{"product_id":"home-of-the-brave-a-fina-mendoza-mystery-9798999286413","title":"Home of the Brave: A Fina Mendoza Mystery","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBreak-ins, vandalism, fires -- everyone blames a homeless man they call the Bear. Everyone except 11-year-old detective Fina Mendoza. Solving this mystery will take bravery she didn't know she had.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFina and her sister Gabby are back in Los Angeles for the summer. While their congressman father campaigns for reelection, they reunite with their large, close-knit Mexican American family to share the food and traditions that make the city feel like home. But when Fina reconnects with her best friend, she discovers something rotten in her old neighborhood. Amid the new megamansions and an explosion of electric cars, she sees a battered old RV and a scary-looking man neighbors call \"The Bear.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA brush fire ignites during July 4th fireworks and fear and suspicion sweep through the community. Neighbors are quick to point fingers at The Bear, but the curious detective taps her inside-the-Beltway experience to uncover a deeper mystery involving strange paintings, a military veteran, and urban wildlife.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWith her own aunts and grandmother pressuring City Hall to take action, time is running out for the homeless man. Fina looks for the facts and suspects the real troublemaker might have paws and claws. She investigates with courage and compassion, standing up for a vulnerable veteran in a gentrifying neighborhood.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis heartwarming whodunit explores family, belonging, and the power of one brave girl to challenge stereotypes and find a \"home\" for everyone.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"A SWEET STORY ROOTED IN RELEVANT SOCIAL ISSUES.\" --Kirkus Reviews\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe West Wing\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e meets Nancy Drew -- this time, at City Hall.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIdeal for social studies units on local government as America turns 250.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlso available in Spanish in January, 2027! Look for: \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eHogar de los Valientes\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e by Kitty Felde, translated by Jorge Flores González.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e* * * * * *\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIntroduce civics to your students with \"The Fina Mendoza Mysteries\" series!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBuild reading skills while teaching integrated lessons: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- ELA, social studies, and history designed for grades 3-5 Common Core Standards\u003cbr\u003e- NCSS curriculum standards, C3 Social Studies Readiness\u003cbr\u003e- California Public Schools' History-Social Science content standards\u003cbr\u003e- \u003cb\u003eDesigned for\u003c\/b\u003e elementary school teachers, librarians, parents, homeschoolers, scout leaders, and other community educators.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHelp address students' diverse learning needs: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- \u003cb\u003eFREE\u003c\/b\u003e downloadable \u003cb\u003eTeachers Guide\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- \u003cb\u003eDramatic podcast\u003c\/b\u003e based on the books and current events\u003cbr\u003e- \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eFacts Behind the Fiction\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e newsletter\/blog with ongoing historical and civics context for the series\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e* * * * * *\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTHE FINA MENDOZA MYSTERIES SERIES: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBook 1 - \u003ci\u003eWelcome to Washington Fina Mendoza\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBook 2 - \u003ci\u003eState of the Union: A Fina Mendoza Mystery\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBook 3 - \u003ci\u003eSnake in the Grass\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBook 4 - \u003ci\u003eHome of the Brave\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBook 5 - \u003ci\u003eLet Kids Vote!\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNovella - \u003ci\u003eLosing is Democratic: How to Talk to Kids About January 6th\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePodcast - \u003ci\u003eThe Fina Mendoza Mysteries\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNewsletter \u0026amp; Blog - \u003ci\u003eFacts Behind the Fiction\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eALSO AVAILABLE IN SPANISH: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLibro 1 - \u003ci\u003eBienvenida a Washington Fina Mendoza\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLibro 2 - \u003ci\u003eEstado de la Unión\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLibro 3 - \u003ci\u003eSerpiente en el Césped\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLibro 4 - \u003ci\u003eHogar de los Valientes\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLibro 5 - \u003ci\u003e Dejen a los Niños Votar!\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e* * * * * *\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFor fans of: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Secret Lake\u003cbr\u003eGreenglass House\u003cbr\u003eThe Mysterious Benedict Society\u003cbr\u003eNational Park Mystery Series\u003cbr\u003eWhite House Clubhouse Series\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Kitty Felde\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Chesapeake Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 07\/14\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 224\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.88lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.61h x 5.61w x 0.91d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798999286413\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAudience:\u003c\/b\u003e Ages 9-12\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e 05\/01\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eAward-winning writer and public radio journalist \u003cb\u003eKitty Felde\u003c\/b\u003e covered Capitol Hill for nearly a decade, explaining government to grownups. Now, she explains it to kids in a series of mystery novels and podcasts set inside the U.S. Capitol called \u003cb\u003eThe Fina Mendoza Mysteries\u003c\/b\u003e. She also writes the companion newsletter and blog, \u003cb\u003eFacts Behind the Fiction\u003c\/b\u003e, available for free on the Chesapeake Press website (www.chesapeakepress.org).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHer Fina Mendoza titles have been named a \u003cb\u003eTeacher Favorite\u003c\/b\u003e by the Children's Book Council and honored by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) with the \u003cb\u003eSpark Award\u003c\/b\u003e. And Kitty's Spanish editions of \u003cb\u003eLos Misterios de Fina Mendoza\u003c\/b\u003e have all won International Latino Book Awards.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe native Angeleno created the Washington bureau for Southern California Public Radio (now LAist), and has reported on everything from war crimes trials to OJ Simpson to baseball, and hosted a daily talk show in Los Angeles. She was named Los Angeles Radio \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eJournalist of the Year\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e three times in three years by the Society of Professional Journalists and the L.A. Press Club.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eKitty also hosts the \u003cb\u003eBook Club for Kids\u003c\/b\u003e podcast. With more than 2 million downloads, the show has been named one of the \u003cb\u003etop 10 kidcasts in the world\u003c\/b\u003e by \u003ci\u003eThe Times\u003c\/i\u003e of London. She has a remarkable talent for talking to kids and has shared her super power in a TEDx talk.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFind Kitty at www.kittyfelde.com and @kittyfelde.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"booksdeli.com","offers":[{"title":"Kitty Felde \/ Hardcover \/ English","offer_id":48685077463197,"sku":"9798999286413","price":23.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0619\/5648\/9373\/files\/img_ee8f05eb-60aa-4b54-86bb-a4265a40568c.jpg?v=1784714057","url":"https:\/\/booksdeli.com\/products\/home-of-the-brave-a-fina-mendoza-mystery-9798999286413","provider":"booksdeli.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}