
By Sam Subity, Yaoyao Ma Van As (Illustrator)
Part of the True Crime Files series
A kid overhears a heist plan. Can he stop it alone?
Charlie O'Neill, still mourning his mom, craves his dad's attention. When he overhears surfers plotting to steal priceless gems from the museum, no one believes him. Determined, Charlie takes matters into his own hands, facing a night of daring escapades and moral dilemmas. Inspired by the real 1964 Star of India sapphire heist, this thrilling adventure challenges Charlie to navigate a world where right and wrong blur. Will he succeed in thwarting the audacious robbery, or will the thieves outsmart him? Dive into a tale where history and mystery collide in an adrenaline-fueled race against time.
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 himselfBased 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. historyPerfect 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 endA 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 gemsFor readers ages 8-12 who love saying “wait…that really happened?” – mystery, history, and museum lore packed into one adrenaline-charged adventure
Surprise a reader with their next favorite book.
Spotted a mistake or something missing? Improve this page.
Are you the author or illustrator? Claim your book.
Top contributors: Literary Leslie