American Dirt, Cummins - B +

     This very good novel is set in Mexico. Lydia owns a bookstore, is married to a journalist and raising eight year-old Luca in Acapulco when her world falls apart. One of the customers at her store, Javier,  is the leader of a cartel who literally goes ballistic when Lydia's husband writes an article about him. The cartel kills sixteen members of Lydia's family. Only she and Luca survive and they are soon on the run.  Their flight to 'el norte' is filled with danger every step of the way. Like many others, they ride 'el bestia', the cargo trains that head north. Javier's men are all looking for her and she uses every conceivable survival skill to get to the border and hopes the coyote they use is honest. 

    The tale is a harrowing and frightful one. Thanks to my friend Wendell for the recommendation.