Description
"A lively, diverse mystery with enjoyable, informative plotting and a relatable young female protagonist." – KIRKUS REVIEWS Fina Mendoza, the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman, solves mysteries inside the U.S. Capitol with help from a big orange dog named Senator Something. Fina's latest case: find the mysterious bird that pooped on the president’s head during the State of the Union address. Is it Chickcharney, the legendary bird from the Caribbean? Did it fly to Washington D.C. with a secret message for the president? Or Congress? Or is the message for Fina from her mom who passed away not so many months ago? As Fina searches for clues, readers get a glimpse behind the scenes of American democracy, including a Congressional battle over immigration reform. There’s another battle in her multigenerational home when Fina’s grandmother Abuelita is nearly arrested at an immigration protest. Can Fina find Chickcharney and discover its secret message? The Fina Mendoza Mysteries, enhanced by supplemental materials and curriculum, provide a multidisciplinary introduction to civics education for elementary school readers. "The West Wing" meets Nancy Drew.
About the Author
Award-winning public radio journalist, writer, and TEDx speaker Kitty Felde hosts the "Book Club for Kids" podcast, named by The Times of London as one of the top 10 kidcasts in the world. The Los Angeles native created the Washington bureau for Southern California Public Radio and covered Capitol Hill for nearly a decade, explaining how government works to grownups. Now she explains it to kids in a series of mystery novels and podcasts called "The Fina Mendoza Mysteries". Kitty was named LA Radio Journalist of the Year three times by the LA Press Club and the Society of Professional Journalists.
Praise For…
"A lively, diverse mystery with enjoyable, informative plotting and a relatable young female protagonist." —Kirkus Reviews
"Many kids will not only learn about civic education in an engaging manner, but also find enjoyment in the learning process." —U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor
"Kitty Felde is teaching our children all about Capitol Hill in a way that grabs and keeps their interest. Personally, I can say she knows every nook and cranny of the place because she interviewed me in almost all of them." —Former U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D)
"State of the Union is a civics lesson disguised as a mystery for kids, a family story where Papa just happens to serve in the U.S. Congress. In an era of bitter partisan politics, it's a sneaky way to excite the next generation about government and the possibility of public service." —Former Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Buck McKeon (R)
"State of the Union is a heartwarming read, a gem of a book." —Ginger Park, author of The Hundred Choices Department Store
"State of the Union is another stellar entry in Kitty Felde's outstanding Fina Mendoza Mystery series. State of the Union has it all -- a protagonist you will cheer for, warmth and humor, and a good mystery story underpinning it all. Readers will get an inside look at how their government works -- Felde handles this beautifully, weaving her expertise in seamlessly -- and so much more." —Jan Burke, author of the Irene Kelly mystery series