60 pages 2 hours read

Luis Alberto Urrea

The Hummingbird's Daughter

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2005

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Part 4Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 4: “The Catastrophe of Holiness”

Part 4, Chapter 36 Summary

As the tensions between the Díaz regime and Indigenous people worsen, Tomás’s ranch comes under supervision. Outwardly, Teresita seems to adjust well after the incident with Buenaventura, but she does privately struggle to reconcile her lack of experience with the fact that in her dreams, the People call her the Queen of the World. The ranch throws parties every Friday night at their new plazuela. Teresita reluctantly joins the walks around the plazuela and enjoys the piropos, or artful compliments, of the boys—at least until one named Millán makes an inappropriate comment to her. Meanwhile, Aguirre flees to the United States after Rurales come looking for him at Cabora.

Part 4, Chapter 37 Summary

Huila no longer rises early, and Teresita can see how old her mentor is becoming. One day, Teresita goes to the special grove to pray. As she leaves, Millán follows her and watches from the trees as she prays. Back at the ranch, Huila joins Tomás and Gabriela at breakfast and asks where Teresita is. When they tell her that she is at the grove, Huila collapses. Meanwhile, as Teresita thinks of Huila and listens to the hummingbirds, she soon realizes that Huila is in trouble.