Catalina: A Novel BY Karla Cornejo Villavicencio

A year in the life of the unforgettable Catalina Ituralde, a wickedly wry and heartbreakingly vulnerable student at an elite college, forced to navigate an opaque past, an uncertain future, tragedies on two continents, and the tantalizing possibilities of love and freedom.

“Diabolically charming and magnetic. I enjoyed the hell out of this little exploding geyser of a book.”—Ira Glass

When Catalina is admitted to Harvard, it seems like the culmination of a miraculous escape: from death in Latin America to a new life in Queens with her undocumented grandparents, and now, to the hallowed halls of one of the world’s most prestigious institutions. But for Catalina, nothing is straightforward. Now a senior, she faces the daunting prospect of graduation with a sense of impending doom. Her undocumented status casts a long shadow over her future, intensifying her inner turmoil and existential curiosity.

Navigating the elite subcultures of Harvard—internships, literary journals, posh parties, and secret societies—Catalina observes with the sharp eye of both anthropologist and outsider, torn between fascination and disdain. Her quest for a great romance leads her to a fellow student who promises to illuminate the Latin American world she was born into but never truly knew. Meanwhile, back in Queens, her family’s struggles loom large.

As graduation approaches, Catalina must confront the harsh realities of her precarious situation. Can she find a way to secure her future and that of her family? What does salvation mean in a world that seems determined to close doors?

Part campus novel, part hagiography, and part pop song, Catalina is a brash, daring exploration of identity, love, and the search for belonging. Catalina, with her bright, tragic energy and wild heart, is a character you'll never forget.