We love a good mystery, and a little mayhem, which means Heist at the Museum! The Greatest Jewel Heist in U.S. History is right up our alley. Today, we’re chatting with Sam Subity about his latest middle grade adventure.
Break out your top-secret notepad and get ready to crack the case of what happens behind the book!
Time to investigate the man behind the heist . . . 🔎
Lisa: The premise of True Crime Files: Heist at the Museum! almost sounds too wild to be true. How did you first discover the real 1964 theft of the Star of India, and when did you realize it could become a story for young readers?
Sam: That “too wild to be true” feeling is exactly what drew me to it! When I first came across this heist in a true crime podcast, I did a sort of mental doubletake. You’ve got surfers who moonlight as small-time jewel thieves and decide almost on a whim to pull off the biggest jewel heist in history, laughable museum security, and the death-defying way they got into the jewel exhibit. But as I dug into the research, I discovered the podcast hadn’t embellished any of the details. Plus there was the museum setting that reminded me of the popular “Night at the Museum” movies, which were the inspiration for the book’s title. The story practically begged to be told.
Lisa: Charlie is fictional, but the heist really happened. How did you decide which parts of the true story to keep and where to take creative liberties?
Sam: It always bothers me when I read a book or watch a movie that’s supposedly based on historical events, only to find that it’s a very loose interpretation of what actually happened. Because of that, it was important to me to preserve all the major historical facts as they occurred to avoid confusing young readers about what was real and what wasn’t. I then imagined those facts like a large room set up with furniture that I could drop my main character Charlie into, where he could do things like sit on the couch or turn on a lamp but ultimately leave it undisturbed.
Lisa: Writing fiction based on real events comes with an extra layer of responsibility. How did you balance historical accuracy with creating a fast-paced adventure?
Sam: The heist was already plenty fascinating all by itself, but I think adding the side plot of Charlie racing to figure out the thieves’ plan before it’s too late really added the extra drama to keep readers glued to the page without actually changing the history of what happened. To further help separate fact from fiction, I included an appendix at the end of the book that tells the “rest of the story,” like what became of the thieves and the jewels, and several readers have reached out to let me know that was their favorite part of the book.
Lisa: What was the most fun scene to write, and which was the most challenging?
Sam: Most true crime stories for kids play out from the perspective of an adult or a sort of detached, clinical narrator. But I wanted to do something different with the True Crime Files series and tell these stories mostly through the eyes of a kid main character…while occasionally also getting into the head of the “bad guy” so you get to see their side too.
The scenes that ended up being the most fun to write were those that switch between these two POVs because I could play with how much each side knows. For example, Charlie overhears the thieves scheming and they have no idea that he’s right there listening. And, of course, the thieves and the reader know the thieves’ target, but we get to root for Charlie as he tries to piece together what it is. These were also the most challenging scenes because I had to constantly remind myself what each side knew and when. Most people probably don’t associate spreadsheets with writing, but in this case I needed a spreadsheet to help me keep it all straight!
Lisa: What was your research process like? Did you uncover any details about the actual heist that made you stop and think, “Wait…that really happened?”
Sam: Oh yes, there were lots of really fun research angles for this story, from the colorful background of the thieves, to the fascinating lore of the American Museum of Natural History, and the cool surf culture of the 1960s. But maybe the most surprising thing I found is that, even with today’s technology, very similar types of heists still happen all around the world. From major museums like the Louvre heist in October 2025 to small local galleries almost every month, thieves are repeatedly proving that our most irreplaceable artifacts are often woefully under protected.
Lisa: If Charlie could visit the American Museum of Natural History today, where do you think he’d head first?
Sam: One of the main tensions in the story is between Charlie’s father who likes rocks and gems—basically what Charlie considers “stuff from the past”—and Charlie himself who’s more interested in the future, which includes robots, technology, and space travel. So his favorite place in the museum is the Hayden Planetarium, and you’d definitely find him making a beeline for it on every visit.
Lisa: Is there a middle-grade book from your childhood that influenced you as a writer?
Sam: I always tell kids at school visits that the reason I’m a writer is because of Shel Silverstein. My parents bought me a copy of Where the Sidewalk Ends when I was a kid, and at first I was like, “Ew, poetry!” But from the very first poem, “The Invitation,” I felt like he was talking directly to me, and I knew I wanted to write stories too. It’s always cool to see that kids still know that book all these years later.
Lisa: When creating a middle-grade protagonist, what do you think matters most to help young readers connect with them?
Sam: I think one of the key elements is authenticity—does the protagonist act, think, and talk like a kid? That’s the main reason I wanted to tell the True Crime Files from a kid’s perspective, because there aren’t many true crime stories that drop kids right into the action and encourage them to think about—Wow, if I overheard some guys talking about robbing a museum, what would I do? Another part of that authenticity is making the character feel real and not just a vehicle for telling the story, which is why I wanted Charlie to be dealing with his own problems, like always struggling to get his dad’s attention, beyond the whole heist plot.
Lisa: How has the middle-grade market changed since you first started writing, and has that affected the kinds of stories you want to tell?
Sam: The last few years in particular have seen a significant increase in the call for shorter middle grade books with more art. At 91 pages with several full-page illustrations, I think Heist at the Museum answers that call. And while I love writing and reading longer fantasy novels, I grew up reading mostly shorter stuff like Encyclopedia Brown and Bunnicula, so writing more in that page count range feels the most true to my 10-year-old self.
10. Is there anything else you want to share about True Crime Files: Heist at the Museum! for our audience of teachers and librarians?
Sam: hope teachers and librarians will take a moment to check out the book’s website where I partnered with educator Julie DenOuden to create a full Educator’s Guide with activities tied to Common Core. The site also features puzzles for kids, scripts for a Readers Theater (original and “silly”versions), and super fun logic puzzles called Heistograms where kids can explore other real heists like stolen maple syrup in Canada and a missing toilet made of solid gold in England.
Author Bio
Sam Subity loves writing stories that explore the magic and wonder of being a kid and is thrilled to share his writing with readers everywhere—both the young in age and the young at heart. 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. Or he might be mowing his lawn. Because that’s what adults sometimes have to do.
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