
I Witnessed: The Great Train Robbery of 1963
A Graphic Novel
Andrea Debbink(Author)
HarperAlley (Publisher)
Published on 23. April 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
208 pages
978-0-06-324724-6 (ISBN)
Description
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 GBP2 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.
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 GBP2 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.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers Inc
Target group
Children/juvenile
US School Grade: From Third Grade to Seventh Grade, Interest Age: From 8 to 12 years
Dimensions
Height: 202 mm
Width: 141 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
348 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-06-324724-6 (9780063247246)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
03/2026
HarperCollins
€10.89
Available for download
Persons
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.
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.