Coming Soon: A New Fina Mendoza Mystery
April 2, 2021 - A mysterious bird poops on the head of the president during the State of the Union address. Can Fina Mendoza, the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman outsmart the Secret Service, the Capitol Police, and most of Capitol Hill and find that bird?
It’s The West Wing meets Nancy Drew. Chesapeake Press is pleased to announce the upcoming publication of the middle grade mystery State of the Union: A Fina Mendoza Mystery (August 13, 2021) by award-winning public radio journalist Kitty Felde. Kitty spent nearly a decade covering Capitol Hill and mixes the mystery with a peek behind the scenes of Congress. State of the Union includes a congressional battle over immigration reform, and a family battle when Fina’s grandmother is nearly arrested at an immigration protest.
The Fina Mendoza Mysteries have been praised by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Democratic Rep. Linda Sanchez. She describes Fina as “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.) Former Republican Chair of the House Rules Committee, Rep. David Dreier, calls Fina “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.”
A podcast version of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries and a 32-page teacher’s guide are also available. The books and podcast are designed to introduce civics education to elementary students.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Award-winning public radio journalist and TEDx speaker Kitty Felde hosts the Book Club for Kids podcast – named one of the top 10 kidcasts in the world by The Times of London. The native Angeleno created the Washington bureau for Southern California Public Radio. She’s reported on everything from war crimes trials to OJ Simpson to baseball, and hosted a daily talk show in Los Angeles. She won the Journalist of the Year award three times in three years from the Society of Professional Journalists and the L.A. Press Club. Her many plays are performed worldwide.
Cover art by Imelda Hinojosa.
If you would like more information about State of the Union or wish to arrange an interview with Kitty Felde, please contact Marie Daley at chesapeakepress@gmail.com or at 202-596-1993. Review copies available upon request.