The Hummingbird's Daughter

Super Short Summary

The Hummingbird's Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea is a fictional account set in late 1800s-early 1900s México, following Teresa Urrea, a woman with mystical powers and religious fervor deemed a living saint. Raised on a ranch by Tomás Urrea after being abandoned by her mother, she learns spiritual healing from Huila, while political turmoil and Indigenous struggles against the regime of President Díaz underscore her journey. The novel explores the coexistence of Catholic and Indigenous spirituality in Mexican culture. The book includes depictions of child abuse, violence against Indigenous people, violence against women, and violence committed by an oppressive political regime.