May 2025

After reading AMERICAN DIRT, I was looking forward to what Jeanine Cummins would write next. I was so happy to see that she really delivered again with the generational story in SPEAK TO ME OF HOME. I know many people who have migrated to this country, and sometimes I wonder if they are torn between two places. While life here has so many freedoms and opportunities, I have often considered what it is like to think in two languages and think of home as more than one place. It was very much on my mind as I read this book.

Here, Jeanine brings us three generations…actually four if you count Mamamía and Papamío. This first generation was born in Puerto Rico, where class was defined by the tone of your skin, as well as the money you had. Papamío was “lighter” than Mamamia and was born in a city; as a result, he was seen as more sophisticated. Their daughters, one of whom is Rafaela, were sheltered and pampered with a live-in housekeeper who saw to their every need. The housekeeper’s son also lived with them, but they were scolded for playing with him. Class meant that should not happen! But then one day, their father was found to have done something unethical, and their world turned upside down. The money was gone. And so was their reputation.

As the years go on, Rafaela marries an American, and they live for a while in Puerto Rico. But then her husband, Peter Brennan Jr., feels that there is more opportunity in the States and moves them to the Midwest where there are few people of color. Rafaela is seen as an outsider there. Slights due to the coffee color of her skin make her feel like she is less than the others in the community. No matter what she does to try to fit in, she continues to believe that St. Louis will never be home. Her daughter, Ruth, wants nothing more than to fit in and be part of the American culture. To be American, Ruth abandons all that she learned when she was in Puerto Rico. Meanwhile, Ruth’s brother longs for the home of his birth country and begs to spend time there, with his friends and family left behind.

The word “speak” from the title plays so well here, as “speaking the language” is the one thing that each character will want to either remember or forget. As soon as he is able to do so, Ruth’s brother heads back to his native home, where he is more comfortable. Ruth marries and feels like her real home is in the States.

Ruth’s daughter, Daisy, also opts to head to Puerto Rico, though she was born and raised in the States. She turns away from the idea of going to college and instead starts a business on the island, which surprises everyone. Daisy is gravely injured during a hurricane in 2023, which has Rafaela and Ruth putting all their thoughts aside about what home means so they can be by Daisy’s side. There they confront many of the things that they have made hidden, secrets that will mean so much when they are relayed.

One thing I noted: As much as skin color and native land play a major role here, so does financial wealth and security. That alone begets a lot of discussion.

As I started reading, I found myself referring to the family tree at the front of the book to keep the characters straight. It was wise to include that here.

So many wonderful family stories are braided into SPEAK TO ME OF HOME. It will make for a brilliant book group discussion.