I’ve read this book a couple times and each time I feel more thankful for the life that I was blessed with. As a person of diverse cultural background, I can see how things might have gone differently for my ancestors under other circumstances. As the book says, there’s always a reason for someone trying to immigrate to the US and that reason can be one of intense struggle.

Lydia and Luca lose their entire family and experience the worst day of their lives all in one go. And there is no time for them to process or grieve because their lives are still in danger. They must leave their home without looking back, taking nothing identifiable, and try to find themselves a new safe place beyond the reach of the cartels. Follow them through their struggle to reach American dirt.

Cummins doesn’t pull any punches when she talks about the suffering and struggle Lydia experiences and witnesses on her journey to the US. I felt her anguish, her fear, and the danger that she was sure lurked around every corner and in every face. Loss is a guarantee and safety is not. Cummins describes everything in detail and makes it so you can really relate to Lydia.