American Dirt

By: Jeanine Cummins

Narrated by: Yareli Arizmendi

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

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)

Book review, AMERICAN DIRT

This is one of the most compelling pieces of fiction I have had the pleasure of listening to. Thank you Janine. The characters’ state of mind is crystal clear, the journey so detailed and nuanced. A truly beautiful book.

The narrative, the poetry, the audio translation all took my breath away.

Thank you.
Mmamitse Thibedi

Should be a 10 star.

I was a bit reluctant to purchase this book because I read a few of the negative reviews, so glad I ignored them. This is a very well written book with a fresh subject matter, and even if there is some artistic license used isn’t that what brings a great book to fruition. I loved this book and I had no hesitation in recommending it to several of my friends and my book club. Don’t leave this one behind you. I would give it 10 stars if it was possible.

Gripping and moving

I wasn’t expecting to find such a gripping storyline which transported me to another place and the horrendous stories of migrants fleeing terror and danger. Has added a new lens to news stories I see now. Brilliant narration.

brilliant!

My regard for the migrants has definitely increased 100 fold since reading this book.. to understand that each of those seeking refuge have an individual story for why they would leave all that they know to travel so dangerously through much hardship to eventually reach somewhere they can feel safe enough to begin from scratch..

Gripping!

A powerful, sickeningly relevant story compellingly told. Congratulations to the author, Jeanine Cummins and the narrator, Yareli Arizmendi, who brought it vividly to life.