Review of American Dirt

Review of American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. This wonderful, page-turner of a novel, meticulously researched by Jeanine Cummins, takes you into the personal lives of immigrants coming into the United States. While it expertly takes you through all the documented dangers facing those making the trip through Mexico to the border and crossing into the United States, its primary strength is that it puts a human face on these people. Lydia, educated and middle class from Acapulco, and her child, Luca, attempting to escape a drug cartel that murdered her husband, a journalist, and the remainder of her family, are the primary characters in the novel. A host of others gives the reader a lesson into why so many people attempt to cross the border into the United States. The novel is terrifying in places and funny in others. It is realistic yet hopeful. It fully captures the humanity, both good and bad, of those crossing our southern border. If you want to get a real glimpse into what is happening at the southern border, this novel is a good place to start.