old son after experiencing a terrifying act of violence. American Dirt is one mother/son migrant journey story, filled with terror, violence, hope and undying love. While American Dirt is a beautifully written, page-flipping saga, it was also one of the most polarizing books of the year. Extreme criticism surrounded the white author’s decision to tell a story that many argued was not hers to tell. American Dirt checks many boxes: riveting narrative arc, unforgettable characters, sizzling pacing. But, the flaming issues of cultural appropriation and the white gaze leave a thick smoke of conflict around this book.
What Should I Read? 