True Crime Files

Name: True Crime Files
Price: 20.95 AUD
Availability: PreOrder
ISBN: 9781464261329

Heist at the Museum!: The Greatest Jewel Heist in U.S. History

Sam Subity, Yaoyao Ma Van as

$20.95

Paperback

Forthcoming
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English

Sourcebooks Explore
06 October 2026

Adventure stories (Children's&YA)

The story is unbelievable. The heist actually happened.

Charlie O'Neill is still grieving his mom and desperate for his dad's attention when he overhears three smooth-talking surfers planning the heist of the century. The target? The priceless gems of the American Museum of Natural History. The problem? Nobody believes a kid. So Charlie decides to stop it himself. What follows is a breathless night of locked iron gates, cut glass, a swaying rope five stories up -- and a choice that makes right and wrong a lot more complicated than Charlie expected.

True Crime Files: Heist at the Museum! is inspired by the real 1964 theft of the Star of India sapphire, one of the most legendary jewel heists in U.S. history. The thieves were real. The gems were real. And the story is even wilder than you'd imagine.

A kid who won't be ignored, a heist that can't be stopped -- when Charlie overhears surfers plotting the robbery of the century, no one believes him. So he decides to stop it himself Based on a jaw-dropping true story -- the real 1964 theft of the Star of India sapphire from New York's American Museum of Natural History, one of the most audacious jewel heists in U.S. history Perfect for fans of I Survived and true crime -- cinematic action, a heartfelt family story, and a mystery that keeps the pages turning all the way to the end A lot of this actually happened -- additional material breaks down what's true, what's fictional, and what became of the real thieves and the stolen gems For readers ages 8-12 who love saying ""wait...that really happened?"" -- mystery, history, and museum lore packed into one adrenaline-charged adventure

By: Sam Subity
Illustrated by: Yaoyao Ma Van as
Imprint: Sourcebooks Explore
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 210mm, Width: 140mm, Spine: 8mm
Weight: 454g
ISBN: 9781464261329
ISBN 10: 1464261326
Pages: 128
Publication Date: 06 October 2026
Recommended Age: From 8 to 12 years
Audience: Children/juvenile , English as a second language
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Sam Subity grew up on a steady diet of books about Encyclopedia Brown and Sherlock Holmes, so he knew from an early age that he would either be a detective or a writer. Then he figured out he could have the best of both worlds by writing about crime-solving kids! When he's not writing, you might find him running the trails of northern Ohio where the endless, winding miles past rivers and Buckeye trees inspire stories of adventure and mystery.

Reviews for True Crime Files: Heist at the Museum!: The Greatest Jewel Heist in U.S. History

""Action-adventure fans will adore this breathtaking caper based on extraordinary true events. Reminiscent of the classic From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, Sam Subity's True Crime Files: Heist at the Museum! is sure to become a favorite of young readers everywhere"" -- Megan E. Freeman, NYT Bestselling author of ALONE ""True crime has never been such fast-paced, kid-friendly fun!"" -- Chris Grabenstein, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the two-million-copies-sold Mr. Lemoncello's series ""Truth plus fiction equals fascinating fun! With the thrills and chills of a museum jewel theft, and historical back matter that tells the rest of the real-life story, Sam Subity's HEIST AT THE MUSEUM will have young readers on the edges of their seats."" -- Kate Albus, Bestselling author of A Place to Hang the Moon