American Dirt

by Jeanine Cummins

Abuela Character Analysis

Abuela was hosting her granddaughter Yénifer’s quinceañera at her house when three armed gunmen from the local cartel storm onto her patio and open fire. She and 15 other members of her family are killed; only her daughter Lydia and her grandson Luca survive. Her son-in-law, Sebastián, was the target of the attack. In life, Abuela was a remarkable woman; others described her as a “trailblazer” because she made many unconventional choices, like not marrying until she was 24. To her daughters, Abuela emphasized the importance of financial independence and preparing for the future, and she loaned Lydia money to open her bookstore. Later, money she set aside in her savings account helps Lydia and Luca afford to flee Mexico.

Abuela Quotes in American Dirt

The American Dirt quotes below are all either spoken by Abuela or refer to Abuela. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Trauma Theme Icon
).

Chapter 1 Quotes

The wall is around five and a half feet high and three feet long—just large enough, with some luck, to shield Luca and his mother from sight. Luca’s back is wedged, his small shoulders touching both walls. His knees are drawn up to his chin, and Mami is clinched around him like a tortoise’s shell.

Related Characters: Luca , Lydia , Abuela, Sebastián
Page Number: 1
Explanation and Analysis:

Epilogue Quotes

He doesn’t wear Papi’s hat anymore because it’s too special. It’s taken on a museum quality. It stays on top of his blue dresser along with his other treasures: Abuela’s rosary and an eraser shaped like a dragon that Rebeca got him.

Related Characters: Abuela, Luca , Sebastián , Rebeca
Related Symbols: The Red Yankees Hat
Page Number: 374
Explanation and Analysis:
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Abuela Quotes in American Dirt

The American Dirt quotes below are all either spoken by Abuela or refer to Abuela. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Trauma Theme Icon
).

Chapter 1 Quotes

The wall is around five and a half feet high and three feet long—just large enough, with some luck, to shield Luca and his mother from sight. Luca’s back is wedged, his small shoulders touching both walls. His knees are drawn up to his chin, and Mami is clinched around him like a tortoise’s shell.

Related Characters: Luca , Lydia , Abuela, Sebastián
Page Number: 1
Explanation and Analysis:

Epilogue Quotes

He doesn’t wear Papi’s hat anymore because it’s too special. It’s taken on a museum quality. It stays on top of his blue dresser along with his other treasures: Abuela’s rosary and an eraser shaped like a dragon that Rebeca got him.

Related Characters: Abuela, Luca , Sebastián , Rebeca
Related Symbols: The Red Yankees Hat
Page Number: 374
Explanation and Analysis: