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Scrolling through Facebook, I stumbled upon a post about American Dirt. Someone was raving about how much they enjoyed the book. Naturally, I couldn’t resist diving into the comments to see what others had to say. This book has always been a sore point for me, so I was curious. As I scrolled through the initial comments, it was all praises, but as I dug deeper, I found a mix of reactions, with some readers pointing out that it just didn’t feel right—superficial character development, a seven-year-old acting out in ways that didn’t seem authentic.

It’s moments like this that validate my decision to skip reading this book. For those who might not know, American Dirt was a book I deliberately chose not to read, and here’s why: it was written by someone who, in my opinion, tried to sell a perspective that wasn’t hers to tell. As an author, I’m deeply committed to writing from lived experiences. My stories may be fictional, but they are grounded in the emotions and realities I’ve personally known. That authenticity is something I pride myself on, and it’s something my readers appreciate.

For instance, in my book Mrs. Franchy’s Evil Ring and the Six Months that Changed Everything, readers often comment on the genuine emotions that leap off the page. Those feelings are real because they’re mine, drawn from my own experiences as a stepchild and later, as a stepparent. When I was writing, I didn’t have to imagine what it felt like to be a young girl afraid of a new stepmother. I just had to remember. And that’s what makes a story resonate—it’s the authenticity behind the words.

But back to American Dirt and why it’s not on my bookshelf. When I first read Myriam Gurba’s scathing review of the book, I knew it wasn’t for me. Gurba pointed out that the author’s portrayal of the migrant experience felt superficial and inauthentic, and that’s because it was. No matter how much research you do, if you haven’t lived an experience, there are nuances you’ll never capture. And that’s okay—every story isn’t ours to tell.

This idea isn’t just my opinion; it’s something even anthropologists recognize. You can study a culture for years, but unless you’re part of that culture, there will always be things that remain unknown to you. People don’t just open up and reveal everything to an outsider, and even if they do, some things will always be lost in translation. This is why authenticity matters in storytelling, especially when it comes to marginalized experiences.

When I see comments on American Dirt like “it just didn’t feel right” or “the characters seemed off,” it’s clear to me that the lack of authenticity is showing. Readers who are familiar with the immigrant experience, either personally or through other genuine works, can spot the fakeness a mile away. It’s like trying to pass off cubic zirconia as a diamond to a jeweler—it just doesn’t hold up.

This is why we need to support authors who write from experience. When someone who has lived through an experience tells that story, it’s going to be different. It’s going to be real. And those are the stories that deserve to be in the spotlight, not the ones that get watered down and twisted into harmful stereotypes by people who don’t truly understand the subject matter.

So, to wrap this up, the next time you’re picking up a book that deals with a culture or experience you’re not familiar with, consider the author’s background. Seek out stories written by those who have lived the experience. Because in doing so, you’re not just supporting an author; you’re supporting the truth. And in today’s world, that’s more important than ever.

If you want to read books about the immigration experience, check out my list:

AuthenticStorytelling #OwnVoices #SupportDiverseAuthors #RealStoriesMatter