FIRST CHAPTER FRIDAY | Diamond Fever! by Steve Sheinkin + Author Interview
A diamond mine. A massive fortune. A Wild West scam so outrageous it's hard to believe it actually happened. Today's First Chapter Friday read aloud is Diamond Fever!: A True Crime Story in the Wild West by New York Times bestselling author Steve Sheinkin, with illustrations and comics by Jon Chad. If your students love true crime, unbelievable history, heists, scams, the Wild West, or fast-paced nonfiction, this book deserves a spot on their TBR!
And stick around after the first chapter for a special interview with Steve Sheinkin about uncovering fascinating true stories from history and turning real events into books kids can't put down.
ABOUT THE BOOK: It's 1872, and two miners walk into a San Francisco businessman's office carrying a secret: DIAMONDS. Lots of them. Philip Arnold and John Slack claim they've discovered something almost unimaginable—America's first major diamond mine. Soon, wealthy investors are scrambling to get involved, prospectors are searching the West, and diamond fever is sweeping the country. There's just one little problem. Is the diamond mine even REAL? Diamond Fever! tells the incredible true story of the Great Diamond Hoax of 1872, complete with greedy investors, clever con men, treasure hunting, train robbers, secret locations, and one enormous scam.
Featuring spot illustrations and comics throughout, this high-interest nonfiction adventure is an excellent choice for readers who enjoy books like The Mona Lisa Vanishes and the I Survived series.
TEACHERS & LIBRARIANS: This is a terrific book for introducing students to narrative nonfiction and true crime for kids. It also opens the door to conversations about evaluating evidence, fact-checking, primary sources, greed, persuasion, credibility, and one very important question: Why are people sometimes so willing to believe something that sounds too good to be true?
Watch the first chapter, meet Steve Sheinkin, and see if YOU can figure out the truth behind America's Great Diamond Hoax!
MORE FIRST CHAPTER FRIDAY!
First Chapter Friday Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpVe6VlpCwJZCLWm7CR4yX93l3xN2conB
FIRST CHAPTER FRIDAY CLASSROOM RESOURCES
First Chapter Friday Student Engagement Worksheet Pack: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Chapter-Friday-Companion-Worksheet-Videos-Reading-Culture-Activities-17039865
FULL First Chapter Friday Worksheet Bundle: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Chapter-Friday-Read-Aloud-Videos-Engaging-Middle-School-Reading-Resource-8469855
⭐ Find even more middle school ELA resources, book recommendations, and student engagement ideas inside Word Nerd Collaborative: www.wordnerdcollaborative.com
Music Credit: Diamond Caper, by Suno Pro and Amanda Zieba (2026)
#DiamondFever #SteveSheinkin #FirstChapterFriday #TrueCrimeForKids #MiddleGradeNonfiction #NarrativeNonfiction #WildWestHistory #GreatDiamondHoax #HistoryBooksForKids #MiddleSchoolBooks #MiddleSchoolELA #SchoolLibrarians #BookTalk #ReadingEngagement #NonfictionBooksForKids #amandazieba #wordnerd #graphicnovels #authorinterviews
A diamond mine. A massive fortune. A Wild West scam so outrageous it's hard to believe it actually happened. Today's First Chapter Friday read aloud is Diamond Fever!: A True Crime Story in the Wild West by New York Times bestselling author Steve Sheinkin, with illustrations and comics by Jon Chad. If your students love true crime, unbelievable history, heists, scams, the Wild West, or fast-paced nonfiction, this book deserves a spot on their TBR!
And stick around after the first chapter for a special interview with Steve Sheinkin about uncovering fascinating true stories from history and turning real events into books kids can't put down.
ABOUT THE BOOK: It's 1872, and two miners walk into a San Francisco businessman's office carrying a secret: DIAMONDS. Lots of them. Philip Arnold and John Slack claim they've discovered something almost unimaginable—America's first major diamond mine. Soon, wealthy investors are scrambling to get involved, prospectors are searching the West, and diamond fever is sweeping the country. There's just one little problem. Is the diamond mine even REAL? Diamond Fever! tells the incredible true story of the Great Diamond Hoax of 1872, complete with greedy investors, clever con men, treasure hunting, train robbers, secret locations, and one enormous scam.
Featuring spot illustrations and comics throughout, this high-interest nonfiction adventure is an excellent choice for readers who enjoy books like The Mona Lisa Vanishes and the I Survived series.
TEACHERS & LIBRARIANS: This is a terrific book for introducing students to narrative nonfiction and true crime for kids. It also opens the door to conversations about evaluating evidence, fact-checking, primary sources, greed, persuasion, credibility, and one very important question: Why are people sometimes so willing to believe something that sounds too good to be true?
Watch the first chapter, meet Steve Sheinkin, and see if YOU can figure out the truth behind America's Great Diamond Hoax!
MORE FIRST CHAPTER FRIDAY!
First Chapter Friday Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpVe6VlpCwJZCLWm7CR4yX93l3xN2conB
FIRST CHAPTER FRIDAY CLASSROOM RESOURCES
First Chapter Friday Student Engagement Worksheet Pack: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Chapter-Friday-Companion-Worksheet-Videos-Reading-Culture-Activities-17039865
FULL First Chapter Friday Worksheet Bundle: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Chapter-Friday-Read-Aloud-Videos-Engaging-Middle-School-Reading-Resource-8469855
⭐ Find even more middle school ELA resources, book recommendations, and student engagement ideas inside Word Nerd Collaborative: www.wordnerdcollaborative.com
Music Credit: Diamond Caper, by Suno Pro and Amanda Zieba (2026)
#DiamondFever #SteveSheinkin #FirstChapterFriday #TrueCrimeForKids #MiddleGradeNonfiction #NarrativeNonfiction #WildWestHistory #GreatDiamondHoax #HistoryBooksForKids #MiddleSchoolBooks #MiddleSchoolELA #SchoolLibrarians #BookTalk #ReadingEngagement #NonfictionBooksForKids #amandazieba #wordnerd #graphicnovels #authorinterviews