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Capital Mysteries #2
Kidnapped at the Capital
From popular A to Z Mysteries author Ron Roy comes a red, white, and blue mystery perfect for the election season! In the second book of the Capital Mysteries—an early chapter book mystery series featuring fun facts and famous sites from Washington, D.C.—KC and Marshall are going to the Cherry Blossom Festival. They have an invitation from the President of the United States! But while they are off getting ice cream, KC's mom and President Thornton are kidnapped - right under the bodyguards' noses. Who cares if the FBI is on the case? KC isn't giving up until she finds her mom! Each book highlights one of the famous museums, buildings, or monuments from the Washington area and includes a map and a two-page fun fact spread with photographs. Parents, teachers, and librarians agree that these highly collectible chapter books are perfect for emerging readers and any kid who love mysteries!
82 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2002
About the author
Ron Roy
261 books394 followersRon 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
November 27, 2011
Fun fact: The first book establishes that the Capital Mysteries universe has the same Presidents as ours until it replaces the younger Bush with the fictional Zachary Thornton. This means that Mary Kincaid, who is introduced in the second book as a middle-aged black woman, is both the first female and the first African American to become the Vice President of the United States. So that's pretty awesome.
Unfortunately, the rest of the book isn't. It's nowhere near as outlandish as the first, but still doesn't meet my expectations of Ron Roy.
I just... I don't get this series. A to Z Mysteries and even Calendar Mysteries both made sense in their plotlines; there were reasons for the kids to be the only ones investigating the mystery, or else the kids weren't the only ones investigating the mystery. And in the situations when they weren't the only ones, the adults didn't flail around ineffectually; they at least were implied to be handling themselves properly in the background. This is totally different. The children are out fighting crime for no apparent reason--doesn't anyone watch these kids?--and the people who should be doing the job are nowhere to be seen!
Allow me to *sigh* again. In the context of Ron Roy's children's books, these are sub-par, and that's exceptionally disappointing to me. I was very much looking forward to reading and loving this series, and yet here I am with this weird sci-fi, pseudo-mystery series staring the only two people in this fictional parallel of D.C. with the remotest competence. And yet they're fourth-graders!
*grumbles* So I'll just be over here, waiting for the next A to Z Mysteries Super Special.

Unfortunately, the rest of the book isn't. It's nowhere near as outlandish as the first, but still doesn't meet my expectations of Ron Roy.
I just... I don't get this series. A to Z Mysteries and even Calendar Mysteries both made sense in their plotlines; there were reasons for the kids to be the only ones investigating the mystery, or else the kids weren't the only ones investigating the mystery. And in the situations when they weren't the only ones, the adults didn't flail around ineffectually; they at least were implied to be handling themselves properly in the background. This is totally different. The children are out fighting crime for no apparent reason--doesn't anyone watch these kids?--and the people who should be doing the job are nowhere to be seen!
Allow me to *sigh* again. In the context of Ron Roy's children's books, these are sub-par, and that's exceptionally disappointing to me. I was very much looking forward to reading and loving this series, and yet here I am with this weird sci-fi, pseudo-mystery series staring the only two people in this fictional parallel of D.C. with the remotest competence. And yet they're fourth-graders!
*grumbles* So I'll just be over here, waiting for the next A to Z Mysteries Super Special.

March 24, 2023
500L for Lexile.com
I’ve been struggling with my dislexia so going back to younger reader’s book has been helping a lot. I didn’t know how much I can actually read without any audiobook help.
This book talks about nasa and president that I feel like it is really great for kids to learn american culture and history while they were reading mystery book.
(It’s only 3 stars for me cause I prefer fantasy/&romance)
I’ve been struggling with my dislexia so going back to younger reader’s book has been helping a lot. I didn’t know how much I can actually read without any audiobook help.
This book talks about nasa and president that I feel like it is really great for kids to learn american culture and history while they were reading mystery book.
(It’s only 3 stars for me cause I prefer fantasy/&romance)
July 16, 2018
Some of the events might still be a little scary for young readers. I’d say stick to 4th and above, in terms of maturity.
January 11, 2019
Very interesting. KC is really brave and smart!
January 12, 2021
I love these mysteries that are set in Washington DC and, considering recent events, some of the events don’t seem so far fetched. This is a great one.
April 3, 2021
gooooooooooooooooooood (actually there was supposed to be endless)
April 24, 2021
It was funny to me that KC had tears in her eyes when her mom was kidnapped. KC is a brave girl.
November 7, 2021
Where are the President and Lois? KC and Marshall try to discover what happened!
June 8, 2023
I was scared because the president was kidnapped.
March 30, 2024
This book had ethnically-diverse characters. It had a kid-level plot and was exciting! It taught reasoning skills. Recommended!
August 20, 2024
how come the secret service keeps letting people kidnap the president!!!!!
January 17, 2025
Very appropriate for kids but kind of a rushed, bland story. It’s not really explained why the kids found the mom/president clone in a few hours but the CIA/SS couldn’t find them.
March 16, 2011
In book one of the Capital Mysteries series, KC and Marshall uncovered an evil plot to replace the President with a clone and saved the President and the clone. In book two, they've been invited to meet the President at the National Mall for the Cherry Blossom Festival, but when KC and Marshall leave KC's mom and the President to buy some ice cream, the two adults are gone when they return.
KC and Marshall soon discover that things are not exactly as they appear. Despite assurances that the secret service and FBI are searching, KC and Marshall are not content to stay home and wait. They begin their own search of the National Mall that leads them into danger and discovery.
Kidnapped at the Capital was pretty far-fetched and unbelievable. I've been assured that kids like this series, and it was fast paced and kid oriented. (Grades 2-5)
KC and Marshall soon discover that things are not exactly as they appear. Despite assurances that the secret service and FBI are searching, KC and Marshall are not content to stay home and wait. They begin their own search of the National Mall that leads them into danger and discovery.
Kidnapped at the Capital was pretty far-fetched and unbelievable. I've been assured that kids like this series, and it was fast paced and kid oriented. (Grades 2-5)
January 19, 2010
This is the second book in the Capital Mysteries series by Ron Roy. We are enjoying them, although they are a bit far-fetched. I love that they talk about interesting sights in the Capital and it is a good precursor before we move to the area this summer. Although I think our girls prefer Dink, Josh and Ruth Rose from the "A to Z Mysteries" better, we are looking forward to reading all the books in this series.
February 20, 2014
I read this as a read-aloud to my six-, seven-, and nine-year-old daughters before bed over the course of three evenings. They love Roy's Capitol Mysteries series! They get so engrossed in the mystery, the story, the characters, and the real stories and DC locations. It gets so easy to get sidetracked on fun, interesting discussions regarding DC, which surprisingly just adds to the experiences these books have to offer!
February 22, 2008
#2 in the Capital Mysteries series, KC and Marshall are at the Cherry Blossom Festival with KC's mom. They have accepted an invitation from President Thronton, but while the kids are off getting ice cream, the President and KC's mom are kidnapped -- right under the noses of the Secret Service! Who cares if the FBI is on the case? KC has to find her mom!
September 15, 2011
Library.
Read during quiet time today.
Read during quiet time today.
January 31, 2015
This is a quick, fun, easy-to-read book. I read it to my children, ages 7 and 10. They both really enjoyed it. It's a bit silly for an adult, but fun to share with children. My children aren't enjoying this series quite as much as the A-Z Mysteries. However, they are enjoying it enough to want to continue with the series. KC and Marshall are fun characters for children to read about.
February 18, 2015
I liked it. They hide KC's mom and the president in the space suits over the apollo moon exhibit in the air and space museum so they could keep them hidden. The only way to get them back is to give those people the international space station, but the person who is with Kc's mom is a clone of the president.
January 13, 2004
when k.c. and her mom and mitchell get invited to the cherry blossom festival from the president then the president asks president thorton to take k.c.'s mom on a tour then her mom and presdent thorton are kidnapped .and k.c. and her friend aren't going to give up until her mother is found.
May 22, 2014
I liked it. Ron Roy was my favorite author when I was seven years old. But I am outgrowing his books now (I'm ten). Still, they are enjoyable to read.
I like mysteries and these are fun, interesting stories to read.
I like mysteries and these are fun, interesting stories to read.
October 10, 2011
can't believe she had gotten kidnapped.
March 11, 2012
KC's mom is kidnapped but her kid and her kids friend saves her and the kidnapper goes to jail. L. A.
February 6, 2013
Fun series for early elementary and great educational details about the Washington DC area is a bonus!
February 26, 2013
it is good
June 14, 2013
Someone kidnapped the cloned president and KC's mom so KC and Marshall have to find them before the president gives the kidnappers the space staition.
October 14, 2014
let me rea it
June 11, 2015
kc mom was kidnapped so she made a plan who could the theif be
Read
January 29, 2016Finished 1/28/16
January 26, 2009
Thes kids are meting with the presedent.And thare about to go get some ice cream.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews




















