Book Review: American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

  

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

Listened to this book from BARD and the narrator has a Spanish accent so it really makes it feel like I'm there. Descriptions are very precise in detail, some scenes I forget as they are a bit gory.

Story starts out when the mother and child are hiding in the bathroom. The shooters have invaded the house after shooting everybody outside for a family gathering. 

Terrifying moments as one uses the bathroom in the same room they are in. After notifying the police she knows they must leave and seek shelter to keep safe.

The family get together of 15 and only her and her young son have survived. 

Story then goes back to when she ran the bookstore with her husband. Times when they had to pay the cartel to keep their store from being broken into and things stolen.

Cartel visit other stores more often for more money.  On the run I like how she is more alert to her surroundings and who is nearby. Love what she does with her ring and jewelry.

Child is scared and he is somewhat a genius with facts about things he's read. He knew the CO rivers and she hopes they make it there as she has an uncle there.

The package arrives with their food at the hotel and she is so terrified when she reads it. Haunting glimpse of her past.

She feels a bit safe but knows it's only for a few seconds as cars pass the bus and there are roadblocks. 

Her son, Luca naps while she is still planning what to do next, especially if they have to escape a roadblock when the bus is stopped. She knows the cartel will be watching for them.

They are heading north and she hopes it is the right choice. Scenery along the way: colorful houses that resemble lego's, cute remark from Luca.

She knows of a person she could contact in the area.  She's smart about her SIM card. 

Lydia is able to track her spouse's friend on Facebook  and finds a church the friend  is a member of. She knows what and where the tattoo is and to watch out for it.

She knows they are still after her.  Lying on the top of the train as it goes very fast might not be the perfect option to stay undetected.

Story keeps going back and then to present days. You are able to collect pieces of the things you want to know about, like a puzzle piece.

They can't buy certain tickets without a birth certificate for Luca...

They will be joining migrate workers in the journey north... Lydia's spouse was a journalist and he liked the strong bylines and stories he had to write about the murders.

The nuns after walking for 7 miles will keep them safe a night and with food. She gave up a lot of personal information even though she did not have to, never their destination. I'm really scared for her now.

She feels at ease with the other mothers as the young children sit at a table nearby.

Some women talk of the teen girl that was almost taken the night before. The man was in the cartel she's trying to avoid.

Love where and why she hides her money, so smart. Long struggles to get from one location to another. Unimaginable terror when boarding the train.

They are so close but then they are caught...horrid and horrific  scenes as others are tortured and killed in front of their eyes. The other girls they were traveling with had made a call to their father but they get bad news there.

The attackers are not so easy on the girls...

'another day, another horror' is what they all go through, some worse than others.

I have read about the coyotes who will aid them from Mexico through the desert to the US. Never thought who was really responsible for the family deaths til she discovers who was behind it all. 

Love the epilogue and about the author and why she wrote this book, mind blowing, emotional, numb should not be this difficult.

Love how the hoops and ring are her lifesavers and she needs to touch them  when in danger and when in doubt as to their choices.

Strong, smart, brave, will do anything for their passage to US.

Thing I don't like are Spanish words and sayings as the story goes along that are not  always translated into English.

Gets a 5 because i learned new words, travel, adventure, action, love, women were strong, brave and smart and mysteries.

I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).