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American Dirt

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American Dirt

By: Jeanine Cummins
Narrated by: Yareli Arizmendi
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About this listen

FEAR KEEPS THEM RUNNING.

HOPE KEEPS THEM ALIVE.

Vivid, visceral, utterly compelling, American Dirt is the first novel to explore the experience of attempting to illegally cross the US-Mexico border. Described as 'impossible to put down' (Saturday Review) and 'essential reading' (Tracy Chevalier), it is a story that will leave you utterly changed.

Yesterday, Lydia had a bookshop.

Yesterday, Lydia was married to a journalist.

Yesterday, she was with everyone she loved most in the world.

Today, her eight-year-old son Luca is all she has left.

For him, she will carry a machete strapped to her leg.

For him, she will leap onto the roof of a high speed train.

For him, she will find the strength to keep running.

An Oprah's Bookclub Pick

As featured on Saturday Review

A BBC Radio 2 Bookclub Pick

Soon to be a BBC Radio 4 Book At Bedtime

A Book to Look Out For in the Observer, Stylist, Sunday Times, Independent, Vogue, New York Times, Oprah magazine, and more.

A Barnes and Noble Bookclub Pick

©2020 Jeanine Cummins (P)2020 Macmillan Audio Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Political Suspense Thriller & Suspense Women's Fiction Exciting Heartfelt Scary Tear-jerking Fiction

Critic reviews

"One hell of a novel about a good woman on the run with her beautiful boy." (Stephen King)

"I couldn't put it down. I'll never stop thinking about it." (Ann Patchett)

"It's been a long time since I turned pages as fast as I did with American Dirt. Its journey is a testament to the power of fear and hope and belief that there are more good people than bad." (John Grisham)
All stars
Most relevant
Couldn’t stop listening, I laughed, I cried and I didn’t want it to end. One of the best books I’ve listened to in a long long time.

Highly recommend

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unbelievable book! such a moving and gripping story, couldn't put it down. 10/10 weekend recommend

couldn't put it down!

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Just an incredible novel. I couldn't sleep while reading it without dreaming about the characters. So eye-opening. I'm so glad I listened to this... and will endeavour to find out more about the situation and help if I can.

Incredible

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Having been born and worked in Florida as a deputy sheriff I had a lot of contact with Mexican’s who came in to work in Strawberry fields & Orange/Citrus groves during harvest. Mostly I as a deputy sheriff had contact with many migrants when there was a problem. The bit about the Cartels rang true with their reach into Florida and their treatment of migrant women and the murders I worked where Mexican men were found shot in the head from behind whilst they were on their knees. Not a pretty site! “Termed the Hail Mary pose. Pretty sad!
But some of the other things was the poverty and slum like accommodations they had to endure. Pay was less than minimum wage & they had to pay utilities which left them with practically nothing. The stories I heard were pretty disturbing so the book rings true in that respect.
I think it’s a good book to read to educate yourselves on race relations of all manners. You’ll be the better for it.
Pick it up and read! Might be shocked, then again idk. Hopefully you’ll come out a better person because of it.

A book for all

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Despite the controversy and criticisms that this is not well written anyway, I would have no hesitation in recommending this book.
Good narration.
Well researched.
At a time when migration is a huge issue and there is such an unpleasant narrative around migrant peoples it's very relevant .
Reveals the reality faced by ordinary people in Mexico and Central America.
Interesting, moving and thought provoking .
It's essential to read /listen to the author's notes at the end.

Excellent

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