Kitty Felde

Welcome to Washington, Fina Mendoza is an engaging children's mystery. The book is part of a series but can easily be read alone. After the death of their mother, Fina Mendoza and her sister have recently moved to Washinton, D.C. with their congressman father. Fina misses her mother, her abuelita (grandmother), and her best friend, Trina. Her abuelita has a broken leg, so she cannot come to take care of Fina and her sister, Gabby as planned. The mystery revolves around the Demon Cat of show more Capital Hill. Legend says you're cursed with bad luck if you see the Demon Cat. Fina has seen the cat and is certain it is the cause of her family's misfortunes.
The book is an incredible teaching tool that never feels instructive. The reader learns about various Washington landmarks, Congress, and the Legislative Branch. The book even describes little-known Capital locations. When Fina and her family return to California for a holiday, many Latine cultural traditions are recounted. This young people's novel deals with family, teen angst, loss and grief, loneliness, cultural values, civics, and taking responsibility for one's actions, all secreted in an engaging mystery! Kitty Felde has written an impressive work.
Thank you to NetGalley and Chesapeake Publishing for this book. show less

The story of Fina Mendoza's first months in D.C. with her congressman father and her older sister drags with fear that would be overwhelming if it were believable. The choice to have the girls' mother recently deceased and all of them newcomers to D.C. but only incandescently have the family deal with grief unhinges the story as well.