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Vroman's Book Signing With 'American Dirt' Author Jeanine Cummins Is Canceled
Jeanine Cummins, author of the controversial novel "American Dirt." (Joe Kennedy)
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This cover image released by Flatiron Books shows "American Dirt," a novel by Jeanine Cummins. (Flatiron Books via AP) (AP)
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Embattled author Jeanine Cummins had been scheduled to talk Tuesday night about her novel 'American Dirt' -- the story of a Mexican woman and her son fleeing Acapulco for the U.S. after their family is murdered by the leader of a drug cartel.
The book, released last week, has been at the center of controversy over who gets to tell which stories.
Advance reviews and blurbs by prominent authors, including Stephen King, Don Winslow, and Sandra Cisneros, touted the book as a page-turner and a major publishing event.
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There was immediate backlash from many in the Latinx community and prominent Latinx authors have said Cummins relies on stereotypes and tropes to describe Mexicans and the migrant experience.
Following the controversy surrounding the book, Vroman's bookstore in Pasadena has told KPCC's Take Two that the author's talk -- slated for Tuesday, January 28 -- has been canceled by the publisher, Flatiron Books.
A brief statement was also issued on Vroman's website: "The publisher has cancelled the event but not before our staff and our community engaged in critical conversations about immigration, the horrible atrocity happening at the US border by the US government, freedom of speech, and own voices."
This event has been canceled by the publisher. For more information, please visit the link below.https://t.co/YZ2d9OQWaD
— Vroman's Bookstore (@vromans) January 27, 2020
We have requested a comment from the parent company, Macmillan Publishers, but did not immediatly receive a response.
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