When I purchased this book I was not aware of the controversy that came along with it. I do not believe that I have enough knowledge of the matter to comment on this novel in any way other than as a review of a piece of fictional writing.

American dirt follows Lydia and her son Luca who are left desperately fleeing for their lives after their whole family is massacred. As the fight to make it to the north they face a whole host of obstacles and meet a variety of people along the way.

This novel kept me constantly on my toes. I almost felt like I was having to watch over my own shoulder all of the time. Jeanine Cummins manages to keep the pace high throughout the book, even during periods of relative ‘calm’. I absolutely fell in love with some of the characters, especially Luca who I wanted to be able to protect. Cummins’ writing was beautifully descriptive, it felt so vivid I believed at times that I had been transported to Mexico.

Right from the first couple of pages I was drawn into this book. The ending felt particularly bitter sweet to me. It was certainly I journey I will not forget. I do not feel I have the knowledge or the right to comment on this book in relation to real life. I’ve had a privileged upbringing as have the people in my life. However, there are some excellent reviews and recommendations from others that highlight other works on similar topics. I will definitely look into these as a way of enhancing my understanding.

Would I recommend this book as a piece of fiction? Absolutely. Can I say if it is an accurate representation of real life? No I cannot.