When Tzunún was little, her mother nicknamed her Colibrí, Spanish for “hummingbird.” At age four, Colibrí is kidnapped f...
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reviews
Jan 25, 2011
J Spanish yellow & blk Cameron
no rating
This is a wonderful story! It is a great way to learn about some of the magical beliefs of the Mayan cultures, as well as a way to learn about the tumultuous history of Guatimala - but in a gentle way. This is the story of a young girl named Tzunun, or Colibri in Spanish - a word that means hummingbird. Colibri was about 4 years old when she befan living with her "uncle" - a former soldier who cared for her after she was torn apa More...
no rating
This is a wonderful story! It is a great way to learn about some of the magical beliefs of the Mayan cultures, as well as a way to learn about the tumultuous history of Guatimala - but in a gentle way. This is the story of a young girl named Tzunun, or Colibri in Spanish - a word that means hummingbird. Colibri was about 4 years old when she befan living with her "uncle" - a former soldier who cared for her after she was torn apa More...
Sep 08, 2011
Tzunún is very sympathetic character; she seeks love and devotion from her real parents through all the years with Uncle. She parted right from wrong despite the many times she was forced to do wrong. A very sad and well-written story that I enjoyed reading. The only
thing I didn’t like about the book was the end. The author wanted to finish the book so fast that she sped up the ending and I had the impression that she didn’t explain it very well.
thing I didn’t like about the book was the end. The author wanted to finish the book so fast that she sped up the ending and I had the impression that she didn’t explain it very well.
Jul 14, 2011
Kathleen
rated it: 
In Guatemala, twelve-year-old Tzunún travels with a man she calls “Uncle” in search of a treasure which fortune-tellers have convinced Uncle she will bring him. Tzunún manages to escape Uncle and learn the truth about her past.
I enjoyed Colibrí because I had never read any fictional stories from Guatemala before this one. I could visualize the Guatemalan cities of Nebaj and San Sebastián because of the descriptions of the people, food, and the sights and smells of the marketplaces. More...
I enjoyed Colibrí because I had never read any fictional stories from Guatemala before this one. I could visualize the Guatemalan cities of Nebaj and San Sebastián because of the descriptions of the people, food, and the sights and smells of the marketplaces. More...
May 06, 2010
Rathi
rated it:
Rustic, authentic and poignantly narrated tale of a girl who was kidnapped,grew up with a thief, begging her way during her growing years, finds solace with a gypsy and finds her way back home. During her journey she faces trials and tribulations that no young child should ever face. Colibri meaning hummingbird, the main character, has left a lasting impression in my mind.
May 03, 2010
Suzy
rated it:
Enjoyed reading very much. The main character, Tzunun, is a sweet girl and it is easy to feel empathy for her since she has been kidnapped and is under the care of a man she has been told to call uncle. They survive by begging until a chain of events change Tzunun's fate. The culture of Guatemala came through in the descriptions of the clothing, food, language and traditions.
Oct 14, 2009
Amy
rated it: 
Colibri= hummingbrid= fearless one who will fight something 1,000 times it's size if it has to. I fell in love with this simple honest girl who stuck true to who she was and her convictions in the face of an evil heartless caretaker! A must for my library!
Oct 12, 2008
Joanna
rated it: 
This is a book that take place in Guatemala, about a girl named Tzunun. She was kidnapped from her parents when she was four. Since then, she starded following this man, who he told her to called him Uncle. Tzunun follow him wheverever he goes and whatever he does, whether it's stealing or acting blind for others to feel pity for them. Of course, there's a reason why this Uncle is willing to "take care" of Rosa. There've been fortune tellers who predicted that Tzunun would help Uncle f
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Dec 19, 2009
Grace
rated it:
This book was very good. The style of writing was intense but relaxed in a sense and the author described the characters well. The transitions were not very good though.
Dec 13, 2011
Allison
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This book is awesome! I can understand Spanish but I can't speak it. I loved being able to know the spanish words in the story.
Sep 29, 2008
Lisa
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Kimberlee did a search for "Guatemala" in the school library and found this book.
The story of a young girl who was abducted as a small child and is now cared for by an unscrupulous man known only as "Uncle" Her nickname when she still lived with her mother and father was "Colibri" which is Spanish for hummingbird. Now Uncle calls her Rosa.
Colibri struggles within her self to stay true to the values her mother taught her and her own survival More...
The story of a young girl who was abducted as a small child and is now cared for by an unscrupulous man known only as "Uncle" Her nickname when she still lived with her mother and father was "Colibri" which is Spanish for hummingbird. Now Uncle calls her Rosa.
Colibri struggles within her self to stay true to the values her mother taught her and her own survival More...
Apr 07, 2011
Ann
rated it:
Very poignant story, beautifully read. A window onto Guatamalen culture and native beliefs and traditions.
Apr 08, 2008
Jennie
rated it:
Colibri, a kidnapped Mayan girl, suffers under the care of a moody, abusive man whom she knows only as “Uncle.” Colibri must find the courage to stand up to Uncle and thwart his plan to rob the town church.
Painful and dramatic story. Colibri’s relationship with her captor is disturbing. Although the book is not explicit in content, the implications are extremely dark. Dona Celestina’s story about her husband’s murder is also quite gruesome. However, Colibri shows amazing strength a More...
Painful and dramatic story. Colibri’s relationship with her captor is disturbing. Although the book is not explicit in content, the implications are extremely dark. Dona Celestina’s story about her husband’s murder is also quite gruesome. However, Colibri shows amazing strength a More...
Apr 27, 2008
Carissa
rated it:
this book was recommended to me by a librarian friend as a possibility for a “multicultural” title for the favoreads line-up for next summer. it was a very good book. i read it in one sitting. it’s about a girl from guatemala who travels around the country with a man who calls himself her “uncle” and together they beg and scam (although she is quite uncomfortable about the dishonesty). the story is about her coming of age and her discovery of the truth in her past and how she escapes to a more p
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May 29, 2008
Brandon
rated it:
I did enjoy Colibri since the action takes place in Guatemala. It is on a recommended reading list and is pretty popular in our library, so I wanted to check it out. The story of a girl who is kidnapped when she is 4 and made to wander with and work for her "Uncle". It gets into some aspects of the Mayan culture I had not heard of. Some don't like the book, since they feel it puts Guatemala in a negative light with the kidnapping and the work they do, which is running scams. I lik
Jun 01, 2009
Marco
rated it: 
The Prose was a bit muted, but my student loved it. My rating only reflects my own bias, but great young adult read.
Nov 12, 2010
This was a captivating and informational book. This book had alot of details.
Sep 05, 2008
Lia
rated it:
What I really, really love about this book is how the character faces herself in so many ways after she chooses her own path. I was half afriad that the author was going to make her somehow super knowledgeable and powerful because she had finally chosen for herself---but that isn't how life is. And that isn't how her life is. A good read.
Sep 01, 2008
Heather
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My little brother is serving a mission in Guatemala so this one caught my eye at the library. The author has lived in Guatemala for many years and I got a little glimpse of the country and some of its people. Written for YAs but still good reading for adults.
May 28, 2008
Anna
rated it:
This was the first I read on my list of books about Guatemala. . . easy to read and easy to digest this very clear-cut story of good and evil in a poor but culturally rich country. It's a book aimed at older kids, so it's not a challenging read but a nice story.
Oct 07, 2011
Andrea
rated it:
Touching story about a girl who was kidnapped at a young age and lives with her kidnapper who believes that he will bring her a great treasure. I loved the character of Dona Celestina. A quick read. Some violence, but not too graphic.
Apr 28, 2009
Jen
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This is a great young adult book, that really gives the reader a sense of what life is like in Guatemala. Written by a woman who sponsors one of my students at LIFE School.
It's a quick read and I think you will all enjoy it.
It's a quick read and I think you will all enjoy it.
Oct 28, 2008
Chris
rated it:
"En la vida, sentirse seguro es bueno, pero mejor, es sentirse feliz."
I like kids books - they hit you over the head with their main points, but at least they're saying something!
I like kids books - they hit you over the head with their main points, but at least they're saying something!
Apr 03, 2008
Mercedes
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this book is so good. it's about a girl named hummingbird star who gets abducted when she's four. it's a sad but good story with a satisfying ending.
Aug 28, 2008
Amber
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I really loved this book! It is fun to read, and I enjoyed reading about their culture!
Dec 17, 2009
Krista the Krazy Kataloguer
rated it:
A girl in Guatemala who has been kidnapped by a man and forced to be his servant plots to escape.
Apr 27, 2011
Kristi
rated it:
Weird book, but oddly enough I couldn't put it down. Interesting story.
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