Bien Leidos | Estela, Undrowning
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Estela, Undrowning
René Peña-Govea
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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.
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Posts about this title from Bien Leidos
Bien Leidos\ \ tomesandtextiles\ \ • Mar 3
[Happy Tuesday, mis internet amigxs,\ \ A nationwide book ban has been proposed by the House of Representatives targeting LGBTQ+ books. Action items can be found on Instagram and Tik Tok. Further news and action items coming this week.\ \ The world is feeling HEAVY right now, so I wanted to bask in a moment of Latine bookish joy with you and tell you about upcoming March 3rd Latine releases, before that, I wanted to begin with a GIVEAWAY.\ \
Our March book club selection, Now I Surrender by Alvaro Enrigue, releases TODAY and I've got ONE MORE HARDCOVER COPY UP FOR GRABS EXCLUSIVELY FOR ANYONE WHO LIKES AND COMMENTS ON THIS POST (US address only). If you're a Librito or Lector member, you have another chance at another copy here. I'll email the winner on Wednesday and you'll have 24 hours to get me your mailing address to claim your book!\ \ Also, reminder that our non-fiction sidequest read March through April is Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here by Jonathan Blitzer (audiobook). Several people who have the paperback have mentioned that the font is VERY small, so if you have vision issues or don't like to read small font, please keep that in mind.\ \ This is a busy week of releases so let's get on with the show...\ \ TRANSLATED LITERARY FICTION & MARCH BOOK CLUB PICK \ \ Now I Surrender by Alvaro Enrigue and translated by Natasha Wimmer (Audiobook) \ \ \ \ Diorama by Carol Bensimon and translated by Zoe Perry and Julia Sanches (Audiobook) \ \ YOUNG ADULT FICTION \ \ \ \ Estela, Undrowning by Rene Pena-Govea (audiobook) \ \ \ \ If We Never End by Laura Taylor Namey (audiobook) \ \ BILINGUAL PICTURE BOOK \ \ Gooool! A Bilingual Book Of Soccer by Mike Alfaro and illustrated by Gerardo Guillen: \ \ NONFICTION\ \ \ \ Red Stones: A graphic account of the Salvadoran Civil War by Ernesto Saade: \ \ \ \ El Paso: Five Families and One Hundred Years of Blood, Migration, Race, and Memory by Jazmine Ulloa (Audiobook) \ \ AUDIOBOOK RELEASE FOR GRAPHIC NOVEL \ \ How to Say Goodbye in Cuban by Daniel Miyares (audiobook) \ \ xoxo,\ \ Carmen](https://bien-leidos.binderybooks.com/item/aE9idlzgVPgBM2TEd8UG/)
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: March 3rd Latine Book Releases + GIVEAWAY
8 books
21
Bien Leidos\ \ tomesandtextiles\ \ • Feb 28
[Happy Saturday, mis internet amigxs,\ \ A nationwide book ban has been proposed by the House of Representatives targeting LGBTQ+ books. Action items can be found on Instagram and Tik Tok. Further news and action items coming this week.\ \ The world is feeling HEAVY right now, so I wanted to bask in a moment of Latine bookish joy with you and tell you about upcoming March 3rd Latine releases, plus I wanted to begin with a GIVEAWAY.\ \
Our March book club selection, Now I Surrender by Alvaro Enrigue, releases on Tuesday and I've got ONE MORE HARDCOVER COPY UP FOR GRABS EXCLUSIVELY FOR ANYONE WHO LIKES AND COMMENTS ON THIS POST (US address only). I'll email the winner on Wednesday and you'll have 24 hours to get me your mailing address via reply to my email! You will have a chance at a second copy in a larger poll of entrants on Tuesday's release day blog post.\ \ Also, reminder that our non-fiction sidequest read March through April is Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here by Jonathan Blitzer (audiobook). Several people who have the paperback have mentioned that the font is VERY small, so if you have vision issues or don't like to read small font, please keep that in mind.\ \ This is a busy week of releases so let's get on with the show...\ \ TRANSLATED LITERARY FICTION & MARCH BOOK CLUB PICK \ \ Now I Surrender by Alvaro Enrigue and translated by Natasha Wimmer (Audiobook) Alt-Western historical fiction taking place in multiple timelines from multiple POV's about how the West was "won" Revolutionary, in only a way Alvaro can write. Can not way to discuss with you on Discord. We start chatting on March4th!\ \ \ \ Diorama by Carol Bensimon and translated by Zoe Perry and Julia Sanches (Audiobook) Brazillian translated literary fiction about Cecília reexamines the case of a close family friend killed by a colleague and rival: her father, after many years trying to outrun her past.\ \ YOUNG ADULT FICTION \ \ \ \ Estela, Undrowning by Rene Pena-Govea (audiobook) Estela Morales navigates her struggles with anxiety, eviction, and both external and internalized racism as she attends one of San Francisco’s most exclusive high schools.\ \ \ \ If We Never End by Laura Taylor Namey (audiobook) I'll never NOT celebrate an exlusive limited hardcover for a Latine book!!!! Cuban-American Namey brings us a spec romance about a girl who winds an enchanted watch and a boy appears who has no idea who he is or how he died\ \ BILINGUAL PICTURE BOOK \ \ Gooool! A Bilingual Book Of Soccer by Mike Alfaro and illustrated by Gerardo Guillen: Just in time for the World Cup!\ \ NONFICTION\ \ \ \ Red Stones: A graphic account of the Salvadoran Civil War by Ernesto Saade: Saade documents how in 1981, the Salvadoran Civil War reached Miriam's village of Santa Marta and what occurred.\ \ \ \ El Paso: Five Families and One Hundred Years of Blood, Migration, Race, and Memory by Jazmine Ulloa (Audiobook) From a New York Times reporter, this sweeping human history of El Paso reveals the violence, power, and privilege at play in America’s most famous border town.\ \ AUDIOBOOK RELEASE FOR GRAPHIC NOVEL \ \ How to Say Goodbye in Cuban by Daniel Miyares (audiobook) Audiobook release of the graphic novel detailing the dramatic coming-of-age graphic novel memoir of 12-year-old Carlos (who would grow up to become the author’s father), his life during the Cuban Revolution, and his family’s harrowing escape to America.\ \ xoxo,\ \ Carmen](https://bien-leidos.binderybooks.com/item/JKkNiTVEmo4MiRYk5J16/)
EXCLUSIVE NEWSLETTER: March 3rd Latine Book Releases
8 books
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Bien Leidos\ \ tomesandtextiles\ \ • Jan 8
My most anticipated 2026 Latine Releases
Part 1 of my most anticipated Latine book releases in which I go through my upcoming ARC reads -- part of my January challenge to post every single day of January 2026
Latine Book Bingo Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tb1hMhuel1I&t=698s Latine Book Bingo Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crIo3beKmaE&t=107s
WHERE ELSE TO FIND ME Join Bien Leidos Book Club by joining my Bindery: https://bien-leidos.binderybooks.com/ Find me everywhere else: https://linktr.ee/tomesandtextiles
Books mentioned in this video: The Intrigue: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9780593874356 Now I Surrender: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9780593084076 Estella, Undrowning: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9780063429956 Carnival Fantastico: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9798217024469 The Ex-Perimento: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9780593955246 Apparitions: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9781917260183 Pedro The Vast: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9781643757100 X Is Where I Am: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9781917260206 The Lust Crusade: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9780593953280 Few Blue Skies: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9780063287914 The Magic of Untamed Hearts: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9780593952481 If We Never End: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9781547618057 Keeper of My Kin: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9781668025659 What Lies Beneath The Flowers: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9780593124345 Only Friends: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9781668098066
Opening credits illustrated and animated by the extremely talented Manuela Guillén: https://www.instagram.com/lazybeamarte/
#booktube #latinxbooks
15 books
10
Bien Leidos\ \ tomesandtextiles\ \ • Jan 4
DAY 3 POSTING CHALLENGE: 2026 Latine Book Bingo Book Recommendations Part 1
25 Latine book recommendations to help you fill Bien Leidos Book Club bingo card! I take you through the first half of the bingo card with my recs for each.
BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO: Orange Wine (Ebook is currently $3.99): https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9781964721354 Our Share of Night: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9780451495150 My Train Leaves at Three: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9780593977330 This Is The Only Kingdom: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9781616209148 Gods of Jade and Shadow: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9780525620778 The Sun And The Void: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9780316336543 The Ex-Perimento: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9780593955246 The Unworthy: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/978166805188 La Lucha: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9781917260169 Middle spoon: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9780593835173 When the Tides Held the Moon: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9781645661535 Haunting in Hialeah Gardens: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9780593472132 Now I Surrender: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9780593084076 Estella, Undrowning: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9780063429956 We Are Green and Trembling: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9780811238618 Posession of Alba Diaz: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9780593641071 Thirst: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9780593472088 Poppy State: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9781643265148 The Man Who Could Move Clouds: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9780593311165 Salvacion: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9781250895080 Death Takes Me: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9780593737002 These Vengeful Gods: https://bookshop.org/a/1421/9780593898123
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Posts about this book from across Bindery
Bien Leidos\ \ tomesandtextiles\ \ • Mar 3
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: March 3rd Latine Book Releases + GIVEAWAY
8 books
21
Bien Leidos\ \ tomesandtextiles\ \ • Feb 28
EXCLUSIVE NEWSLETTER: March 3rd Latine Book Releases
8 books
7
Bien Leidos\ \ tomesandtextiles\ \ • Jan 8
My most anticipated 2026 Latine Releases
Latine Book Bingo Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tb1hMhuel1I&t=698s Latine Book Bingo Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crIo3beKmaE&t=107s
Opening credits illustrated and animated by the extremely talented Manuela Guillén: https://www.instagram.com/lazybeamarte/
#booktube #latinxbooks
15 books
10
Bien Leidos\ \ tomesandtextiles\ \ • Jan 4
DAY 3 POSTING CHALLENGE: 2026 Latine Book Bingo Book Recommendations Part 1
25 Latine book recommendations to help you fill Bien Leidos Book Club bingo card! I take you through the first half of the bingo card with my recs for each.
22 books
6