American Dirt is an eye-opening chronicle of the journey of a mom and her son from Acapulco Mexico to the "american dirt" of Tucson, AZ. Lydia and Luca are shellshocked from the unimaginable cartel deaths of every member of their family except themselves. They move through the 20 days of running for their lives in a fog, developing unheard of skills like jumping onto a moving train, while stuffing down the grief and losses they feel.
This story is the tale of a mother's heart, a tale so far removed from our safe lives that it caused this reader to tear up innumerable times as the heroine does everything in her power to get her 8 year old son to safety. I was struck by the raw courage and hope that it takes immigrants to reach "el norte". I am sure that I would not have the stamina nor strength to keep facing such insurmountable obstacles.
Cummins did American readers a huge service in writing this book. I realize that not all immigrants are running for their lives, there certainly will be an element of undesirables clamoring to our borders... but for the most part, asylum seekers must get the opportunity to start new lives as well as the many others who reach our borders wanting a better life for their families. Our government needs to care more and do the hard work of assisting the undocumented in getting citizenship...less costly, less hassle, more timely.
