I Witnessed: The Great Train Robbery of 1963: A Graphic Novel

Aspiring investigative reporter Marilyn witnesses one of the greatest money heists in history…but will she be able to collect enough evidence for anyone to believe what she saw? For fans of I Survived and Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales but with a true crime twist, read about the Great Train Robbery of 1963 in this I Witnessed graphic novel.

Marilyn is in for an unforgettable trip when she sneaks aboard a Royal Mail train from Glasgow to London on the night of August 7, 1963. While Marilyn’s focused on her writing portfolio and convincing Dad not to ship her to boarding school, the night takes a turn when she witnesses more than a dozen masked men board the train. What Marilyn didn’t know when she snuck aboard was that this Mail Train was transporting over £2 million in cash. The robbers detain the crewmen, seize control of the train, and then abscond into the night with their bounty…but thanks to Marilyn, they won’t make it out scot-free.

Inspired the true events, Marilyn’s story offers a fictional kid POV rooted in historical facts about the heist and the subsequent trial. Case fact sidebars offer additional nonfiction elements to the story.

Andrea Debbink is a former American Girl editor and the author of more than a dozen books for children and adults, including the Wild World Handbook series and If the Rivers Run Free. As a history buff, she loves to explore the stories that have shaped our world and bring them to life for young readers. Learn more about her work at andreadebbink.com or find her on Substack, where she writes a monthly newsletter called Natural Wonder.

Crystal Jayme is a comic artist based in Texas. She’s currently drawing three webcomics and has five very needy cats. She also loves stories that combine elements of horror and drama. I Witnessed: The Lizzie Borden Story was her graphic novel debut.