Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie Kingsley
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
White House kids solve mysteries, have fun around D.C.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In the CAPITAL MYSTERIES series, KC and her best friend, Marshall, have a front-row seat to the strange things that happen around the White House. When KC's mom, Lois, marries the president of the United States, KC puts her sleuthing skills to good use in her new home. From figuring out who was spying on them to get wedding details, to why fireworks were shot near the president and what the story is on a broken thumb on the Lincoln Memorial, the two kids find and analyze clues, solving mysteries and navigating the nation's capital.
Is It Any Good?
In this excellent series for young mystery buffs, Ron Roy keeps the pacing fast and the clues cryptic so readers have to earn the solution. The Capital Mysteries are light and funny; there's no hint of dirty politics or real danger to the head of state here. These books are fun for kids, set in a famous place they've read and studied about but now see from an entirely different perspective: their peers. KC and Marshall ask questions, observe situations, and come up with possible answers, and for young readers, it seems completely realistic -- the hallmark of a great book.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how KC and Marshall solve the Capital Mysteries. When the kids talked through each clue, did you solve the mystery before they did, or were you surprised at the end?
What mysteries have you encountered in the past week? Were you able to solve them, and did you ask for help?
What are your favorite mystery books?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Liza Woodruff
- Genre : Mystery
- Topics : Adventures , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Random House
- Publication date : October 7, 2009
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 6 - 9
- Number of pages : 80
- Available on : Paperback, Hardback, Apple Books
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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