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American Dirt

The heartstopping read that will live with you for ever
4.37 goodreads logo

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( 665,430 ratings, 50,930 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins follows Lydia Quixano Pérez, a bookstore owner in Acapulco, who is forced to flee with her son after a drug cartel targets her family. Their journey to the United States is a harrowing adventure of survival and hope.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy gripping, character-driven stories that delve into the harrowing journey of migration and survival. With its compelling narrative and emotional depth, it provides a poignant look at the struggles and hopes of those seeking a better life.

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The extraordinary global bestseller - a once in a lifetime read about the lengths a mother will go to to save her son

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins is a harrowing tale of survival and resilience that explores the profound lengths a mother will go to in order to protect her child. This captivating novel opens with Lydia Perez, a contented bookstore owner in Acapulco, Mexico, who finds her life irrevocably shattered when her husband, a brave journalist, falls victim to a drug cartel's violence. In the blink of an eye, Lydia's peaceful life with her eight-year-old son, Luca, is turned upside down, and they are forced to flee for their lives.

As Lydia and Luca embark on a treacherous journey northward to the United States border, they must navigate a world where trust is precarious and danger lurks at every corner. Their path is fraught with peril not only from the cartel but also from those they meet along the way, each with their own intentions and struggles. The story delves into themes of sacrifice, maternal love, and the relentless quest for safety and a better future.

The novel's gripping narrative and profound character development have resonated with readers worldwide, making American Dirt an instant sensation. It is a poignant and timely exploration of the human cost of migration and the enduring spirit of those who undertake the most desperate of journeys.

'Heartstopping... doesn't let up... you will urge them on, fists clenched' The Times

An extraordinary story of the lengths a mother will go to to save her son, American Dirt has sold over 2 million copies worldwide. It's time to read what you've been missing.

An Instant New York Times #1 Bestseller 2020

An Instant Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller 2020

Over 2 million copies sold globally

A Richard and Judy Book Club Pick

An Oprah's Book Club Pick

A BBC Radio 4 Book at Bedtime

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins has received numerous powerful reviews. It is hailed as a stunning, timely, and politically relevant novel that grips readers from start to finish. Many praise its heart-stopping and masterful storytelling, emphasising its urgency and emotional impact. It is considered a remarkable and exhilaratingly written read that captures the immigrant experience vividly and movingly.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781472261403

Publisher: Headline Publishing Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 18 February 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Tinder Press

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 38.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 333g

Pages: 480

About the Author

Jeanine Cummins is the author of three previous books, the novels The Outside Boy and The Crooked Branch, and one true crime work, A Rip In Heaven. She lives in New York with her husband and two children. You can follow her on Twitter: @jeaninecummins.

Also by Jeanine Cummins

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  • Speak to Me of Home
    'A riveting tale of three generations, this is storytelling at its finest' JOHN BOYNE, author of The Heart's Invisible Furies 'Why hadn't she said to her daughter I love you beyond reason and none of this matters at all and every day that you breathe is a gift?' Rafaela Acuna y Daubon remembers everything that matters: her beautiful childhood in...
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  • American Dirt (Oprah's Book Club)
    Jeanine Cummins's American Dirt, the #1 New York Times bestseller and Oprah Book Club pick that has sold over three million copies, is finally available in paperback. Lydia lives in Acapulco. She has a son, Luca, the love of her life, and a wonderful husband who is a journalist. While cracks are beginning to show in Acapulco because of the...
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  • The Crooked Branch
    ‘Rich and intricately drawn... luminous prose’ Carolyn Parkhurst After the birth of her daughter Emma, the usually resilient Majella finds herself feeling isolated and exhausted. Then, at her childhood home, Majella discovers the diary of her maternal ancestor Ginny, and is shocked to read a story of murder in her family history. With the famine upon her, Ginny Doyle fled...
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  • The Outside Boy
    'A full-throated song of praise. I loved it' Sherman Alexie The Outside Boy is set in Ireland, 1959. Young Christopher Hurley is a tinker, a Pavee gypsy, who roams with his father and extended family from town to town, carrying all their worldly possessions in their wagons. Christy carries with him a burden of guilt as well: his mother's death...
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  • A Rip in Heaven
    The acclaimed author of American Dirt reveals the devastating effects of a shocking tragedy in this landmark true crime book: the first ever to look intimately at the experiences of both the victims and their families. A Rip in Heaven is Jeanine Cummins' story of a night in April, 1991, when her two cousins, Julie and Robin Kerry, and her...
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  • Speak to Me of Home
    From the Sunday Times bestselling author of American Dirt, comes a heartfelt, multigenerational family story which asks: what does it mean to call a place home?'Delectable... a pleasure to read' THE TIMES'A riveting tale of three generations, this is storytelling at its finest' JOHN BOYNE'Utterly absorbing, a big, sweeping story of family and identity' EDEL COFFEY'Why hadn't she said to...
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  • Speak to Me of Home
    From the Sunday Times bestselling author of American Dirt, comes a heartfelt, multigenerational family story which asks: what does it mean to call a place home? 'Delectable... a pleasure to read' THE TIMES 'A riveting tale of three generations, this is storytelling at its finest' JOHN BOYNE 'Utterly absorbing, a big, sweeping story of family and identity' EDEL COFFEY 'Why...
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