Thumbs Up from BookLife!

Fina is back in L.A. with a whole host of new troubles and a brand-new mystery to solve. And this time, a man's home, freedom, and perhaps his very life are on the line.

Felde's prose is quick, clever, and evocative; descriptions of dry winds evoke the urge for eye-rubbing, and readers will practically smell the mouth-watering chilaquiles served at Fina's breakfast table. 

There are plenty of YA books with intrepid young heroines, but Home of the Brave is singular. It's not just a cute mystery with real-world implications, and it's not just about gentrification and the inevitable unhoused, forgotten veterans, or the stigma of mental illness. It incorporates all of those themes and more—including a motherless girl, her sister, and her widowed father who are still coping with their grief. The result is a suspenseful, light mystery with valuable lessons about critical thinking and inclusion that readers of all ages can appreciate.

Felde introduces readers once again to Fina Mendoza and her sprawling, loving family and friends, all of whom are easily distinguishable from one another. And the author puts Fina's open heart on display throughout, showing why she's so easy to root for. That open heart is backed by the goodness of Fina's family, who believe in service to the community. The real villains here are misunderstandings.

The BookLife Prize