Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza

Book 1: The Fina Mendoza Mysteries

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Pub Date 03 Jul 2023 | Archive Date 11 Aug 2023

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Description

A lively mystery with a touch of spookiness, an intriguing setting, an appealing family dynamic, and an enterprising Latina heroine. – Kirkus Reviews

Beware the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill!

Legends say if you see the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill, you're cursed with bad luck. Ten-year-old Fina Mendoza just saw it. And the last thing her family needs right now is a jinx!

Fina and her older sister Gabby just moved to Washington, D.C. after the death of their mom to live with Papa, a congressman from California. But then she comes face-to-whiskers with a mysterious cat in the Capitol Crypt. Is it the Demon Cat?

Disasters follow! Jars of spaghetti sauce explode. Fina's beloved grandmother Abuelita breaks her leg. And Fina's only friend in Washington, a big orange dog named Senator Something, becomes the next target.

The only way for Fina to save her family from future "cat"astrophe is to solve the mystery of the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill.

This Readers' Favorite Award-winning novel is more than a mystery story!

Fina takes us backstage at the U.S. Capitol to see firsthand how government works with an emphasis on Congress and the Legislative Branch. The Fina Mendoza Mysteries provide an introduction to civics for elementary age children.

The West Wing meets Nancy Drew...For fans of Nancy Drew Mysteries, Boxcar Children, Encyclopedia Brown, and Hardy Boys!

THE FINA MENDOZA MYSTERIES SERIES:
Book 1 – Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza
Book 2 – State of the Union
Book 3 – Snake in the Grass (coming soon)

ALSO AVAILABLE IN SPANISH:
Book 1 – Bienvenida a Washington Fina Mendoza
Book 2 – Estado de la Unión
Book 3 – Serpiente en la Hierba (muy pronto)

ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES:
– Perfect for classroom or homeschooling settings
– Free podcast based on the books and current events: The Fina Mendoza Mysteries
– 32-page Teacher's Guide including language arts, math, and social studies lessons

A lively mystery with a touch of spookiness, an intriguing setting, an appealing family dynamic, and an enterprising Latina heroine. – Kirkus Reviews

Beware the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill!

Legends say...


A Note From the Publisher

Cover art: Juan Manuel Moreno; Spanish translation by Jorge Flores González

eBook: 9781735976716

hardback: 9781735976747

Spanish eBook: 9781737097846

Spanish paperback: 9781737097853

Spanish hardback: 9781737097860

Cover art: Juan Manuel Moreno; Spanish translation by Jorge Flores González

eBook: 9781735976716

hardback: 9781735976747

Spanish eBook: 9781737097846

Spanish paperback: 9781737097853

...


Advance Praise

Weaves together the themes of mystery, change, family, and grief into a resolution that satisfies on all levels.

– BOOKLIST

Fina Mendoza is the kind of bright, lively, curious, loving little girl you want for a best friend forever. The book is a marvelous introduction to the workings of government, and of a young lady of spunk and smarts.

– SUSAN STAMBERG, NPR

A fun read disguised as a book for grade schoolers, it gives keen insight into the everyday workings of the U. S. Capitol and its inhabitants.

– FORMER U.S. CONGRESSMAN DAVID DREIER (R), former chair of the House Rules Committee

A beautiful story told through the eyes of a gutsy Latina protagonist, it introduces children to the daily hum of life in our nation's capital. Told with unerring accuracy, my son and I recognized the perfect descriptions of the Capitol and Fina's rich cultural traditions.

– U.S. CONGRESSWOMAN LINDA SÁNCHEZ (D)

This patriotic and nonpartisan whodunit is both timely and welcome!

– GAIL CARSON LEVINE, author of Ella Enchanted

The perfect book for upper elementary - middle school students looking for an engaging text that delivers adventure and intrigue in the nation's capital.

– ANGELA FALKENBERG, librarian, Columbia Heights Educational Campus - Washington DC

As a public school teacher from Los Angeles, it is especially important to have my students get a glimpse into how politics work at both the local level and in DC. Kitty's book tackles themes of family, friendship and pre-adolescent life through the eyes of Fina Mendoza. It is both a mirror for my students with familiar experiences and a window to the life of a congressperson's daughter.

– JOE RODRIGUEZ, 4th grade teacher - Los Angeles

I also found the connection to Fina's detective work directly related to the research process! This is wonderful modeling for a research project.

– STEVE REICHLEN, librarian, Tyler Elementary School - Washington DC

This heartwarming story about life's obstacles, taking responsibility for your actions, and overcoming fears also serves as a tender reminder to children and adults alike, that even when parents seem busy, they are always paying attention.

– U.S. CONGRESSMAN DAVID G. VALADAO (R)

Embracing true Mexican traditions and family values, she captures a child's imagination from the viewpoint of Washington's multi-faceted world while providing insight into Los Angeles' culture. Great read. I could not put the book down.

– U.S. CONGRESSWOMAN GRACE NAPOLITANO (D)

Fina Mendoza is the kind of friend you want whether you walk on two legs or four, and Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza is the kind of book you'll love to read!

– LEAH HENDERSON, author of Together We March: 25 Protest Movements that Marched into History

With an engaging combination of mystery and history, Fina Mendoza takes readers on an insider's tour of Capitol Hill while warding off the curse of the Demon Cat. You'll never look at DC the same way again.

– WENDY WAN-LONG SHANG, author of The Secret Battle Of Evan Pao

Funny, spooky, moving and simply delightful. Felde's insider look at D.C. through the eyes of Fina was a fascinating bonus.

– SHERRI L. SMITH, author of Flygirl

A well written book with a fun story and lovable characters. The voice was the most realistic girl's voice I have read. The combination of mystery, and comedy made this book amazing. It's not only a wonderful emotional story, but it also was a great view of both Washington DC life and the different role family plays in someone's political career… a wonderful read for anybody and deserves a rare five star rating from me.

– DAVID BERNSTEIN - Author Spotlight

Weaves together the themes of mystery, change, family, and grief into a resolution that satisfies on all levels.

– BOOKLIST

Fina Mendoza is the kind of bright, lively, curious, loving little girl you...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781735976723
PRICE $12.99 (USD)
PAGES 210

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Average rating from 13 members


Featured Reviews

This was a great start to the Fina Mendoza Mysteries series, it had everything that I was looking for in a mystery novel. The characters worked with the overall feel of this book, it had everything that I was looking for. It did have a great spooky feel and I look forward to more in this series. Kitty Felde does a great job in this and I can’t wait to read more from Kitty Felde.

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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 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.

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Thank you so much to Chesapeake Press and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

Fina has moved from California to D.C. for her dads job as a congressman. When she goes into the crypt room one day she hears and sees something strange that she believes is the demon cat who sets a curse on her and her family as one bad thing after another happens. She decides to try and solve what it is and why it cursed her family.

I really loved the characters in this book and the way the mystery was so natural and just intertwined into real life. I loved trying to piece it together myself as I read it. It was a really great book.

Fina was such an amazing protagonist, you really felt so much for her and were rooting for her to find a way to fit in into her new life. She was struggling with so much change with her new life, and the loss of her mom and then having even less time with her a dad. She finds a best friend in a dog and gets entwined into a mystery of a curse giving cat.

Parts of this book were really sad and honestly made me feel so much for the characters they were all struggling, they all missed their mom/wife/daughter and those scene were really sad and emotional.

The mystery of the story was so interesting, it interconnected to the main storyline so perfectly and it was a realistic and natural mystery. Fina was going through a lot and was susceptible to being scared and found this unusual mystery in the crypt and though it scared her it gave her something to focus on. I really loved how she solved it and it was such a fun mystery.

I really enjoyed reading this book, it was so entertaining. The characters were all really interesting and worked perfectly together everyone had something they were dealing with and I loved that. I loved figuring out the mystery and getting the answers in the end.

I do recommend this book it’s a really fun mystery, with great characters, you get some educational lessons about congress and history. It had lots of heart and emotion and is a really easy and great read.

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We read this book together with my 11-year-old son and loved it! Fina is a well-rounded, young, and curious female protagonist who while in Washington DC finds herself having to solve a mystery.
My son really enjoyed following Fina around while learning a lot of historical facts and things about our US government, and DC, he didn’t know about.
Fina is a fun, adventurous, and relatable little girl that every 5 to 12 year old can identify with. You will be with her all the way!

I highly recommend this book for parents who have middle grade readers, but above all I recommended it to elementary schools, bilingual school programs, and aftercare centers to have in their libraries, so that their children may see themselves reflected in this protagonist, or come to know a different kind of protagonist that we don’t see enough of in books these days. Thoroughly enjoyable book! We hope there is a next one!

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I enjoyed this middle grade story with all of the characters within. The main character was Josefina Mendoza.

Josefina Mendoza ( or short Fina) and her sister( Gabrielle or for short Gabby) are moving to Washington DC after the death of their mother. Their dad is a congressman that has been working in Washington DC. On weekends he would fly home to California to see his family before the death of their mother. He has decided to move his daughters closer to where he is working at. While walking around Capitol Hill she forgot her sweater and go back to find it. But instead of finding her sweater she finds the demon cat of capital hill. Legends say that if you see the demon cat you will be cursed with bad luck. Since see the demon cat things have been happening. She decides to see if the demon cat was real or not. What she finds is quite surprising.

This was a fun story to read. It had action, adventure, suspense and drama throughout. It had a few laughs throughout. There was a bit of a mystery within. It was fun trying to solve it.

I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. This is my honest unbiased opinions.

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Fina Mendoza has recently moved to Washington, DC with her Congressman father. She and her older sister had been living at home in Los Angeles while their father commuted back and forth, but since their mother passed that is no longer an option. After school each day, Fina explores the Capitol building waiting for her father to finish work. When she has a strange encounter with what she is told is the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill, Fina is worried that it will bring bad luck to her and her family. And it certainly seems to! Her abuela breaks her leg, her sister's clothes are eaten by moths, and more! As Fina sets out to discover the true story about the Demon Cat, she also makes new friends and shares fun facts about the workings of Congress with the readers. This book has a little bit of everything and is a great start to a new series! Recommended for grades 3 & up.

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Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza is a fun book for kids. There is mystery, some heartache, family conflict, as well as learning about Capitol Hill.

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