The request for museums in fiction was related to middle schoolers.  I have
used an adult book, Tony Hillerman's "Talking God," with middle and high
schoolers with great effect.  The book is a mystery set partially in the
Smithsonian (lot of mysterious murders at the SI, to judge by the number of
books set there).  There's a swell passage in the beginning in which a
Native American activist sends an anthro curator a box containing the bones
of her grandparents.  It's scary and creepy but also sets up a great
discussion on collecting and cultural value.

Farar Elliott
Director of Public Programs
Valentine Museum
Richmond, Virginia