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