"American Dirt" is the No. 1 New York Times bestseller, has been called this generation’s "Grapes of Wrath" and received strong reviews from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus. It has received support from prominent Mexican American and Latina authors, including Sandra Cisneros, Erika Sánchez, Reyna Grande, and Julia Alvarez, who predicted the book would “change hearts and transform policies.” Stephen King loves it. So does John Grisham. Oprah Winfrey has anointed it in her Oprah's Book Club.

New research from UC Riverside shows, contrary to previous scientific belief, a hormone required for sexual maturity in insects cannot travel across the blood-brain barrier unless aided by a transporter protein. The finding may soon allow scientists to prevent disease-spreading mosquitoes from maturing, or to boost reproduction in beneficial bumblebees.

The film premieres this weekend at the Sundance Film Festival .