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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 Exciting Heartfelt Scary Tear-jerking Fiction

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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  
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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I’ve never written a review, but this is hands down the best audio book I’ve listened to. The story is heart wrenching, but fast paced and full of action. The narrator is incredible. If everyone listened to this story, we would be a kinder people as a whole. Read it!

Wow what a story

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I found this compulsive listening and I can’t recommend it highly enough, my husband is also enjoying it as well.

Important story that needs to be told

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I thought this was a great, much needed tale of the realities of migrant travel. Women and children. I loved the narration.

We dream on this side too

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brilliant novel and enthralling performance. Full of vibrant description and thorough character development with a eye opening story to match

gripping

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Excellent, beautifully read story...gave me a real insight into 'caravans of migrants' and other headlines.

Really enjoyed this...

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Really enjoyed this book, had me gripped and frequently in horror and in tears, a novel but I fear so full of realism and truth. The authors note brought the intensity of migrant trauma and struggles clearly into real focus, it was welcomed so we never forget that these stories do actually happen every day

Roller coaster of a novel

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Jeanine Cummins takes us into another world with terrifying clarity. Every school should have it.

The American dream?

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A very moving look at immigration in Mexico
Narration was excellent and the knowledge of what is a day to day problem of the world as a whole

What a listen

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Up there in my all time best reads. This story and the characters will stay with me for a long time.

Máire

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