by Kitty Felde

In this novella, it's January 5, 2021, the middle of the pandemic, when Fina and her classmates are remote learning at home. Fina’s fourth grade class has challenged the fifth grade to a reading competition. But the losing class refuses to admit defeat and manages to steal the pizza that was supposed to go to the winners. Fina is determined to find out who stole the pizza.

Fina consults her Dr. Watson, a huge orange dog. But her investigation is interrupted on January 6th.

Fina and her classmates on Zoom react in real time to the news from the Capitol, a place where many of their parents work. Later that night, Fina’s father returns home safely, but explains to Fina that it’s his job to return to the Capitol to cast his vote to certify the election.

Back at school in their Zoom classroom, Fina’s teacher helps her students talk about their fears, but then she leads them in a history lesson. The kids talk about George Washington, who didn’t want to be a king, and about John Adams’ lingering anger and jealousy after losing his reelection to Thomas Jefferson. They talk about how Adams and Jefferson healed the breach through letters.

Fina reflects on winning and losing: whether it’s a reading competition, the World Series, or an election, you need both winners and losers. Her class learns how to be gracious losers.