A mysterious bird poops on the president's head during the State of the Union address.

The bird could be a Chickcharney, the legendary bird from the Caribbean, which may have come to Washington to deliver a secret message. Is it for the president? Or Congress? Or for Fina’s friend, a cashier at the Capitol snack bar? Or maybe it's a message for Fina from her mom who passed away not so many months ago. Fina gets detecting help from a pair of congressional dogs as she searches for clues. The story mixes the mystery with a peek behind the scenes at the U.S. Capitol, including a congressional battle over immigration reform and a family battle when Fina’s grandmother is nearly arrested at an immigration protest.

"State of the Union" is an introduction to civics for elementary school readers. It's "The West Wing" meets Nancy Drew.