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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 Suspense Thriller & Suspense Women's Fiction Fiction Exciting Heartfelt Scary Tear-jerking

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  
This book took me a while to get into and I almost gave up, the start took off with a bang but then I found it fell flat, although I stuck with it and ended up not being able to stop listening. it is well written and had solid character stories.

Enjoyable

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Great narrator. Personal feeling narrative.
At times shocking but sadly factual regarding the brutality of the Mexican drug cartels.

Engrossing

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Makes me think the detractors of this book have something to gain from not having the spotlight shone on the migrant situation.

Excellent

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I was glued to this book, the story grabs you from the very start and holds your attention the entire way through. A tragic but beautiful story of struggle and resilience. I found the narrator's voice and tone very easy to listen to. Would definitely recommend.

A must read/listen

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This should become a set work in schools. Insightful and fully engaging bringing reality to the world wide struggle of migrants. Excellent research and beautifully written.

A brilliant must read for everyone. Powerful words

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I was right there with the characters on this journey. I was on edge at times and could feel my pulse racing. I was so invested in the characters I was disappointed when it ended. I hope there will be a another novel following the next steps in there lives. The narration was fantastic.

Great storyline, fantastic characters, excellent narration

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A great story which will hopefully help more people appreciate the struggles of migrants seeking security, safety and economic opportunity for themselves and their families.

A bit predictable but a great story!

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Beautifully written and narrated. I really enjoy the pace of the story whether it’s a period of action/ suspense or describing a character/ scenery.

Beautiful story

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I will never forget this book . I picked up American dirt without any understanding of what it was about. From the first chapter to the last it gripped me . Excellent !

Wrenching , what a stunning novel !

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could not put it down, my heart ached for the characters and their plight. highly recommended

Gritty and touching

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