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Flatiron Books

American Dirt (Oprah's Book Club): A Novel

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Description

Jeanine Cummins's American Dirt, the 1 New York Times bestseller and Oprah Book Club pick that has sold over three million copies Lydia lives in Acapulco. She has a son, Luca, the love of her life, and a wonderful husband who is a journalist. And while cracks are beginning to show in Acapulco because of the cartels, Lydia’s life is, by and large, fairly comfortable. But after her husband’s tell-all profile of the newest drug lord is published, none of their lives will ever be the same. Forced to flee, Lydia and Luca find themselves joining the countless people trying to reach the United States. Lydia soon sees that everyone is running from something. But what exactly are they running to? Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Flatiron Books; First Edition (January 21, 2020)


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 400 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250209765


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 64


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.32 pounds


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.58 x 1.42 x 9.59 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #30,178 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #638 in Psychological Fiction (Books) #921 in Family Life Fiction (Books) #1,314 in Women's Domestic Life Fiction


#638 in Psychological Fiction (Books):


#921 in Family Life Fiction (Books):


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Top Amazon Reviews

    • Amazing, elegant, heart wrenching
This book was so elegantly done, the images of life and death painted so clearly with Jeanine Cummins words across the pages. It is so amazing to me that this book is translated; the beauty and cruelty of Lydia and Luca’s journey is revealed with such clarity. So many of us live lives gifted to us from our ancestors, their struggles watered down for our consumption. We can never really know the fear, the hunger, the sheer determination that made them leave the counties of their births to make new lives somewhere frightening and new. Those ancestors may not all have left for reasons as grisly or bloody as Lydia’s or Soledad’s, but the roads have all been paved the same way: with grit, with pride, and with vision for a future so bright as to light the way ahead with its hope. Those of us who were born here have no true understanding of this struggle, and that is the gift from those who come before. We may grow up hungry or poor, but we do not fear for our very lives or pay for our freedoms in ways no human should experience. Like so many great books, American Dirt is so much bigger than the words that make it up. The story of Lydia and Luca is frightening and sad and horrifying and you cannot help but root for their very survival even as you wonder how many other undocumented immigrants from so many other countries undergo journeys like this one - or even ones that are unimaginably worse. This book invokes such a soul-deep connection that you want to know that its characters have healed and gone on to succeed and grow and and love. It makes you wonder how many people around you are living this life or something like it. This story is so incredibly vivid it invokes compassion and empathy that make you want to ask everyone about their story so that you can celebrate it with them. America continues to be built on the backs of the last people off the boat or across the border, but as a country we continue to treat those immigrants - documented and undocumented both - as though their very lives are somehow devalued in comparison to those of us who were born here. Our government and our citizens continue to perpetuate a system where immigrant labor is undervalued and their safety is not guaranteed. American Dirt brings the struggle of two families to light, but it is up to us as citizens to demand government reforms and impact societal change to address these issues in our country. We cannot continue to embrace our apathy for such a large group of citizens who silently and impotently struggle in our midst even while we rely so heavily on their very existence in our economy and our lives. Read American Dirt. It might change your life. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2020 by KristiDagz
    • A gripping, heart-stopping journey of survival. A must read.
Jeanine Cummins' American Dirt is a haunting, heart-racing journey that follows Lydia and her son, Luca, as they flee cartel violence in Mexico. Forced from a comfortable life in Acapulco, they face unimaginable dangers on a desperate trek to the U.S., bringing readers face-to-face with the harrowing realities of migration. Cummins’ storytelling is unflinching, blending suspense and compassion in every page. Her characters feel achingly real, their resilience both inspiring and heartbreaking. With vivid prose, Cummins captures the chaos of La Bestia, the unforgiving desert, and the constant fear that looms over Lydia and Luca’s journey. While sparking conversations on representation, American Dirt undeniably sheds light on the plight of those forced to migrate, offering a lens into the courage it takes to seek a better life. This novel is essential reading—gripping, eye-opening, and ultimately a testament to the strength of a mother’s love. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2024 by @kristinyahner
    • A Journey Through The Mexican Drug Trade
Early in 2019, my book group read Philip Caputo's novel, "Some Rise by Sin". The book has strong religious themes and tells a story of a Mexican drug cartel and its impact on the poor. The book stresses the pervasive nature of the cartel or "Brotherhood" and how it infiltrates all aspects of Mexican life. Our group is in the process of reading another novel set in Mexico and dealing with drug cartels. In contrast to the ponderous character of "Some Rise by Sin" and its focus on religious themes, Jeanine Cummins novel "American Dirt" is a page-turner. The novel tells the story of Lydia Perez and her eight year old son, Luca, who are forced to flee Acapulco and take their chances in reaching and entering the United States when they find themselves in the sights of a Mexican drug cartel. The book is a suspense story with elements of a picaresque road novel as it shows the many people and places Lydia and her son meet on their harrowing journey. The novel opens with a shocking scene in which Lydia's family is gunned down during a birthday celebration after Lydia's husband, a journalist, has written an expose of the newly-dominant cartel. Lydia owns a bookstore in Acapulco. She has become close friends with one of her patrons, Javier, a would-be poet and devoted reader. Lydia does not at first recognize Javier as the cartel leader. When the rest of the family, including Lydia's husband is killed by Javier's gang at the party while she and Luca hide in the house, she concludes that she must flee. Cummins describes Lydia's flight to the United States over 53 days 2,645 miles. She must watch vigilantly at every step to avoid the powerful, ever-present cartel. During the journey, she and Lucas meet many people, including fellow-migrants, kind individuals who try to assist the migrants, members of the cartel, and people in many Mexican cities and towns who try to live their lives and not to become involved with the cartel. The many characters in the story include two beautiful teenage sisters fleeing from Guatemala, who face many difficulties from sexually predatory men before and during their flight for a better life. Much of the flight of Lydia and Luca and their fellow migrants takes place on freight trains nicknamed "La Bestia". The migrants become adept at the task of scaling the freight railroads heading north. This mode of transportation has its risks, which are graphically described in the story. In addition to riding La Bestia, the other large part of the journey begins with Lydia and Luca reach a border town and need to arrange for their crossing into the United States. Together with several other migrants, friendly and unfriendly, they enlist the services of a coyote -- an individual who leads immigrants on the treacherous journey through the desert to make an illegal entry into el norte, The book offers a personalized portrayal of the coyote and of the brutal, high-risk nature of the journey. The book held my attention during several cold and icy days as I followed the journey of Lydia and Luca and was moved by the risks they faced and by the acts of kindness and compassion by those who helped them along the way, including several priests. Although it has a melodramatic component, the book reads well and for the most part convincingly. The book tells a story of the impact of the drug trade and the search of some individuals to find a better life. I enjoyed reading this book in a group, together with the Caputo novel, to get pictures of the Mexican drug cartels and their impact as viewed through the eyes of two United States novelists. Robin Friedman ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2021 by robin friedman
    • A mother's love
This book is about a lot of things - family, heartache, death, friendship, tragedy, and espa mother's love. Nothing in this book is politicized. It is beautifully written and thought provoking. A great read!
Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2025 by Tracy R Thompson
    • beautifully written
Powerful story of the bond of a mother for her son, grief and strength. The author makes you fall in love with the characters and keeps you on the edge of your seat through their journey to America. Highly recommend!
Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2025 by E.H
    • transports you to another life
The author writes in a way that takes the reader along a vivid journey full of ups and downs with truthfully crafted characters, giving insight into the struggles of those escaping violence, seeking a new life on American Dirt!
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2025 by CKG

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