The Hummingbird's Daughter of this book's title is Teresita, born in Mexico in the late 19th century to a poor teenage Indian girl known as The Hummingbird. Unknown to her at the time, she was the illegitimate daughter of a rich ranch owner. Raised by an abusive aunt and then her father, she was educated by the Yaqui shaman, Huila, who teaches her how plants can be used to heal sickness, and dreams can be controlled. Teresita discovers she can heal with her hands. Her father's ranch is soon overrun by pilgrims coming to see Teresita's miracles, drawing attention from the government who is suspicious of anything that threatens their power. It's a time of revolution, removal of Indians from their ancestral lands, cowboys, and warriors, and a young woman with a message of love and healing. Luis Alberto Urrea (
The Devil's Highway) uses the stories of his great-aunt Teresita he heard as a child as a basis for his novel.
The Hummingbird's Daughter has received positive reviews with the San Francisco Chronicle saying, "Urrea has created a classic, a tribute and love song to the colorful and vibrant heart of all things Mexican."
