“Extraordinary.” –Stephen King “This book is not simply the great American novel; it’s the great novel of las Americas. It’s the great world novel! This is the international story of our times. Masterful.” –Sandra Cisneros También de este lado hay sueños. On this side, too, there are dreams. Lydia Quixano Pérez lives in the Mexican city of Acapulco. She runs a bookstore. She has a son, Luca, … Quixano Pérez lives in the Mexican city of Acapulco. She runs a bookstore. She has a son, Luca, the love of her life, and a wonderful husband who is a journalist. And while there are cracks beginning to show in Acapulco because of the drug cartels, her life is, by and large, fairly comfortable.
Even though she knows they’ll never sell, Lydia stocks some of her all-time favorite books in her store. And then one day a man enters the shop to browse and comes up to the register with a few books he would like to buy–two of them her favorites. Javier is erudite. He is charming. And, unbeknownst to Lydia, he is the jefe of the newest drug cartel that has gruesomely taken over the city. When Lydia’s husband’s tell-all profile of Javier is published, none of their lives will ever be the same.
Forced to flee, Lydia and eight-year-old Luca soon find themselves miles and worlds away from their comfortable middle-class existence. Instantly transformed into migrants, Lydia and Luca ride la bestia–trains that make their way north toward the United States, which is the only place Javier’s reach doesn’t extend. As they join the countless people trying to reach el norte, Lydia soon sees that everyone is running from something. But what exactly are they running to?
American Dirt will leave readers utterly changed. It is a literary achievement filled with poignancy, drama, and humanity on every page. It is one of the most important books for our times.
Already being hailed as “a Grapes of Wrath for our times” and “a new American classic,” Jeanine Cummins’s American Dirt is a rare exploration into the inner hearts of people willing to sacrifice everything for a glimmer of hope.
more
Incredibly deep and well written so you feel as though you are experiencing this ordeal with Lydia and her son from the minute it begins and holding your breath the entire time.
It gave me a whole new perspective of what immigrants go through to live in America, very inspiring!
This is an excellent book that sheds some light on the hardships of immigration issues.
I cannot recommend this book enough. On one hand if you’ve survived certain traumas in your life you’re going to be triggered in reading this, but I would still implore you to read it if you can. (We’re not talking about those who are easily offended and can’t handle anything.. we’re talking, lived through hell and survived.. old life versus new existence type of trauma.) This was one of the heaviest works I’ve read in a very long time. It will stick with you and make you think, make you feel all of the most difficult of human emotions and you won’t be able to read fast enough yet you’ll apprehensively turn to the next page in certain chapters. I… I’m not even sure I’ll be able to properly review this one because my mind has about a million different thoughts going through it where this story is concerned. But.. this book was really incredible in its capacity to accurately depict the strength of the human spirit and the depths of perseverance within a mother’s soul when it comes down to saving their child. Seriously, if you haven’t read this book please read it. If you, for whatever reason, are still on the MAGA team and think “the wall” is needed: PLEASE read this book! PLEASE!
This is a powerfully told story about Lydia and her son Luca. Her husband is a prominent journalist but after he writes a tell-all about Javier, the leader of a local drug cartel, their lives will never be the same. Now Lydia and her son are on the run entering the group of other migrants traveling North to America. It is ultimately a story of love and hope despite tragic circumstances. Worth the read!
I have recommended this book to my book club and book loving friends. Unforgettable.
Seeing the world through the eyes of the main character brought me to the realization that my own world is too safe, too enclosed, and too limited. This book will bring you to an understanding of how others live that you simply would not have otherwise. I feel blessed to have read it.
5 break my heart stars!!
Ok so this book was part of my book of the month choices so I looked it up and saw so much controversy. So, of course, I hit purchase right away!! And now I am broken. I want to say I was reading this when George Floyd was murdered and now our country is fighting for better rights and it’s a shame. I am saying this because this book touched me even deeper at this time. This whole book you follow a woman and her son who must flee their country and their eyes are set on “el Norte” (United States) and how much better things will be here. Except is it really in this time?! Sadly I don’t know. Especially for any person of color.
Moving on to the story. Lydia is one of the strongest women I have met in a book to date. I don’t know if I would have made it. But she was not letting her brilliant and empathetic son down. She was everything any woman hopes to be.
Sadly I am a white woman who has had her share of tragedy’s but never had to endure these terrible things. I can’t imagine the struggle all these innocent immigrants face. Just to better their lives. Just to stay alive.
This book is not fast paced or action seeking. It is real and raw. It opened my eyes to so much. I had no clue. You only guess if you’ve never been told. I know Latin America was angry at this author for writing something she wasn’t familiar with being a US born citizen. But I want to tell Latin America she opened my eyes. This author showed me a side to immigration I didn’t know. I shed tears for people I don’t know because I was so ignorant to these facts. I pray things get better but I don’t know if they will.
As a fictional story this book got deep inside of me. It was amazing. It was heart breaking. It made you want to stand up and fight. It made me lose sleep wondering if Lydia is going to make it. And all the innocent people who didn’t.
Hats off to this author for this phenomenal story.
Book drags on for no reason what so ever. Audio book is 17 hours long. Story can easily be truncated to 10 hours. Editing the dragging story would not lose the essence only make it more appealing to its readers.
I thought this book was beautifully written, engaging, information, captivating and marvelous.
I loved this book! The writing ebbed and flowed and was magic! The characters were tough and tender and full of life and charm. So many twists and turns, kept you on your toes! Highly recommended!
This was one of the hardest books I have read. She owns a bookstore in Mexico and her husband is a journalist who exposes the leader of a drug cartel. Unbeknownst to her this same drug lord is a frequent visitor to her shop and the bond over the books. Why the expose comes out her entire family is brutally murdered but she hides with her young son. She has to flee bc they are out to get her too. It is the story of their trek thru Mexicoto get to the US border.
This is one of the most impactful novels I’ve read. I realize it’s fiction, so I understand it’s not an exact, nor comprehensive, representation of the immigration issue. However, it stirred my emotional sensitivity towards anyone who desires to live in a safe, free environment. It ramped up my already-compassionate heart for immigrants. Jeanine Cummins is a fabulous writer. The cast of characters and their behaviors stirred every emotion within me as I read. Jeanine is a master of setting as well. I highly recommend this book and accept that it is a gripping fictional story that also provoke profound thoughts for quite a while after you read the last page.
The best book I’ve read ! Even the info about the author was interesting.
American Dirt is one of the best books I’ve read. The premise that a woman and her son must flee Mexico and get to the US doesn’t sound too interesting, but the tale is so realistic in so many aspects and it gives great insight into the lives of many immigrants who face great dangers to get to a safer place. I read a review that said “I dare you to read the first seven pages and then put it down” and boy was that true! A believable tale with a few twists and turns and characters and their individual tales described so realistically that you become emotionally Involved with each one. The author is so adept at describing scenes, people and their emotions during the journey, it is easy to read and impossible to put down- I would recommend it to anyone.
Very timely and excellent read. I completely support the author’s right to have written the novel (based on years of research) in spite of not having been a Latina migrant herself. I feel that she did a fine job of raising awareness of the plight of migrants forced to flee their homes by drug cartel violence.
This gut-wrenching and powerful book that takes you into the world of the Mexican Cartel when Lydia Delgado and her eight year old son, Luca, must escape Acapulco, to try and get away from the leader of a local Cartel, Javier, who has put a target on a Lydia after killing the majority of her family, including her husband, mother, sister, nephew, niece, and ten others. She’s forced to join migrants and learns to jump on freight trains and survive each day danger and terror. Knowing the arms of the cartel reach far and wide. An unforgettable read!
This book pulled me straight in during an awful scene at a quinceanera where a woman and her 8-year old son escaped a massacre of their family by a cartel in Mexico. They are left alone to run for their lives, choosing to go north toward the United States. The characters were well developed and the story kept me turning the pages. There has been some controversy that the author is not Mexican nor an immigrant and had to rely on some stereotypes to tell the story. However, I felt the story was well-researched and. even if not authentic, is opening up the conversation of why some people may be leaving their lives in Mexico or South America.
This book grabs you at the first page and never lets you go. I cared for the characters and traveled with them for their entire adventure.
I had to read this book after I heard all the controversy about portraying Mexican immigrants in an unfavorable light. This book was written so well it must have been based on someone’s history. It shows the lengths a mother will go to to save her child. It made me more sympathetic of immigrants, if that’s possible.