Estela, Undrowning

by René Peña-Govea

In her raw and resonant debut novel, René Peña-Govea seamlessly interweaves prose and poetry to uplift the power of language, the courage to fight injustice, and the complex beauty of finding your people—perfect for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo’s The Poet X and Carolina Ixta’s Shut Up, This is Serious.

Estela Morales is one of the only Latinas who tested into San Francisco’s most exclusive public high school. In her senior year, Estela just wants to keep her head down, eke out a passing grade from her racist Spanish teacher, and get into her dream college.

But after placing second in the Latiné Heritage Poetry Contest behind a non-Latino student, Estela is thrust into citywide debates about merit, identity, and diversity.

Things only get messier when her family is threatened with eviction. As Estela’s friends organize against bigotry and her landlady increases the pressure, Estela is suffocating and finds release only in poetry and in a breathless new romance. When tensions finally reach their breaking point, Estela must find a way to undrown the community she loves—and herself.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction

368 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication March 3, 2026

Reviews

[Misty Gonzalez · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars.
Give me all of the latine (x,o) coming-of-age stories forever. Growing up, these types of books weren't mainstream and it makes my heart so happy that there are more options now.
Estela was a character that I didn't love at first but the more I read, the more I recognized that she was a kid who had been shaped by microaggressions and racism in her school/ community. Estela's character growth through the novel felt realistic for her age but there were a few things that felt a little too "easy" for them to be believable (ie. how was every single adult besides the Spanish teacher so progressive and supportive?). Overall, I loved the mix of Spanish and English as well as poetry and prose and can't wait to see more from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins, and the author, Rene Peña-Govea for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Israt · Rating 4 out of 5]

For fans of YA books like, “The Education of Margo Sanchez” and “The Fire on High,” but with a west coast setting. Estela is a high school senior at the prestigious public school, Robert Frost High School. Not only is Estela “Steli” high-achieving and hyper-focused on getting into college, she’s a talented poet. At the encouragement of her AP English teacher, Ms. Álvarez and for the lure of prize money she can use to pay for AP exams, Steli enters the Latine Heritage month Poetry contest. But, when an Asian American student enters the contest and wins first place, Frost and its students have to grapple with the racism and lack of support Black and Brown students face. This means Steli also has to address her own internalized racism and classism. The author adeptly tackles issues of gentrification and eviction, mental health, and racism and classism within communities of color. Other enjoyable things: chino- latino and black latina representation, complicated female characters, queer side characters, conchas, and beautiful poems. I’m definitely looking forward to the author’s next work. Thank you to netgalley for the e arc!

[Prof. Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estela, Undrowning by René Peña-Govea is a raw and evocative debut that masterfully captures the tumultuous journey of a young Latina navigating identity, injustice, and the pursuit of her dreams. As someone who appreciates stories that shed light on the experiences of marginalized youth, I found Peña-Govea’s novel both inspiring and painfully real.

Estela Morales is a compelling protagonist—ambitious, resilient, and yearning for a better life free from the struggles that seem to follow her at every turn. Her desire to succeed academically and secure her future is both relatable and admirable, especially in the face of systemic barriers, racial bias, and family hardships. Peña-Govea’s use of poetry and prose interwoven throughout the narrative elevates the storytelling, giving voice to Estela’s inner world and emphasizing the power of language as a tool for resistance and self-expression.

The themes of identity, community, and injustice are handled with honesty and nuance. When Estela places second in the Latiné Heritage Poetry Contest, it sparks citywide debates about merit, race, and cultural authenticity—an issue that many Black and Brown youth will see themselves reflected in. The story’s tension escalates as her family faces eviction and her relationships deepen, especially with a new romantic interest who offers a breath of fresh air amid the chaos.

Peña-Govea captures the complexity of growing up as a marginalized youth with sensitivity and authenticity. The depiction of Estela’s internal struggles, her fight to be seen and heard, and her resilience in the face of adversity will resonate deeply with readers who have faced similar challenges. The narrative’s emotional depth and lyrical style make it a compelling read that encourages reflection on societal issues and personal strength.

Estela, Undrowning is a beautifully written, important novel that highlights the power of voice and community. It’s a must-read for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo and Carolina Ixta, and for anyone looking to see themselves—and their struggles—reflected on the page. Peña-Govea’s debut is a promising start for a writer to watch, and I look forward to what’s next.

[Sacha · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

This writer is new to me, but they shot right to my you-write-I-read list of YA authors with this fantastic YA contemporary.

Estela, the titular protagonist, is giving Xiomara at first blush, and that had me a little worried. You're a teen poet with a tough home life? Uh oh. Don't worry, YA fans. These two have little else in common, and despite incoming worries that I'd be thinking of X the whole time (P.S. I love her, so not the worst scenario), I wasn't at all. Estela is very much her own layered and challenging character.

I had a personal and random encounter with this book that made me love it even more, and that is that I was reading it while in San Francisco, including in many of the areas that are directly mentioned. I've spent a whole lot of time there anyway, but actually being in the city while engaging with the text - and with the challenges and beauty that come with that specific culture - will keep this book on my mind for a long, long time.

Estela not only reflects the challenges of growing up but more specifically of growing up Latine in an urban area with significant socioeconomic barriers. The housing issues in this area are overwhelming, and there are reminders of this everywhere. While many may have an impression of the Bay Area as a bastion of progressive and inclusive attitudes, the instances Estela faces and details reveal that this is not a universal truth or experience. There are also some realistic approaches to and descriptions of the characters' sexual identities and practices that will appeal to similarly aged readers.

This is a strong YA contemporary with compelling characters, age appropriate explorations of modern issues, and an unbeatable setting. I enjoyed this and look forward to more from this author.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Quill Tree Books for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Brandee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Quill Tree Books, HarperCollins Children's Books, and NetGalley for both an eARC and ALC to read/listen to before publishing.

Estela, Undrowning by René Peña-Govea is a beautiful exploration of what it means to be a Latina teenager growing up in America.

Since I had both the audio and digital copy, I decided to do an immersive read, and I'm beyond grateful that I did. I enjoyed Victoria Villareal's narration, but it was the immersion into the Spanish language that was most helpful for me. It allowed me to stay in the story without having to muddle through my lack of knowledge and skills in order to grasp the meaning. I highly recommend utilizing both the audio and the book to fully engage with Estela's story.

Obviously, not every Latina's experience will be the same; however, René pulls on her own experiences to shape Estela and the circumstances she finds herself in. Estela is a vulnerable narrator who lets the readers into her world through her daily experiences as well as her inner concerns, dreams, and desires through her poetry. The blend of verse and poetry allows the reader to relate to Estela's life and emotions in an authentic way.

As a secondary ELA educator, I would love to see this book in the hands of any high school student as it would allow some to see themselves and others to understand and empathize with the experiences of others.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estela Undrowning is a stunning debut YA novel by Rene Peña-Govea. In the high cost, highly gentrified city of San Francisco, Estela has made it into the most competitive test-in, merit based high school, which will put her on the path to the college of her dreams, right? She’s always been one of very few Latine kids at her school, which is dominated by white and Asian kids. It hasn’t been a major problem until an Asian kid wins the Hispanic Heritage Month poetry contest, with Estela in second, and all hell breaks loose.

This book resonates strongly with me in NYC as we have the same problems of school segregation in our specialized high schools. I was desperately hoping that I could get this for my middle schoolers to read, but it gets a bit sexy on the back half in a way I can’t quite justify for the 11 year olds in the mix. I will of COURSE be recommending this to all my 8th graders to go pick this up at the public library when it comes out.

Estela Undrowning really has it all. Couldn’t put it down. 4.5/5 stars!!

Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a review!

Pub date: March 3, 2026

[Chris G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Senior Steli can see the finish line. She’s about to graduate from Frost, the only San Francisco public high school that admits by test scores, and she’s hoping to be accepted to Cal. Then her carefully constructed and curated world sustains some blows. Her family receives an eviction notice. The racist aggressions that she has previously pushed aside begin to fester. BFF Jeli is penalized at a gymnastic meet because of her hair. Steli wins second place in a school poetry contest to honor Latiné Heritage Month but the first place winner, a Chinese-American student, entered under false pretenses and it sparks a school-wide discussion about affinity groups. Not a heritage Spanish speaker, Steli is belittled by her teacher. Seeking a tutor, Steli is matched with Rogelio, whose Chinese immigrant family grew up in Mexico. Steli must grapple with her own internalized racism as she becomes more aware of the systems that both benefit and restrain her. Sex-positive but realistic about the pros and cons of high school romance. High school book clubs would find plenty to talk about. Earc from Edelweiss.

[Charese · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW- this book is everything I would want my middle and high schoolers to read. This book has so many great points to it and the way the author, René Peña-Govea, brought those important issues was amazing. The issues of discrimination, affirmative action and identity was brought about in a story of a very relatable girl. I honestly was take by the pages of this book, because the issues of identity, self doubt and fear in a world that was not built for your community to thrive, transcend age.

I absolutely loved the poetic prose in this and paused often to reflect on the beautiful descriptions of my culture and language. Even though I have never learned to speak Spanish this book made me yearn to learn Spanish. You also are able to understand this book without know any Spanish. I loved the audiobook, narrated by Victoria Villareal, because of how fluent the English to Spanish words were intertwined. The narrator was amazing at how the words roll off her tongue. I absolutely recommend this book. These are the kind of stories I want to ensure any kid would pick up. I 100% recommend this one to anyone.

Thank you NetGalley for this Advance Listening copy and Harper audio for this amazing copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Athena A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. Strong & beautiful depiction of young adults being in the California school system. Listened on Audio, and automatically impressed with the narrator’s ability to capture the author’s switch between characters en español, in english, and in awkward-american-accented-spanish depending on circumstance. And the incorporation of poetry was mas brillante.

I feel like this novel captured the social milieu of SF pretty well, touching on racial inequity in schooling, pitfalls of exceptionalism, the model minority myth, affirmative action, and coalition building! even w/ the keen, considerate thought to mention orgs like AROC who have been doing the good justice work.

Gives me nostalgia for the Bay Area — i can almost taste Ike’s dutch crunch bread!! Thank you René Peña-Govea for your work, and to NetGalley & HarperAudio for the E-ALC. Calling my fave YA Librarian to get this on the holds lists ASAP!

[Rey · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY FIRST ARC
Thank you Netgalley!
This book is a love letter to who many of us were at 15. It presents us with the biases in our own community and it does so in a beautiful coming of age tale.
The main characters biases towards latine ((lotto) kids who she presumes don’t study as hard as she does or care as much as she does is fueled by our prarents, our teachers, our communities. They tell us you must work hard, you must work harder than anyone else, don’t let yourself rest you are here because of the sacrifices of your parents and now you must make sure those sacrifices were worth it. And when they see kids that don’t fit that they judge and so do we. But through her lens we get to see her realization, that the many stereotypes she was fighting she was also holding up by alienating the lotto kids, assuming they don’t work as hard as her, and even judging them for their use of spanish in a club flyer. When first faced with the characters biases I was frankly taken aback. Until I realized I held many of the same biases at that age. We have to learn to see past the stereotypes. Past the hot cheeto girl and see the person who’s been facing the same struggles we have all of our lives. We have to learn to not undermine anyone based on race.
We have to learn to not put others down for fighting, for caring, for speaking out.

[SoulfulVidaDaily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I love when someone says books are not political, because I can always point them to books like this one.
What a fantastic way to bring forth issues of discrimination, affirmative action and identity into a story of a very relatable girl. I honestly saw myself in the pages of this book, because the issues of identity, self doubt and fear in a world that was not built for your community to thrive, transcend age. I absolutely loved the poetic prose in this and paused often to reflect on the beautiful descriptions of my culture and language. It made me yearn to speak Spanish with someone, anyone. I wanted to hear the words roll off their tongue so I could pay attention to the beauty the author made me realize I have ignored for so long. I absolutely recommend this book. These are the kind of stories I want to ensure always have a place in my bookstore.

[Serleomar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peña-Govea pulls the reader into the mind of a young Latina coming of age in one of America’s most beautiful, and yet most expensive and segregated cities - San Francisco. The novel reads just as much as an ode to the City as it does a memoir, but where it really stands out is its ability to combine the small details (local landmarks and eats) with larger, seemingly complicated ideas (gentrification, racism, merit) in a way that is accessible and compelling to readers of all ages. The diverse and realistic characters come to life and evolve throughout the course of the novel. And for those who have ever felt like an outsider, “Estela, Undrowning” will conjure up memories (sometimes painful, sometimes beautiful) that will remind you of the importance of self acceptance, growth, and community.

[Victoria Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

San Francisco folk, WE KNOW WHAT SCHOOL THIS IS, right? (Okay, she names it in the back matter too.)
Loved this debut, the mix of mixes, the Spanglish, the prose-poetry, and poetry and prose, and I loved watching Estela grow in such a real, bumpy way. There is a lot to appreciate in this book, particularly how Peña-Govea's allows the complexity of race and identity to unfold naturally. But what stood out for me specifically is her inclusion of Estela's assumptions about education and class and the break up with dreamy Rogelio (sp? I audio-booked this – btw, thanks Harper and Libro.fm!). It's a real thing but sometimes not as obvious as overt racism; the author brought it to light and handled it like a pro.

[Critter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an audio ARC.

I thought this book was fantastic and super well written. I loved the main character. She is very well written and developed. She spent a lot of time growing in this book and I always love characters that have a lot of growing to do. Estela isn't perfect and learned from her mistakes. The writing was very engaging and great to follow along with. I loved that this book covered many issues and did so in a great way. The theming of this book is great and has great characters. The narrator did a phenomenal job with this book as well.

[Renee Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced listener copy of this book from the publisher on libro.fm.

Estela, Undrowning is a masterpiece and should be required reading for all high school students in America. It beautifully weaves the complicated nature of race relations, teenage friendships, family dynamics, and the stress of being a high school student preparing for a future in a diverse and complicated world, and it does so in such a way that it feels like poetry. Can a novel be described as gorgeous? This one is. I loved every moment of this book and am so excited to recommend it to teenaged readers, teachers, and librarians.

[Danielle Rice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Estela Morales is a character I couldn’t help but root for. She’s dealing with so much—facing eviction, feeling embarrassed about not speaking her native language fluently, and even losing the Latino Heritage Contest to someone who doesn’t deserve the win. But instead of giving up, Estela pushes through. She stumbles, yes, but she also grows, learns, and finds love along the way. This is such a heartfelt coming-of-age story, full of determination and resilience.

[Sandra Proudman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Am Not You're Perfect Mexican Daughter meets The Poet X.

ESTELA, UNDROWNING is a timely book about self-discovery amid racial prejudice. Set in San Francisco, it's a love letter to The City, and to finding yourself. With characters that feel like friends, a story that'll have you sitting on the edge of your seat the whole time, and snippets in verse that you'll love, you won't want to miss this one!

[Ilonka Gangadin (masbookslessgluten) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Estela, a Latina at a prestigious high school, is dealing with eviction, racism, and teenage drama.

A poetry competition for minority students sparks protests against DEI and affirmative action. She leans on friends and her community to take action.

Hits too close to home, reminiscent of the microaggressions my kids have endured.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I’ve read- adult and YA fiction!

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an exciting debut! A blend of poetry and prose that brings together eternal coming-of-age themes with thoroughly contemporary teen struggles.

[Bridgette · Rating 5 out of 5]

*well-written, easy to read
*strong character development
*kept my interest from cover to cover
*highly recommend