American Dirt, Jeanine Cummins, author; Yareli Arizmendi, narrator
Lydia Perez operates her own bookstore in Acapulco, Mexico. Her husband is an investigative journalist. The family has a good life. Lydia becomes friendly with a book store customer, who unbeknownst to her, at first, is the head of a violent and vicious cartel. He turns out to be the very same person her husband is now investigating. Lydia seems naïve, believing that Javier, who treasures her friendship, wouldn’t harm her family even if her husband exposed his criminal behavior. After all, with her, he is nothing but a soft spoken, educated gentleman with whom she shares tea and conversation. Of course, this is ridiculous and most readers will recognize this weakness in the plot. A man who is so evil would not allow anyone to betray him without retaliating. It would show weakness. Thus, when Sebastian’s expose is published, it leads to catastrophic events; Lydia finds herself on the run with her son Luca.
The book goes into great detail about the trials and tribulations of her escape. She wants to get to any uncle in Colorado. As they run, they encounter several others escaping for one reason or another, but mostly from a terrible lifestyle. The reader meets two teenage girls from Honduras, Soledad and Rebeca. Soledad has been repeatedly raped by human traffickers. These young men and other cartel members, everywhere, are powerful and take advantage of their innocent victims. They extract bribes, sex and force those they control to do as they say on penalty of torture and death. Soledad wants to save her younger sister from the same fate, thus, when she realizes the boy who is abusing her, has also discovered her sister, she packs up and leaves with her, for El Norte, the USA, the American Dirt! This leads to disastrous consequences for her family. She has no idea what awaits them on their route to ultimate safety, but she is willing to risk all to escape. They try not to trust any strangers they meet on their journey, since they might have connections to the heads of cartels or they might be thieves, but still they are robbed and abused. There is danger everywhere. In the end, after riding on the tops of trains, marching for miles in all kinds of heat and wet, they enlist the aid of a rare, reputable Coyote.
There are many interesting characters developed in the book. Beto, a ten year old asthmatic, Lorenzo, a cartel member, the Coyote who cares about those he is leading to the USA, but who is also cold-hearted about it and others. There is constant danger everywhere. As the reader learns more and more about them, the plight of the migrant becomes palpable. Along the way they are all betrayed by police and others they encounter. Greed drives many of the people they meet. Everyone is either looking to take advantage of the migrants, or is running from, or toward, something in America, and those very same migrants are willing to risk their very lives to get there.
I found the book to be very engaging. It is very well organized and easy to read, plus it is obvious that a great deal of research went into its planning. The audio narrator read it well, if perhaps a bit too slowly. Still, the interpretation of events and her portrayal of the various characters seemed spot-on so the characters were not often confused with one another. The story flowed smoothly as it showed examples of the horrific migrant experience, some running from danger, some running toward financial independence. Each has hope for a better life.
The author has painted a picture that feels very authentic. There were some flaws in the book like cell service in the desert when I have trouble getting it in my community! Also, the idea of undocumented vs illegal aliens is whitewashed in favor of the immigrant. The Lorenzos of the world are trying just as hard to get into America as the Lydias. The Lorenzos are cartel members, gang members, violent members of their own societies who are threats to Americans. The Lydias are running from extreme danger, running for their very lives and only want a better life. They don’t have the liberty to go through the process; they will be killed waiting. They deserve the asylum the USA offers.
The book is filled with the terror of the migrant experience as they attempt to cross countries and landscapes to illegally enter the United States. The sad thing is that the ones in real danger are mixed in with the ones who are just coming for work, who need to get in line. If they would do it legally, the ones who are in real danger would not have the issues they do. Their entrance into America would be easier.
The book has its flaws, however, objecting to its publication because the author is not Latino, seems ludicrous. In America, one would hope that authors would be free to write about anything they wish. One would hope that readers and protesters understand these are novels they are objecting to…, they are fiction, not fact.
Authors write for diverse audiences and come from diverse backgrounds. The cancellation of the book tours because of death threats is probably going to spur the sale of her book, anyway, but it is ill advised to allow the protestors to cause such havoc. The author comes from a multiracial family, she researched the book for four years before she published it, she married someone who came to the country undocumented, and so she seems very credible in her depiction of life for the migrants. Even though it is fiction, it is based on some actual events, as well. To criticize her for cultural appropriation or mischaracterization of the situation is ludicrous and unworthy of comment. It is a novel, and is not meant to be a memoir!

As a Mexican-American, I found this book ridiculous and insulting. If I could give it negative stars or a bomb, I would. From beginning to end, the content, dialog and references were way off for Mexican culture and history as I experienced it. Just Google quinceañera images and tell me how in the world THAT would work for a backyard barbecue. So every time Cummins mentions it or a spatula or lists out the names of ALL that attended, I rolled my eyes. Trying to imagine a cartel kingpin in studious glasses waxing and waning poetry and philosophy, I rolled my eyes. When a middle class business woman is forced by plot ploys to follow the migrant trail of those at the lowest economic levels, I rolled my eyes. When the good Mexicans and migrants constantly crossed themselves, said a rosary or said gracias a Dios, and the bad Mexicans constantly raped and murdered, I rolled my eyes. When an 8 year old is accepted as a Mexican national, not because he provides paperwork, but because he can spout out all the geographical detail of his home state, I rolled my eyes. When cell phones don’t work in the desert (as is expected) for tension and drama, but not only work but allow FaceTime when the plot requires it, I rolled my eyes. When the worst our protagonists suffer in a cross thru the brutal desert is sweat and a single blister remedied by a bandaid, I rolled my eyes.

And it goes on and on and on...

While I understand the desire to better understand the struggles and tragedies of those living on the border and those struggling to migrate across the Americas, I strongly recommend you use your money to buy Luis Alberto Urrea’s books instead: The House of Broken Angels for living on the northern side of the border, The Devils Highway for the brutality of crossing the border, and By the Lake of Sleeping Children (where Cummins hijacked Urrea's real life experiences in the Tijuana dump) for life on the southern side of the border.

Moving ,

This is one of the best books I've read in a long time, and I read a lot. Living in Southern CA and aware of the illegal immigrant issue much more than many US citizens, I wasn't that interested at first. Until I read news about the author being threatened and that Latinx people are upset about the popularity of the book because it was written by a non-Latinx, I would have passed it by. I am so glad I chose to read it. The author delicately delivers a story that is necessary for all to read; not to change everyone's mind about illegal immigration but to really know what is involved, and how the situation for anyone who chooses to use that route to come to the US is dire. One or two countries cannot handle the woes of the world, but these people need help and the ability to live without that type of fear. As citizens of the world, what can we do it to make life better for them? Jeannine Cummins has masterfully told a story that ought to make all of us consider what we owe to each other.

You never know what a person has tray gone through

Loved!!

It’s a very gripping read, but it feels like the immigrant story is exploited to create a Hollywood-type story. I found the subject matter was dealt with in an unconvincing way that read like capitalizing on real human tragedies.

You will never look at the Mexican cartels the same again. This book is about a mother who would go through extreme measure to make sure he son brought to the US safe. I could not put this book down!

I found the book difficult to read due to lack of interest, which made it boring. I read the first chapter, schemed through chapter 2 and skipped to the end; but I just couldn’t get into this particular genre.

Members of the book club found the book well-written, the characters well-developed. We found the writing descriptive and her story believable. We identified with Lydia and were empathetic to her and the other migrants she encountered in her journey. Agreed that it is better to read the book first and form one's own impression before considering the criticisms and controversies of many.

Really enjoyed reading this book though sad was inspiring to hear how Lydia and her 8 year old son persevered after such trauma.

Impactful

A book you won’t be able to put down. You’re rooting for Lydia and her son Luca to make it to America!

Despite the criticism, I loved this book and thought it was well written.

A tough story but an important one. I thought it was very sad but very well done

This book was very well written. It made you want to keep reading to see if Lydia and Luca make it to el norte.

The things they have endure, see or even hear of are horrific. It makes me feel lucky that I live in America. It shows how ruthless cartels are and what people will do to get away from them.

It is a very heavy book so I would not suggest it as a summer read but it is a def. a must read.

She made the character so relatable, that I really think how my life could change at any minute to circumstances out of my control. I will also forever feel different when I watch the news about the caravans heading to reach the “American Dirt”.

Liked ot

Can't put it down kind of book. Great discussion for book club.

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I will never be the same because of this story. Heartbreaking with a good ending. Inspire me to learn more about migration. Highly recommended specially at this time....

I had trouble putting this book down after I started reading it. It is a particularly timely read right now, with border issues confronting our country.

Well written story on a difficult subject. It describes trauma, fear, survival, love, violence. It is a book to make you see people not "illegal immigrants" .

Despite the controversy surrounding this title, I found it to be a thought-provoking, stunning literary novel. When not taken as an explanation of fact, it certainly has potential as a future classic.

This was an important story, but left me feeling saddened beyond belief. It is so easy to dismiss the horrors- when the victims are nameless. They are “the other”- until we know their names and learn their stories. From this point of reference, I tend to get swallowed up by my own empathy. Now it is hard to put the terror out of my mind.

I found it was slightly over descriptive, almost repetitive. Had to take breaks often. Did find myself wanting to know about the struggles and how they made it further.