Reyna Grande, who wrote about her own experience migrating to the United States, was rejected 27 or 28 times before being accepted for publication. She received an advance of $20,000 when her book was finally picked up. She was not critical of Cummins' book, but more of the industry as a whole. We have seen the same thing happen in recent years with the Oscar awards, as women and actors/directors/producers of color have been overlooked for honors and are finally asking "What gives?" I don't think this issue has anything to do with the book, per se, but rather who still has the most opportunity to succeed in the United States.
***warning: graphic description of actual events***
My intention is not to offend; many of the "stereotypes" Cummins wrote about are what those of us who are familiar with Mexico already know. I volunteer frequently in Guaymas, Sonora. Two years ago, the Municipal Police handed over the nephews of a prominent cartel leader to his rival cartel. Within three months, five of those officers were dead--shot down in the middle of the street in broad daylight. A year later, nine police were killed within a week, and 40% of the police force resigned. This past September the ex-girlfriend of a cartel member was shot point blank in the face five times as she arrived at work. Two weeks later, State Police were ambushed and killed a block from where this happened. There are "narcomantas" (large sheets of canvas with threatening messages) hung in prominent locations throughout Guaymas. The Marines and National Guard are now protecting the citizens. In spite of this, 19 men were killed in Guaymas in January of this year. Cartels are displacing indigenous populations in the Sierra Madres, taking over gas pipelines, involving themselves in illegal logging in Monarch butterfly sanctuaries (and murdering environmental activists), and wrestling control of the avocado trade. The Cartels are real. They are powerful. Thy operate with impunity. Did Cummins screw up the meaning of "la lechuza" and use the term "bogeyman" instead of El Cucuy? Yes, she did. But there is a lot she did right as well.
I have also seen many migrants (using the "Pacific Route) at traffic lights in Guaymas with posters asking for help. And I have seen so many people hand them money, bags of food, even a warm jacket. And Cummins was equally fair to all those in Mexico who are doing everything they can to help migrants along the way- -establishing shelters, protecting them as they exit the train and walk into cities, feeding them, and opening the gates so they have an easier time climbing aboard La Bestia.
There were two blog articles that were downright hostile to Cummins personally. I read comments in Goodreads reviews that said "White women will feel proud of themselves for their empathy and compassion in picking up this book." "Clueless white people love American Dirt, insightful people of color hate it." "White people will likely love it because it makes them feel like they have learned something."
I hope EVERYONE who reads this book or another own voices book on the same topic feels empathy and compassion. melanieb stated it perfectly, " For me, there is no controversy in empathizing with the universal human condition."