Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief — Wendelin Van Draanen

Grams told me my binoculars were going to get me into trouble. I just didn't believe her.

Sammy Keyes isn't looking for trouble when she trains her binoculars on the Heavenly Hotel across the street. So when she spies a man with gloves pawing through a purse, and he sees her, there's only one thing to do - wave. And then maybe tell the police.

But Officer Borsch looks at her like she's some snot-nosed little kid when she does spill her story. Sammy's not about to put up with this. She's a snot-nosed seventh grader now, and she knows what she saw. And somehow, she's going to prove it.