This book was brought out to great fanfare. The publishers gave it a huge splash and pre-publicity praise quotes from notable novelists meant that this was a book everyone wanted to read.

I turned to the first page in curiousity. I'm always wary of books which are hyped. I want to like them, I want to find out what the fuss is about, I don't really want to be disappointed but tend to think I will be.

That first page didn't satisfy me, nor the second, nor the third. I couldn't stop turning the pages. I devoured the text, and lost myself in it completely.

Lydia ran a bookshop, was married to a journalist and delighted in bringing up an eight-year-old son in their perfect family.

But one day saw her life slashed apart in the most devastating and tragic way, and her only option is to flee, hoping that she can keep her son safe and far from harm. So begins their journey, joining hundreds, thousands of others leaving the horrors of their lives, their stories, in Mexico, seeking and hoping for a new start, a better life in America.

So I was completely gripped, consumed by this book until, halfway through my reading, the wider response changed. Now it wasn't popular or wise to enjoy or appreciate this book. No one was 'allowed' to promote it because it should never have been written. The critics claimed that because the author wasn't Mexican, and hadn't actually experienced the story she was writing, she had no claim to it.

This is a dangerous argument to pursue in my opinion. A novelist imagines a life and inhabits it for their story. If they were writing from experience, the book would be a memoir, a biography, a travelogue. Yes, the novel should be authentic, but the author here stated the research she carried out for the book. And surely the reader would judge whether the account rings true or not.

For me, it was a fantastic and troubling read which reminded me of the terrible hardship and suffering others experience. It has also made me want to read more about the plight of those fleeing Mexico. It has heightened my interest and empathy for those people, and I hope that is a valuable endorsement for the writing and publication of this novel. It is also a great read about an epic journey, courage, solidarity and companionship.