It looks like we don't have any summaries for this title yet. Be the first to contribute.
Learn more- Legend has it: anyone who sees the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill will be cursed with bad luck. 10-year-old Fina Mendoza just saw it. And the last thing her family needs right now is more bad luck.
After the death of their mother, Fina and her older sister Gabby just moved from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. to live full time with Papa, a congressman from California. It's a bit of a culture shock for the sisters, moving to a city with "the ugliest shoes in America." They discover that their father is busier than ever, always on the phone and devoting little attention to them as they adjust to a new city.
After a spooky encounter with a mysterious feline, Fina turns amateur detective, trying to solve the mystery of the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill. Fina's congressional family pass gives her almost unlimited access to the U.S. Capitol, and the delayed arrival of her grandmother - who breaks her leg at the blackjack table at the Indian casino back in California - gives Fina the freedom to pursue her investigation.
Fina gets her own canine version of Dr. Watson when she lands an after-school job walking a congressional dog named Senator Something, her only friend in Washington. She also makes a few enemies - a snarky Capitol policewoman and a classmate whose mother works for a senator. "And since senators are so much more important than congressmen, that means I am more important than you."
As Fina tries to solve the mystery, she takes us backstage at the U.S. Capitol, where we witness a committee debate, a vote on the House Floor, even the quirky tradition of touching the nose of the bust of Winston Churchill before a member of Congress casts a ballot. We learn of the rodent problem in the Capitol and find the paw prints left in concrete near the old Supreme Court chamber. We meet the House Historian, the loyal staffer who has a bit of a crush on Fina's father, and her Abuelita who is anything but a typical grandmother.
The Fina Mendoza Mysteries is as much a touching family story as it is a detective tale. It's also an excellent introduction to civics for kids who have to memorize the three branches of government without any idea why it's important. The podcast is like an 8th grade trip to D.C. without the bus fumes.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content