2023 Sarton Awards Shortlist: Contemporary Fiction
2023 American Fiction Awards Finalist in Best New Fiction and Women’s Fiction
2023 International Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Women’s Fiction
“A mother’s love is powerful beyond measure in a world where domestic violence touches every circle of society. With colorful intensity, Ann Marie Jackson speaks truthfully of San Miguel de Allende: its impressive traditions and cultural strength as well as the inevitable frictions within a community formed of people from every corner of the world who face the excruciating pain of loss. This novel makes the reader feel emotion with every fiber of their being.”
— CAMILA SÁNCHEZ BOLAÑO, Editor-in-chief, Newsweek en Español
“Rich symbolism complements the strong plotline of this inspirational novel...psychologically profound and realistic, The Broken Hummingbird is a remarkable debut from a talented author.”
—Readers' Favorite Review, 5 STARS
“With visually rich prose, Ann Marie Jackson tells a moving tale of a woman’s resilience and reinvention through the eyes of an expat in the beautiful but complicated city of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.”
—Brian Crewe, award-winning film director
“A deep, delightful read! Spanning the parallel worlds of privilege and poverty in San Miguel de Allende, Ann Marie Jackson’s The Broken Hummingbird captures the heartbreak of a dissolving marriage alongside the joys of making a difference in others’ lives as well as one’s own.”
—Lucie Frost, satirist
“This story beautifully illustrates the power of connection. The author’s deep love and respect for the culture of her adopted country shine through in her writing. Bravo!”
—Deanna Singh, author of Actions Speak Louder, Purposeful Hustle, and A Smart Girl’s Guide: Race and Inclusion
“With insider’s knowledge, Ann Marie Jackson writes with nuance and panache about the agony and the ecstasy of 21st-century expat life in San Miguel de Allende. Her debut novel is vivid, moving, and highly entertaining.”
—Gina Hyams, author of In a Mexican Garden
“The Broken Hummingbird shimmers with the iridescent beauty of San Miguel de Allende. In this well-crafted story of a woman determined to help a family in need while at the same time struggling to build a rich and authentic life for herself and her sons, Jackson succeeds in depicting the harsh realities of domestic violence, the complexities of a broken marriage, the significance of community support, and the comfort and strength found in enduring friendships. Boldly honest yet tender at the core—a novel with something important to say.”
—Debra Thomas, author of Luz
“With vivid and colorful descriptions, Ann Marie Jackson renders a vibrant literary canvas that transports the reader to the enchanting land of Mexico’s treasured San Miguel de Allende. While there, we witness the transformation of a woman who, surrounded by the strength of her close friends and community—as well as through her own focused determination—is able to rise above the pain of a broken marriage and restore her spirit to what it once was.”
—Jessica Winters Mireles, author of Lost in Oaxaca
“Women from two worlds, coexisting in San Miguel de Allende, are empowered in different ways while depending on each other far more than one might suspect. Jackson provides a richly detailed depiction of place as well as a close, careful study of tragedy and triumph in these women’s lives.”
—Lucina Kathmann, vice president emerita of PEN International, representative to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, and author of Para Que Nos Escuchen/To Make Ourselves Heard and Private Spaces, Public Places: A Woman at Home in the World
“A powerful story beautifully told, both lyrical and compelling. This book is for anyone who has ever felt their world coming apart and chosen to embrace a courageous journey forward. Here is one woman’s story that you do not want to miss.”
—Jan Baross, author of José Builds a Woman
"...sensitive...feminist...empowering...Handling the difficult subjects of immigration, charity, and abuse with care, The Broken Hummingbird focuses on a community of activists in Mexico that changes a family’s life…and a woman who comes into her own…when pushed to take back the power she has ceded."
—FOREWORD CLARION REVIEW
