Snake in the Grass

Overview

Ahead of the Congressional baseball game, somebody's planting snakes in gym bags of lawmakers who dare to cross party lines. It's up to Fina and her canine detective partner to find the real snake in the grass.

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Winner! 2026 Children's Book Council Teacher Favorite Award
Winner! 2026 Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators SPARK Award

Pairing the allure of Washington, DC, with an animal misadventure, Snake in the Grass is a robust series mystery novel. —FOREWORD REVIEWS

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Everybody's mad at everybody else on Capitol Hill. Members call each other names on the floor of the House of Representatives. And anybody who dares to work with someone from the other political party is punished.
And now, at practice for the annual Congressional Charity Baseball Game, a lawmaker is bit by a snake somebody planted in his gym bag.

Fina and her canine partner Senator Something launch their most politically charged investigation yet. In a place where bipartisanship is practically a curse word, finding the real snake in the grass means navigating the most dangerous territory of all: grownup politics.

Along the way, Fina gives readers an insider's look at how Congress really works, including the pressure to vote with your party, the courage it takes to cross the political aisle, and what it actually means to represent the people back home. As our amateur detective solves mysteries on Capitol Hill, young readers learn about American democracy with an emphasis on the legislative process. And in this the third book of the Fina Mendoza Mysteries series, there's a glimpse behind the scenes of the annual Congressional Charity Baseball Game.

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This two-time award-winning novel is more than a mystery story:
It's THE WEST WING meets NANCY DREW.

Also available in Spanish! Look for Serpiente en el Césped by Kitty Felde, translated by Jorge Flores González.

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Introduce civics to your students with "The Fina Mendoza Mysteries" series!

Build reading skills while teaching integrated lessons:
– ELA, social studies, and history designed for grades 3-5 Common Core Standards
– NCSS curriculum standards, C3 Social Studies Readiness
– California Public Schools' History-Social Science content standards
– Designed for elementary school teachers, librarians, parents, homeschoolers, scout leaders, and other community educators.

Help address students' diverse learning needs:
– FREE downloadable Teachers Guide
– Dramatic podcast based on the books and current events
– Facts Behind the Fiction newsletter/blog with ongoing historical and civics context for the series

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THE FINA MENDOZA MYSTERIES SERIES:
Book 1 – Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza
Book 2 – State of the Union: A Fina Mendoza Mystery
Book 3 – Snake in the Grass
Book 4 – Home of the Brave
Book 5 – Let Kids Vote!

Novella – Losing is Democratic: How to Talk to Kids About January 6th

Podcast – The Fina Mendoza Mysteries
Newsletter & Blog – Facts Behind the Fiction

ALSO AVAILABLE IN SPANISH:
Libro 1 – Bienvenida a Washington Fina Mendoza
Libro 2 – Estado de la Unión
Libro 3 – Serpiente en el Césped
Libro 4 – Hogar de los Valientes
Libro 5 – ¡Dejen a los Niños Votar!

Reviews

PRAISE FOR SNAKE IN THE GRASS

2026 SCBWI Spark Award Winner 

"A Latina girl sleuths on Capitol Hill to help her congressman friend in Kitty Felde's entertaining, civic-minded mystery novel Snake in the Grass…. The mystery itself is light, sans real malice beyond some bumbling pranksters. More pressing is the senselessness of adults who can't seem to work across party lines, hinting at ongoing political rifts. Fina's fun visits to an arboretum to view cherry trees and other observations of the city setting are a refreshing counterbalance to these concerns…. Pairing the allure of Washington DC, with an animal misadventure, Snake in the Grass is a robust series mystery novel." —FOREWORD REVIEWS

"A fun mystery full of endearing characters. It's also a great primer on how our government works (and how, maybe, it could work a little bit better). Kitty Felde weaves an entrancing story!" —STUART GIBBS, author of the Spy School series

"Kitty Felde's writing captivates and keeps you guessing until the very last page, making this book an engaging read from start to finish." —CONGRESSWOMAN MONICA DE LA CRUZ (R)

"For decades, Kitty Felde explained Congress and government to grown-ups, and she has made a masterful turn to explaining it to kids in this fun and engaging series. Fina is smart, curious, and spunky with a child's innate sense of right and wrong. Through her eyes, it is clear what is wrong with hyperpartisan politics and what we should celebrate about those who go to Washington to make a difference in people’s lives. I could have used a friend like Fina when I was in Congress." —FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN JANICE HAHN (D)

"I was happy to see the release of a new installment of the Fina Mendoza mysteries… an entertaining mix of mysterious happenings and lessons in government. They take a look at Congress, the US Capitol, and those who serve there. Better yet, these people are brought to life as three-dimensional characters, such as Fina's congressman father. Fina's adventures entertain while sparking a young reader's interest in what is happening in the US Capitol. This kind of early exposure can lead to a lifelong interest in civic affairs." —NANCY BOYARSKY, author of the Nicole Graves mysteries

"Snake in the Grass is a fun read from start to finish and will prove especially popular with young fans of mystery and detective themed 'whodunnit' stories. Especially and unreservedly recommended for family, elementary school, middle school, and community library." —B. Cox, managing editor The Midwest Book Review

"Felde’s writing is full of warmth and humor, balancing political settings with childlike wonder and wit. An empathetic protagonist whose voice feels authentic and smart without being precocious. A delightful mystery for curious young minds." —Readers' Favorite Award

Children's Book Council Teacher Favorite Award Winner

Author Biography

Award-winning public radio journalist, writer, and TEDx speaker KITTY FELDE hosts the BOOKCLUB FOR KIDS podcast named by "The Times" of London as one of the top 10 kidcasts in the world, with more than 2M downloads. The Los Angeles native created the Washington bureau for Southern California NPR — explaining how government works to grownups — and hosted a daily talk show in L.A. for nearly a decade. Now, she explains it to kids in a series of mystery novels and podcasts called THE FINA MENDOZA MYSTERIES and writes the companion blog FACTS BEHIND THE FICTION for the Chesapeake Press' website.