A lively mystery with a touch of spookiness, an intriguing setting, an appealing family dynamic, and an enterprising Latina heroine. - Kirkus ReviewsBeware 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.
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 Fall 2024) ALSO AVAILABLE IN SPANISH: Book 1 - Bienvenida a Washington Fina Mendoza Book 2 - Estado de la Unión (coming Summer 2024) Book 3 - Serpiente en la Hierba (coming Fall 2024) ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES: - Free podcast based on the books and current events: The Fina Mendoza Mysteries - "Facts Behind the Fiction": Short essays designed to pick out the facts in each podcast episode - 32-page Teacher's Guide for Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza - 56-page Teacher's Guide for State of the Union - Curriculum includes language arts, math, and social studies lessons - Perfect for classroom or homeschooling settings
A lively mystery with a touch of spookiness, an intriguing setting, an appealing family dynamic, and an enterprising Latina heroine. - Kirkus ReviewsBeware 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<