TRUE CRIME FILES: HEIST AT THE MUSEUM! by Sam Subity, Yaoyao Ma Van As, Sourcebooks Explore, Oct. 6, 2026, Hardcover, $16.99, paperback, $8.99 (ages 8-12)
Learn about the greatest jewel heist in U.S. History in Heist at the Museum, written by Sam Subity and illustrated by Yaoyao Ma Van As.
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. —Synopsis provided by Sourcebooks Explore.
Much like the I Survived books, Heist at the Museum features a fictional character dropped into the middle of real-life events. In the case of Heist at the Museum that character is Charlie.
Charlie is a smart kid who is tired of being ignored. So, when Charlie’s father ignores him for yet another time, he decides to take action. Readers will be drawn to his initiative and bravery as he spends the night at the museum. They’re drawn right into the action and see the heist go down through Charlie’s eyes.
While Charlie and his family are fictional, the three thieves were actually real people who did commit this brazen crime.
In 1964, the Star of India sapphire and 23 other precious gems were stolen from New York’s American Museum of Natural History, and author Sam Subity made sure to include all the pertinent facts in Heist at the Museum. An extensive appendix goes into detail about what did and did not happen with information about each thief and what happened to the stolen gems. A timeline and brief history of major museum heists are also included.
While the suggested age range for Heist at the Museum is 8 to 12, that might be a bit generous. With short, illustrated chapters, it feels a bit young for 12-year-olds. I suggest ages 8-11. That said, the book is accessible, entertaining and informative. It’s a topic readers will naturally want to learn about. It would make a great addition to classroom or home libraries alike.
Heist at the Museum is the first book in a new true crime series by Subity that’s sure to be a hit.
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