One of my favourite books ...

... when I was a young person, was Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh. I must have read it 100 times, I'm not exaggerating. I loved that book. It would make me laugh out aloud, and weep. It inspired my brief "spy phase". I think it's what started bad eavesdropping habit - or perhaps I was just born nosey.
Anyway, if you have a daughter, niece, granddaughter, girl in your life, about 8-10, I heartily recommend the book. NOT the movie, the book.
I'm getting it for my niece now she's reached an age (you better not have it already S - I'm close to the edge!)
It's a great story, with a strong girl character who does fun stuff, has adventures, is naughty. She's not rescued by any heroes. She fucks up and makes it better herself. Grownups don't play a huge role, but they never do in the best kid's books, except her nanny, Ole Golly, who's wonderful. And there's a happy ending, a proper one.
And it's brilliantly written - better written than that Harry Potter stuff by 100,000,000% Not dissing Harry, it's a good story and it seems to encourage reading, but let's be honest, J K Rowling isn't a great writer. Ms Fitzhugh, she was.