American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins is a devastatingly powerful story, exploring one family’s harrowing journey across the US-Mexican border. Lydia and her son, Luca, are living a comfortable middle-class life in the Mexican city of Acapulco. Lydia’s beloved journalist husband, Sebastián, is killed by a group of cartel hitmen and rallies to their turf. Lydia, fearing for her and Luca’s lives, goes on the run with her son.
Lydia quickly realizes the importance of picking her battles, as she finds out the hard way. They first go to Tijuana and find a coyote willing to take them to America. This coyote is a so-called “coyote” who is willing to help migrants travel over the US Mexico boarder for a hefty fee. Lydia is forced to pay a large sum of money as the price for their passage.
Traveling in a group of migrants, Lydia and Luca have to face several dangerous situations, from wild animals to people traffickers, and are left completely at the mercy of the coyote. A kind and generous woman helps them at one point, and in spite of the dangers, there are also people of kindness who assist them in their journey.
The journey across the US-Mexico border attracts different kinds of people from all around the world. From African political refugees, to young girls from Central America. People of different backgrounds and cultures all experiencing the same struggles, each of them desperate to find a safe haven on the other side of the US-Mexico border.
Lydia and Luca’s journey across the US-mexico border is filled with many hardships and difficulties. But through it all, they never lose hope, and they persevere. When they finally reach the US, they are welcomed by streets of good-hearted people who welcome them with open arms. They are taken to a shelter where they receive help and with the help of an immigration lawyer, they are granted asylum in the US.
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins is a heartbreaking story about resilience and the strength of the human spirit. Even in the darkest of circumstances, Lydia and Luca manage to hold on to their faith and find a way to a better life in the United States. It is an inspiring story of survival and hope, showing us what can be accomplished even in the most dire of situations.
