Harriet the Spy — Louise Fitzhugh

“When I grow up I'm going to find out everything about everybody and put it all in a book.”

So writes Harriet M. Welsch, who is determined to grow up to be a famous author. In the meantime, she practices by following a regular spy route each day and writing down everything she sees in her secret notebook.

“Janie gets stranger every day. I think she might blow up the world.”

“I once saw Miss Elson when she didn't see me and she was picking her nose.”

Then one morning, Harriet's life is turned upside down. Her classmates find her spy notebook and read it out loud. Harriet's in big trouble. The other sixth-graders are stealing her tomato sandwiches, forming a spy-catcher club, and writing notes of their own -- all about Harriet!