Description

*NOW A BBC RADIO 4 BOOK AT BEDTIME*
‘Breathtaking… I haven’t been so entirely consumed by a book for years’ Telegraph
‘I’ll never stop thinking about it’ Ann Patchett

FEAR KEEPS THEM RUNNING. HOPE KEEPS THEM ALIVE.

Vivid, visceral, utterly compelling, AMERICAN DIRT is an unforgettable story of a mother and son’s attempt to 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.

Publisher Review

Devastating and timely... heartwrenching' * Observer * Harrowing and necessary. As pacey as a thriller but full of deep compassion. -- Julie Cohen Both a moral compass and a riveting read -- Ann Patchett Riveting, timely, a dazzling accomplishment. Jeanine Cummins makes us all live and breathe the refugee story. If a book can change hearts and transform policies, this is the one -- Julia Alvarez Urgent and unforgettable, AMERICAN DIRT leaps the borders of the page and demands attention, especially now -- Sarah Blake Will punch you in the gut one minute and fill you with hope the next * Shelf Awareness * From its heart-stopping first sentence to its heart-shattering last, Cummins' story of immigrants is just what we need now -- Don Winslow 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 This book is not simply the great American novel; it's the great novel of las Americas. It's the great world novel! This is the international story of our times. Masterful -- Sandra Cisneros AMERICAN DIRT transported me through genuine fear and had me willing on every human being struggling to get to a better life. Written with masterly restraint, it is a roaring human triumph -- Laline Paull One hell of a novel about a good woman on the run with her beautiful boy... I defy anyone to read the first seven pages of this book and not finish it -- Stephen King Tough, powerful... AMERICAN DIRT made me understand better why someone would give up the home they know and love to survive, and the grit required to cross that border -- Tracy Chevalier From the opening page your heart will be in your mouth You will never want to put this story down, Jeanine Cummins has written a novel of such moment, such danger and such compassion, it will change your view of the world -- Kirsty Wark