Speak to Me of Home

Jeanine Cummins’ Speak to Me of Home is a sweeping, multigenerational tale of three Puerto Rican women—Rafaela, her daughter Ruth, and granddaughter Daisy—navigating identity, belonging, and family secrets across continents. Beginning with Rafaela’s marriage in San Juan and stretching to Daisy’s return to Puerto Rico decades later, the novel explores the sacrifices of immigration and the longing for home.

Admittedly, I found American Dirt to be an absolute force and unputdownable, and was a little disappointed in this one. Despite these critiques, the novel offers a poignant exploration of the immigrant experience, the sacrifices made for family, and the enduring quest for a place to call home.

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