The Skeleton in the Smithsonian

Capital Mysteries #3

by Ron Roy, Timothy Bush (Illustrator)

When Leonard Fisher claims that the Smithsonian and all its museums belong to him, Washington D.C. goes into an uproar. KC Corcoran and her best friend Marshall have a feeling that there is something fishy about Fisher. But if they are wrong, the United States may lose the Smithsonian forever!


From the Trade Paperback edition.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Chapter Books, Childrens, 2nd Grade, Young Adult

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Ron Roy has been writing books for children since 1974. He is the author of dozens of books, including the popular A to Z Mysteries®, Calendar Mysteries, and Capital Mysteries. When not working on a new book, Ron likes to teach tricks to his dog Pal, play poker with friends, travel, and read thrilling mystery books.

Reviews

[Beverly McCall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ron Roy details the latest adventure of best friends, K.C. and Marshall, as they ponder the mystery of the skeleton in the Smithsonian. These pals play junior detective and a privy to insider information as K.C. is the President's step-daughter. The plot line is easy to follow. Characters are likable. Quite an enjoyable read. This book would do well as a read aloud. Classroom teachers can use this book in language art lessons to help students understand sequencing.

[AllyP Reads Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's all just so illogical!

[Angela Deng · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it was a bit creepy when Mr. Fisher locked KC and Marshall in the cemetry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rachel Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought The Skeleton in the Smithsonian was a great little mystery and adventure book, featuring two kids, KC and Marshall, and their quest for solving mysteries and justice. In this book, there is a suspicious man claiming to be the heir to the Smithsonian fortune, and it leads to the White House, a cemetery and a family crypt, in a genuinely scary situation for these kids to find themselves in. I also appreciated all the fun historical facts along the way and in the appendix at the end. I had never heard of Ron Roy or the Capital Mysteries before, and now I think I'll have to check more out ot see if they fit my purposes for my summer reading camp!

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it when they discovered that Leonard fisher swapped places with his great grandfather and James Smithsonian. But they were locked in the crypt! It was dark and spooky! What would you feel if you were in there?

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something is "fishy" about Fisher when he shows up at the White House claiming to be related to Smithson, the man who donated millions towards the Smithsonian. Can KC and Marshal figure out the mystery before the criminal gets away?

[多奈 · Rating 3 out of 5]

540L for Lexile.com

I am so happy that I’ll be able to read book easier than before so I’m going to keep reading 500 to 600 Lexile for a minute.

I love that president is finally asking KC’s mom for this book I can’t wait to see what is going to happen in next book

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

KC and Marshall save the day again. My favorite in the series so far. Immediately ordered #4.

[Mr.Zhou · Rating 5 out of 5]

They saved a lot of money from being swindling from USA.Brave and smart little guys.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these mysteries. This one involves the Smithsonian museums and was well thought out and interesting.

[Vidyuth Gowtham · Rating 5 out of 5]

that boyyyyyyyy

[aem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Someone claiming to own the Smithsonian because he is related???

[Shankar B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite part is when kc and Marshall were trying to find if Leonard Fisher was a relative of James Smithsonian.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

#20
Title: The Skeleton at the Smithsonian
Author: Ron Roy
Genre: Young Adult, Mystery

Challenges: To Be Continued…Challenge, 101 Books in 1001 Days Challenge, Book Around the States Challenge, A to Z Reading Challenge, 2009 Support Your Local Library, 20 Books in 2009, 2009 Second Chances, Pages Read Challenge, 2009 YA Challenge, Summer Vacation Reading Challenge 2009, The Four Month Challenge, What’s In a Name 2009

Rating: 4/5
No. of Pages: 96
Published: 2003

From the back:
When Leonard Fisher claims that the Smithsonian and all its museums belong to him, Washington D.C. goes into an uproar. KC Corcoran and her best friend Marshall have a feeling that there is something fishy about Fisher. But if they are wrong, the United States may lose the Smithsonian forever!

Mine:
Reading this series along with my nephew – who loves this series. It’s great when we make a trip to the library together.

KC is at it again, getting into trouble and solving the mystery. Leonard Fisher claims he is a relative of the James Smithson (who started the Smithsonian) and wants to be paid. It’s up to KC to figure out how he did it before the government has to pay big. She and Marshall get trapped in the crypt, Happy comes to the rescue and helps solve the crime.

[Laura Phelps · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and, more importantly, so did my little sister. I found it better than the previous book, Kidnapped at the Capital.

So, KC and Marshall are eating lunch with President Zachary Thornton when a man and his lawyer come in, claiming that he is the heir to the Smithsonian fortune. They agree to check the DNA, but KC doesn't trust the man. She and Marshall follow him and try to find out what he's up to, putting themselves in danger.

Now, what I felt really stood out to me about this book was that it wasn't afraid to pull out things like skeletons and getting locked in the dark... with said skeletons. Now don't get me wrong, it wasn't really scary, but it wasn't all soft and cushiony just because it was for kids. My sister was very excited and nervous, arguing me when it was the end of the chapter and we had to put the book down.

So, I haven't read the first book yet, but this book definitely changed my mind about the series. I would recommend this to a child (or anyone who likes reading children's books) who loves adventure and mystery. As far as reading level, it's not the easiest easy reader chapter book, but it's a nice challenge for early readers.

[Amara Tanith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now that's more like it! This installment brings back the Ron Roy plots I recognize: a simplistic yet enjoyable mystery aimed at children and utterly devoid of any inexplicable science fiction elements. It's also the installment that sets the Capital Mysteries series up on the path it'll follow through the subsequent books.

In The Skeleton in the Smithsonian, a man named Leonard Fisher and his attorney, Mr. A. C. Rook (ain't it punny, guys? ...guys?), claim that Fisher has recently discovered himself to be the long lost heir of James Smithson. Now Fisher is claiming that as Smithson's heir, the fortune--and, by extension, the Smithsonian itself--belongs to him.

It's a simple mystery for early readers, a return to the tried and true formula of the A to Z Mysteries series with the added bonus of introducing the USA capitol to children.

[Nobies57 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third in a series of extremely readable and nicely paced mysteries all taking place in the capital area. KC's mom is dating the president, giving these two kids a slight advantage over most at getting in and out of predicaments around the DC area. It also gives the reader lots of fantasy leeway in dreaming what it would be like to be a kid in the white house.
Anyway the story....Leonard Fisher (funny because that's my friend's name) is claiming to be the heir of James Smithson and would then, be rightful owner of the Smithsonian Institute. Well, it's a bunch of hooey and the kids know it, but they get themselves into trouble at the cemetery when they follow Fisher to see what he is really up to.
Stay tuned for episode 4 where I think the pres is going to pop the question to KC's mom.

[Tomoya Sugiyama · Rating 2 out of 5]

① CAPITAL MYSTERIES, RANDOM HOUSE, RL: 2.7
② 5/30 = 30min. 5/31 = 50min.
③ KC, MARSHALL, president, museum, secret, Skeleton, surprise
④ "I love surprises!"
I like this sentence. This is last sentence in the story said by KC. KC and MARSHALL experienced frightening experience that was kind of horror, but she thought that "I love surprises!", and MARSHALL maybe though too. I felt that children's curiosity is super!!!
⑤ Actually, I couldn't understand the story well. It was difficult. It was not about grammar or words. The story itself was difficult, so it was hard to read for me. That's why I gave that score,two stars.
However, I like mystery in Japanese, so I believe I would become to like reading mystery books in English if my English reading skill improves. I will try to continue to read English mystery books!!

[Dharia Scarab · Rating 3 out of 5]

My love of reading started when i was young, and it gives me immense pleasure to provide books to Spread the Word Nevada, an organization that passes them on to children in the community. They are a terrific organization supporting an important cause. If your local I encourage you to check them out. For those living further a field, look in your own community, their may already be a similar program in place. And if not, you can always help start one.

http://spreadthewordnevada.org/

Myself, I go out on the weekends and
shop thrift store and bulk book lots to rescue books and donate them. Sometimes I'll find a book I remember reading when I was young and will read it again before passing it on.

I don't rate these books using my normal scale, instead I give most of them three stars. This isn't a Criticism of the book, simply my way of rating them as good for children.

[Dolly · Rating 2 out of 5]

We are enjoying the Capital Mysteries series, but this wasn't our favorite. Our girls seemed to get bored with the story right away. We finished the story more out of determination than interest, but we will continue the series; perhaps the next one will be better. I think our girls liked the "A to Z Mysteries" so much that it's hard to recreate that kind of magic with a new series.

[Takahiro Yamada · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE SKELETON IN THE SMITHSONIAN - CAPITAL MYSTERIES- Lv.3.5
60 minutes
pizza- president- DNA- money- grave- suspecting- chasing
I liked the sentence, "you're allergic to flowers".
When I read this sentence at first, I didn't care for this sentence, but when I read chapter 5, I noticed the meaning of it. It was a mice expression.

Actually, I couldn't finish reading this book, but it was not so difficult to read. Also, characters are very unique. I'd like to experience like them.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good chapter book about student detectives Marshall and K. C. (Katherine Christine) who live close to the President of the US (and know him) and help him to solve a mystery in the Smithsonian. Good, fast paced, part of the Capital Mysteries series.

[Atlantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was alright-I don't know if it is an "all time favorite" but I liked the fact that it incorporated history and fun facts for kids in a simple and entertaining way. Another book on my son's summer reading list!

[Jenette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book to my kids. Liked how the story flowed and kept our interest. I think this would make a great movie! Author did a good job of mixing fiction and non-fiction together to create and interesting story!

[Marlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick, fun, fast read. I read it with my two children (ages 10 and 7). They both enjoyed the book and were quite captivated with it. For an adult reader it seems a bit silly, but I've enjoyed sharing these books with my children.

[Lorri · Rating 3 out of 5]

My kids love these books. They introduce new places and concepts to them (this one talked about checking DNA) and are only 8 chapters. I'd recommend them but not in the same way I'd recommend Roald Dahl or CS Lewis books.

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

when this guy claims that the smithsonian is his.k.c. and mitchell think there's something fishy going on.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic tale in the Capital Mysteries series, this book is about a mystery surrounding the Smithsonian.

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a criminel and two children trying to figer out what he is up to.

[Andrea Labonte · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are getting even more interesting as i go on reading more.