The Hummingbird's Daughter

A Novel

By: Luis Alberto Urrea

Narrated by: Luis Alberto Urrea

It is 1889, and civil war is brewing in Mexico. A 16-year-old girl, Teresita, the illegitimate but beloved daughter of the wealthy and powerful rancher Don Tomas Urrea, wakes from the strangest dream, a dream that she has died. Only it was not a dream. This passionate and rebellious young woman has arisen from death with the power to heal, but it will take all her faith to endure the trials that await her and her family now that she has become the "Saint of Cabora".

The Hummingbird's Daughter is a vast, hugely satisfying novel of love and loss, joy and pain. Two decades in the writing, this is the masterpiece that Luis Alberto Urrea has been building up to.

©2006 Luis Alberto Urrea (P)2006 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Epic." (The New Yorker)

"Urrea meticulously captures day-to-day life among the poor farmers and their populist beliefs in their saint." (Bookmarks Magazine)

"[The Hummingbird's Daughter] is wildly romantic, sweeping in its effect, employing the techniques of Catholic hagiography, Western fairy tale, Indian legend and everyday family folklore against the gritty historical realities of war, poverty, prejudice, lawlessness, torture and genocide. Urrea effortlessly links Teresita's supernatural calling to the turmoil of the times, concealing substantial intellectual content behind effervescent storytelling and considerable humor." (Publishers Weekly)

My New Favorite Book

This is one of the best books I've purchased from Audible. It is read by the author, and he does such an amazing job with voices and accents. I won't go into detail about the book itself, you can easily read the synopsis. I do highly recommend this book, I was so sad when I finished it. It leaves you wanting more.

Worth reading

I really enjoyed listening to this book. Although I found it a little slow in the beginning, it ended up pulling me in. By the time I reached the end, I was sorry it was over.

I think it is awesome that the author researched this "aunt" of his, the "Saint of Cabora", and told her story. According to his end-notes, most of the details in the story are based on actual diary/journal entries, eye-witness acounts, as well as information he was able to get from family members. The book is very well researched. I enjoyed the bits of herbal & healing folklore in the story, portrayed through the healer, Huila.
This is definitely a book to enjoy.

Mystical, Melodic Mural, But Missing Story Magic

This is Mexican author Urrea's mystical and melodic mural of a sort of Mexican Joan of Arc ("Everything the government does...is morally wrong"). Dubbed the Saint of Cabor, the 15-year-old love child to a Mexican rancher and a poor Indian girl called "Hummingbird," has seemingly messianic powers after being raped and apparently killed, and coming back to life.

While it had a solid story line and warm, well-drawn characters, the story never quite hit on all cylinders for me.

The Hummingbird’s Daughtet

This book was amazing to me. I am a Mexican American woman in search of her healing past. Among several books I’ve read the hummingbirds daughter being one of them has brought me some deeper understanding of my own history. I am a holistic healer and I’ve always felt that there was a connection to what I do in my ancestry. This book gave me insights but I didn’t help and I think the author for this.

Medicine for the reader

I’ve read and listened to all of Urrea’s books...this is my favorite. Teresita heals us as we listen to her story. A saint, curandera or radical indigenous icon; Teresita is also just a girl searching for her path in this word. Urrea takes us to Sonora in his breathtaking descriptions and his narration is a delight.

one of the best audio books I've ever read

I loved this story
and narration by author just makes it even more beautiful
another reviewer had said "just buy it"
that review motivated my choice in this book.
one of those books that has the feelings of being life changing.

Excellent!

Exceptional book. Perfect narration.

Based on a piece of history I was not aware of, which was also part of the author’s family history.

The Hummingbirds daughter

This book is fantastic. I loved the fact that the author was the narrator and i thought he read it beautifully with colourful insightful language and emotion. I have become so interested in Teresita it has inspired me to do my own research. I give this book full marks and would thoroughly recommend!!!! Thanks

Magical lyricism, a storytelling masterpiece

I so loved this audiobook. The story is written with much compassion and authenticity, and the people are real, flawed and wise and cruel and loveable, sometimes all at once. The author gives a vibrant insight to the historical events of the time, as well as into the psyche of the people, or the various ‘peoples’ of the area. Very glad to have wandered into that world with him.

A rare work

A rare work that works on many levels. Although it is a history and although it is a fiction as well if you delve deeply you’ll find connections in your own life.