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American Dirt (Oprah's Book Club): A Novel

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Description

Jeanine Cummins's American Dirt, the 1 New York Times bestseller and Oprah Book Club pick that has sold over three million copies Lydia lives in Acapulco. She has a son, Luca, the love of her life, and a wonderful husband who is a journalist. And while cracks are beginning to show in Acapulco because of the cartels, Lydia’s life is, by and large, fairly comfortable. But after her husband’s tell-all profile of the newest drug lord is published, none of their lives will ever be the same. Forced to flee, Lydia and Luca find themselves joining the countless people trying to reach the United States. Lydia soon sees that everyone is running from something. But what exactly are they running to? Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Flatiron Books


Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 21, 2020


Edition ‏ : ‎ First Edition


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Print length ‏ : ‎ 400 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250209765


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 64


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.4 pounds


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.58 x 1.42 x 9.59 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #20,335 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #36 in Psychological Fiction (Books) #39 in Contemporary Women Fiction #47 in Women's Domestic Life Fiction


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Top Amazon Reviews


  • Good read, strange time to read it
Format: Paperback
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins is an incredibly moving and powerful novel. With that said, it’s a strange time to be reading a novel about migrants coming to the US in today’s time. The story about Lydia and her son running from a Mexican drug cartel after they killed her entire family is very moving and you feel heartbreak for them. Throughout the book the telling of how they made it from Acapulco to the US is very moving and terrifying. I don’t know how anyone would be able to do that. The story is so emotional and heartbreaking and brings you up and down in feelings with everything they go through. I know I couldn’t do it and I know it’s a book but I also believe there are people going through this to try to get to the US. All that aside, the writing was very good with very good written characters. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2025 by BJ Renczkowski

  • A gripping, heart-stopping journey of survival. A must read.
Format: Kindle
Jeanine Cummins' American Dirt is a haunting, heart-racing journey that follows Lydia and her son, Luca, as they flee cartel violence in Mexico. Forced from a comfortable life in Acapulco, they face unimaginable dangers on a desperate trek to the U.S., bringing readers face-to-face with the harrowing realities of migration. Cummins’ storytelling is unflinching, blending suspense and compassion in every page. Her characters feel achingly real, their resilience both inspiring and heartbreaking. With vivid prose, Cummins captures the chaos of La Bestia, the unforgiving desert, and the constant fear that looms over Lydia and Luca’s journey. While sparking conversations on representation, American Dirt undeniably sheds light on the plight of those forced to migrate, offering a lens into the courage it takes to seek a better life. This novel is essential reading—gripping, eye-opening, and ultimately a testament to the strength of a mother’s love. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2024 by K. Yahner

  • GOOD BOOK THAT SURVIVES CONTROVERSIAL REVIEWS
Format: Hardcover
There’s no doubt in my mind that Jeanine Cummins is greatly disturbed over the controversy surrounding her new novel, “American Dirt.” The main point of contention is, I believe, that a white woman could write such an invasive opinion piece about Latino immigrants when she has no actual experience in their actual hardships. For the most part, from what I read, is that Latin American critics are the most vociferous. They seem to feel underrepresented in the literary publishing field. Having a white woman with no background in their plight gather so much positive attention seems to be galling and, as a result, they are speaking out against Cummins’ honest attempt at bringing the current situation to light. Cummins, of course, doesn’t agree with all this BS, and continues to cash her checks Her story goes that Lydia Quixano Perez owns a bookstore in in the Mexican City of Acapulco (even the author’s choice of a name for her lead character gets scoffs). Her life is mostly successful and profitable. A new customer, Javier, a highly educated young man, immediately charms Lydia, with his love for books, especially those that are also favorites of hers. His visits are more and more frequent, their talks about the books over coffee become more intimate, and it soon become apparent there is a romantic spark developing. Eventually Lydia discovers that Javier is the chief of a vicious local drug cartel that has taken over the entire city. Lydia’s husband, a prominent investigative journalist also learns of the cartel involvement and writes a tell-all news piece that greatly upsets the drug lord, who promptly initiates a kill order to be performed at an outdoor party on Lydia’s family and 21 of her closest relatives, including her mother and father, husband some siblings and grandparents, aunts and uncles. Lydia and 8-year-old son Luca are the only survivors and, knowing that Javier intends to kill them also, the paire are transformed into migrants heading for “el norte” and safety. Their hasty departure and desperate flight forces them to join thousands of others also running from something, that journey forming the main content of Cummins’ story. I believed it is an honest attempt at trying to acquaint the reader with today’s news accounts of the immigration rush to America’s borders. I thought it was well-written, well-researched and accurately depicted and that’s where I found myself at odds with more famous critics. That’s where you, as a reader, come into the picture. You will have to be the final word in this controversy. As it’s going now, the readers seem to be in favor of Cummins’ version of her story. That’s probably the correct view. Writers can write about anything they want. The final work is the most significant indicator as to how well they did or didn’t do. Personally, I feel that the author was very successful at producing what she intended. Her research filled in the blanks where her intimate knowledge faltered and for those of us who know no differently, it was an entertaining and riveting read. The lapses being criticized are too esoteric for most of us. So, my recommendation is to buy and read this book, enjoy it for the story it tells, and don’t try to read too much into the “unqualified writer” brouhaha. The story is riveting. Schuyler T Wallace Author of TIN LIZARD TALES ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2020 by Schuyler T Wallace

  • Page turner
Format: Hardcover
Great read! Couldn’t put it down and the writer transports you into the book. It’s fiction but reads true. I wish everyone would read it to have an understanding of what people across the border are dealing with.
Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2026 by Amazon Customer

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