State of the Union: a Fina Mendoza Mystery

By Kitty Felde

A mysterious bird poops on the president 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 for Congress? Or is the message for 10-year-old Fina Mendoza, the daughter of a congressman who solves mysteries inside the U.S. Capitol?


Fina gives readers a glimpse behind-the-scenes on Capitol Hill as she learns about American democracy, the electoral process, the U.S. legislative branch, and civic engagement… and solves mysteries after school. Her Dr. Watson is a big orange dog named Senator Something.


While Fina searches for clues, readers are introduced to the inner workings of American democracy, including a congressional battle over immigration reform. There’s another battle in her multigenerational home when Fina’s grandmother is nearly arrested at an immigration protest.