City of Spies

by Iszi Lawrence

It's 1780 and the struggle for American independence is raging. In New York, twelve-year-old Aiden
Blaise is sure that the British will win soon. How can a few rebel colonies hold out against the might of the British crown? And anyway he's more concerned with somehow managing to rise above his lot in life and make his fortune.

But New York is a powder keg of soldiers and spies, and soon Aiden will be drawn into the fight for freedom in a way he could never have predicted...

Genres: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction

Paperback

First published January 4, 2024

Reviews

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interestingly set in the American Revolutionary War, as the thirteen colonies are revolting against George III, and – as we soon find out – someone is about to make a heinous betrayal and switch sides completely. Aiden is our witness to this, a British kid farmed off because costs to become a trainee gentleman businessman in New York, and almost at liberty to work as a type-setter or idle in an eatery, both owned by his guardian. When mysterious documents are evidently on the premises, he gets out of trouble, but is definitely going to get back into it, and big time, with the help of his sparky female friend and the eatery's serving boy.

This could have been dreadful, a mishmash of anti-slavery sentiment, anti-colonial ideas and a huge liberty to impose modern sensibilities on a story set in those times. It doesn't do that. It introduces us to a true historical spy ring, shows us the two well-defined sides in the war and yet shows neither really is the right one for our hero as war only begets losers, and still manages to be pretty decently page-turning. It's not perfect – I was aware far too early on that this was probably going to be a Book One, and while a heck of a lot is resolved I can only sense we're bound to come back here. It does at least gain from being a read that doesn't labour anything at the cost of entertainment, and that provides us with quite the rare milieu to play out in.

[Georgina Lippiett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is told from the perspective of fourteen-year-old Aiden Blaise. Aiden’s family sent him from England to Manhattan as an apprentice typesetter and although he misses his family dearly, he’s sustained by the hope of proving himself and returning home a rich and successful man.

But in 1780 the tension between the UK and the US is reaching fever pitch, and Aiden finds himself embroiled in a world where it’s hard to distinguish good from bad and right from wrong; and where your friends could be enemies and your enemies could very well be your saviours.

The story is fast-paced, engaging and peppered with humour, the characters bounce off one another brilliantly. Aiden must grapple with issues, feelings and situations he is in no way prepared for, and his vulnerability is both believable and relatable.

The historical detail will delight anyone who knows about, or would like to know more about, this fascinating time and place, and the code-breaking element is great for anyone of any age who likes a puzzle.

All in all, this is a book that can be enjoyed at a gallop but is so rich and layered that it also lends itself to re-reading. A cracker of a tale.

[Bzz Kolla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc for this eCopy to review

City of Spies was an excellent novel about the American war of Independence. We follow Blaire and his apprenticeship in New York to earn money for his family. Who can he trust in this den of spies he finds himself in?

Full of historical detail and codebreaking puzzles it really brought this period of history to life. A fantastic adventure for 9-12 year olds

[Mrs Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was my love for Hamilton that made me want to read this. Can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed. Lots of adventure, lots of twists and an interesting way of looking at a period of history!