American Dirt

By: Jeanine Cummins

Narrated by: Yareli Arizmendi

Length: 16 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

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)

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.

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..

Harrowingly true: We all have dreams

Migrants are real individual people with traumatic experiences we could never comprehend. Least we can do is listen and empathise. Best we can do is treat them with dignity as we would want to be treated.

American Dirt

The narrator did sound justice to this wonderful book.

I will forever see migrants in an array of lights.

Thank you for this enlightening entertainment.

WOW

Wow such an incredible book. So well written and researched. You really fall in love with the characters in this book. Many times I was on the edge of my seat and struggled to stop listening. It’s very humbling hearing about the characters stories, although fictional. It really provides a different insight into migrants lives and the hard ships migrants face. Must read, you won’t regret it.

Emotional and deep

I loved this story - I loved the use of language to describe the feelings. I found myself holding my breath at the violation - at the fear and held on waiting for exhilaration which never happened - could not have accepted the happily ever after - but rather I just found myself sitting really still in deep gratitude at the survival of these women. Would I read more written by Jeanine Cummins - ABSOLUTELY! Would I listen to another narration by Yareli Arizmendi - without a doubt, her narration was so well matched to the story.

Brilliant

I couldn't stop listening and was absorbed until the end. It is a powerful story in every way. I loved the Narrator - she was perfect for this story. Thank you!