The Hummingbird's Daughter by Louis Alberto Urrea

The Hummingbird's Daughter is a fascinating tale of Mexican history that focuses on a young woman now known as Santa Teresita. The author, Urrea, explains that she was a distant relative and that he spent 20 years researching the novel.

The story follows the life of Teresita, illegitimate daughter of a 14 year old peasant, Cayetana (the "hummingbird" ) and a powerful Mexican land owner, Don Urrea (surname of the author), a man driven by his instincts for land, money, sex and power. Teresita possessed a special talent for healing and becomes the student of the old curadera of the ranch who recognizes her gifts.

The personal evolution of Teresita's life upon the backdrop of the Mexican revolution kept me turning the pages. The book dives into Christian mysticism and surfaces on the gruesome frontiers of a cruel Mexico, harsh for Indians and the "people."

I thought the ending of this work was a bit unsatifsying, but, generally, I would recommend it to anyone with a taste for Latin American fiction - especially historical fiction, which, some say, the Spanish do best. - Reviewed by Joyce