Oprah's Book Club ditches March pick following American Dirt controversy

Variety

Oprah Winfrey had originally selected My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell, about a 15-year-old girl who has an affair with her 42-year-old teacher, as her book club follow-up to the controversial American Dirt. "Ultimately we did not end up moving forward with it as a book club selection," an Oprah's Book Club spokesperson said in a statement. My Dark Vanessa was accused of having a similar plot to author Wendy Ortiz's memoir Excavation, except for her book focused on a Latinx character. American Dirt was accused of whitewashing the experiences of a Mexican immigrant.