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City Spies #2
Golden Gate
In this second installment in the New York Times bestselling series from Edgar Award winner James Ponti, the young group of spies returns for another international adventure perfect for fans of Spy School and Mrs. Smith’s Spy School for Girls .
After thwarting a notorious villain at an eco-summit in Paris, the City Spies are gearing up for their next mission. Operating out of a base in Scotland, this secret team of young agents working for the British Secret Intelligence Service’s MI6 division have honed their unique skills, such as sleight of hand, breaking and entering, observation, and explosives. All of these allow them to go places in the world of espionage where adults can’t.
Fourteen-year-old Sydney is a surfer and a rebel from Bondi Beach, Australia. She’s also a field ops specialist for the City Spies. Sydney is excited to learn that she’ll be going undercover on the marine research vessel the Sylvia Earle . But things don’t go exactly as planned, and while Sydney does find herself in the spotlight, it’s not in the way she was hoping.
Meanwhile, there’s been some new intel regarding a potential mole within the organization, offering the spies a lead that takes them to San Francisco, California. But as they investigate a spy who died at the Botanical Gardens, they discover that they are also being investigated. And soon, they’re caught up in an exciting adventure filled with rogue missions and double agents!
This mission is hot! The City Spies are a go!
After thwarting a notorious villain at an eco-summit in Paris, the City Spies are gearing up for their next mission. Operating out of a base in Scotland, this secret team of young agents working for the British Secret Intelligence Service’s MI6 division have honed their unique skills, such as sleight of hand, breaking and entering, observation, and explosives. All of these allow them to go places in the world of espionage where adults can’t.
Fourteen-year-old Sydney is a surfer and a rebel from Bondi Beach, Australia. She’s also a field ops specialist for the City Spies. Sydney is excited to learn that she’ll be going undercover on the marine research vessel the Sylvia Earle . But things don’t go exactly as planned, and while Sydney does find herself in the spotlight, it’s not in the way she was hoping.
Meanwhile, there’s been some new intel regarding a potential mole within the organization, offering the spies a lead that takes them to San Francisco, California. But as they investigate a spy who died at the Botanical Gardens, they discover that they are also being investigated. And soon, they’re caught up in an exciting adventure filled with rogue missions and double agents!
This mission is hot! The City Spies are a go!
448 pages, Paperback
First published March 16, 2021
736 people are currently reading
4951 people want to read
About the author
James Ponti
60 books1,498 followersJames Ponti is the New York Times Bestselling author of three Middle Grade book series: the DEAD CITY trilogy about a secret society that polices the undead who live beneath New York City; the Edgar Award-winning FRAMED! series about a pair of Sherlockian tweens who solve mysteries in Washington, D.C.; and the all-new CITY SPIES about an unlikely squad of five kids from around the world who form an elite MI6 spy team.
James grew up in Atlantic Beach, Florida and lives in Orlando. He's a die hard fan of the Boston Red Sox, the USC Trojans, and the Italian National Soccer Team. He loves travel, writing, and spending time with his amazing family.
James grew up in Atlantic Beach, Florida and lives in Orlando. He's a die hard fan of the Boston Red Sox, the USC Trojans, and the Italian National Soccer Team. He loves travel, writing, and spending time with his amazing family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 630 reviews
February 26, 2021
This operation is hot. We are a go.
The City Spies are back and deeply immersed in a new mission called 'Golden Gate.' I found this second in the series to be even more enjoyable than the first. Going in I was a bit worried about remembering the five kid spies and their reasons for joining the team. Could I remember who was who? Not a problem at all! And, if a reader is struggling all they need to do is turn to the back of the book for a refresher. These kids are kicking butts and taking names. Watch out bad guys and rogue spies. You will not be able to outsmart these kids and their mentors (Mother and Monty). Can't wait to see where they go on their next adventure.
A big thank you to Aladdin and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
The City Spies are back and deeply immersed in a new mission called 'Golden Gate.' I found this second in the series to be even more enjoyable than the first. Going in I was a bit worried about remembering the five kid spies and their reasons for joining the team. Could I remember who was who? Not a problem at all! And, if a reader is struggling all they need to do is turn to the back of the book for a refresher. These kids are kicking butts and taking names. Watch out bad guys and rogue spies. You will not be able to outsmart these kids and their mentors (Mother and Monty). Can't wait to see where they go on their next adventure.
A big thank you to Aladdin and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
July 27, 2021
This book was just amazing, I absolutely loved it. I adored City Spies and had very high expectations for the sequel. And can I just say that I was not disappointed.
I love everything about this book. The characters - all of them are just gems - and the plot and the pacing and ugh! Everything!
Golden Gate was at times witty, funny, touching, sad, and so clever, and I was here for all of it! This book manages to capture the readers' interest and educate them at the same time. By this I mean that it also contains interesting information. Thanks to this book, I now know that a group of ravens is called a conspiracy.
I love Ponti's writing style. All of his books that I've read so far have been amazing. The plot was so good and well paced. I loved all the clues and how they all solved it and everything. It was so smart and definitely left you in awe, and how they managed to figure it out was told in detail, which I really loved. The last few chapters were all action. I just loved it.
I really hope there's another sequel. I would definitely recommend this book.
I love everything about this book. The characters - all of them are just gems - and the plot and the pacing and ugh! Everything!
Golden Gate was at times witty, funny, touching, sad, and so clever, and I was here for all of it! This book manages to capture the readers' interest and educate them at the same time. By this I mean that it also contains interesting information. Thanks to this book, I now know that a group of ravens is called a conspiracy.
I love Ponti's writing style. All of his books that I've read so far have been amazing. The plot was so good and well paced. I loved all the clues and how they all solved it and everything. It was so smart and definitely left you in awe, and how they managed to figure it out was told in detail, which I really loved. The last few chapters were all action. I just loved it.
I really hope there's another sequel. I would definitely recommend this book.
January 9, 2022
I greatly enjoyed being with these characters again!
I thought from the title and some of the early part of the story that most of the events would take place in San Francisco.
Most of the book’s story takes place in the UK though, in Scotland and in England and some on a ship off remote Scotland. The story doesn’t get to San Francisco until page 303 of page 421 but the characters do visit a lot of places in San Francisco and the San Francisco area, including Chinatown, Muir Woods (done badly since now reservations are required and they’re hard to get and only for far in advance), Fisherman’s Wharf, Golden Gate Park Botanical Gardens (yes they make an appearance but no murder takes place there), Alcatraz, and Fort Point. They are all well-known locations to locals and most are popular tourist attractions and some have been location settings in movies.
In the first book we learn how Brooklyn and Paris and Sydney joined the team and spend small amounts of time in those cities, Brooklyn New York, Paris France, and Sydney Australia, though most of the book takes place in Paris and in Scotland. In this second book we learn about how Kat joined the team and readers spend a small amount of time in the city where she was found (Kathmandu, Nepal). I’m hoping in the next book we’ll see how Rio was recruited (in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil).
The writing is excellent but I did find a very few mistakes. On one page it says Brooklyn and Paris when it should say Brooklyn and Sydney. I also found a couple of typos but otherwise all looked fine to me.
I love this series. It would have been a favorite of mine when I was 9-12, but in the first book and this book I am deducting a half star because of the name “Mother” as I don’t think I could ever get fully used to it so 4-1/2 stars. There was one character who made an appearance at the very end of the book and at first I didn’t like that he had a part, but then what did happen at the end I loved and I’m thinking that book 3 might be even better than the first 2 because of it. Big spoiler:
Fun! Entertaining! Exciting! Suspenseful! Heartwarming! Funny! Yes, the reader has to suspend disbelief quite a bit but enough about the people and their relationships feels genuine and believable. I do care about these people and that makes the books a pleasure to read.
Great book and great series for both boys and girls and for reluctant readers. Good for independent readers and reading aloud one on one to with groups.
I’m not wild about the narrator for these books. People’s voices, especially their vocal tones, expressiveness, just the way most of their voices sound seem off somehow and too many of them sound too much like one another, even with the different accents, at least to me. Whenever I can concentrate without audio accompaniment I think I prefer to read just the e-or paper edition for the books in this series. I notice that this is one of 3 series this author has. So far they all have 3 books. I don’t know if they’re trilogies or if they’re works in progress. I do hope that there will be more than 1 more book in this series. I’m hoping to read book 3 as soon as possible.
I thought from the title and some of the early part of the story that most of the events would take place in San Francisco.
Most of the book’s story takes place in the UK though, in Scotland and in England and some on a ship off remote Scotland. The story doesn’t get to San Francisco until page 303 of page 421 but the characters do visit a lot of places in San Francisco and the San Francisco area, including Chinatown, Muir Woods (done badly since now reservations are required and they’re hard to get and only for far in advance), Fisherman’s Wharf, Golden Gate Park Botanical Gardens (yes they make an appearance but no murder takes place there), Alcatraz, and Fort Point. They are all well-known locations to locals and most are popular tourist attractions and some have been location settings in movies.
In the first book we learn how Brooklyn and Paris and Sydney joined the team and spend small amounts of time in those cities, Brooklyn New York, Paris France, and Sydney Australia, though most of the book takes place in Paris and in Scotland. In this second book we learn about how Kat joined the team and readers spend a small amount of time in the city where she was found (Kathmandu, Nepal). I’m hoping in the next book we’ll see how Rio was recruited (in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil).
The writing is excellent but I did find a very few mistakes. On one page it says Brooklyn and Paris when it should say Brooklyn and Sydney. I also found a couple of typos but otherwise all looked fine to me.
I love this series. It would have been a favorite of mine when I was 9-12, but in the first book and this book I am deducting a half star because of the name “Mother” as I don’t think I could ever get fully used to it so 4-1/2 stars. There was one character who made an appearance at the very end of the book and at first I didn’t like that he had a part, but then what did happen at the end I loved and I’m thinking that book 3 might be even better than the first 2 because of it. Big spoiler:
Fun! Entertaining! Exciting! Suspenseful! Heartwarming! Funny! Yes, the reader has to suspend disbelief quite a bit but enough about the people and their relationships feels genuine and believable. I do care about these people and that makes the books a pleasure to read.
Great book and great series for both boys and girls and for reluctant readers. Good for independent readers and reading aloud one on one to with groups.
I’m not wild about the narrator for these books. People’s voices, especially their vocal tones, expressiveness, just the way most of their voices sound seem off somehow and too many of them sound too much like one another, even with the different accents, at least to me. Whenever I can concentrate without audio accompaniment I think I prefer to read just the e-or paper edition for the books in this series. I notice that this is one of 3 series this author has. So far they all have 3 books. I don’t know if they’re trilogies or if they’re works in progress. I do hope that there will be more than 1 more book in this series. I’m hoping to read book 3 as soon as possible.
January 21, 2024
Excellent story! Many adventures! Good humor yet the story managed to make me teary eyed at some points like the first book did. I enjoyed the smart kids and teamwork as well as strategies and planning. I like getting to know more about the different characters.
This story started with an adventure at sea. Brooklyn and Sydney were sent to protect two girls from being kidnapped for ransom. In the end, the bad guys was working for another dangerous criminal. The criminal that Mother thought his wife Clementine joined forces with and left him for dead. Their adventures branches out into finding Mother's missing children and Mother's old mentor, a retired spy and an ontologist professor. Mother's wife hid his kids from him for more than 5 years. In this story, readers got to know about bird watchers. When there's a team of smart kids, there's also jealousy on who's better. So it was a good lesson for kids on that. I loved that there were views of the bad guys too.
Excited for book 3!
Thank you SimonKids for the opportunity to read and review! I listened to an audiobook via Libby App.
This story started with an adventure at sea. Brooklyn and Sydney were sent to protect two girls from being kidnapped for ransom. In the end, the bad guys was working for another dangerous criminal. The criminal that Mother thought his wife Clementine joined forces with and left him for dead. Their adventures branches out into finding Mother's missing children and Mother's old mentor, a retired spy and an ontologist professor. Mother's wife hid his kids from him for more than 5 years. In this story, readers got to know about bird watchers. When there's a team of smart kids, there's also jealousy on who's better. So it was a good lesson for kids on that. I loved that there were views of the bad guys too.
Excited for book 3!
Thank you SimonKids for the opportunity to read and review! I listened to an audiobook via Libby App.
June 7, 2025
2 stars.
Spy books will always been a weakness of mine, so it's really no shock that I requested this book (once published) from my library after reading the first book and mostly enjoying it. Did I like this book in its entirety? No, no, I did not. But it was still a (mostly) fun read. Because of some content (and taking God's name in vain), I'm giving this book two stars, but I probably will read the next book if there is one.
Content
Mentions of climate changes & hints to evolution; Mentions of cathedrals & churches; A few characters mention about praying; A couple mentions of a Gutenberg Bible; A mention of God's creation; A mention of mediation; A mention of a crystal ball & Ouija board.
Like the first book, there are mentions of a murder in this sequel, and thought it's never said how the person was killed, it is an important part of the story.
A man makes a couple cracks about women and Brooklyn says that's sexist (one about girls always wearing makeup and another about women being in the kitchen); Brooklyn lies to a man that a fish will kill him after touching him with it (it will not, but it does cause another girl to be concerned that she's leaving him to die).
God's name is taken in vain once; Minor cussing such as 'blimey', 'bloody', 'idiot', 'OMG', 'screwup', 'shoddy', and 'stupid' are all used up to five times each; Lying (including under oaths, but it's deemed as okay because their vow as M16 spies trumps the other oaths); Some eye rolling & sarcasm. Mentions of a fire, injuries, & someone being left to die in a fire; Mentions of kidnappings, hijacks, & ransoms; Mentions of prisons, criminals, thieves, & stealing; Mentions of explosions; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of jealousy; Mentions of pop culture (Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Doctor Who, & Brad Pitt); A couple mentions of zombies.
Spy books will always been a weakness of mine, so it's really no shock that I requested this book (once published) from my library after reading the first book and mostly enjoying it. Did I like this book in its entirety? No, no, I did not. But it was still a (mostly) fun read. Because of some content (and taking God's name in vain), I'm giving this book two stars, but I probably will read the next book if there is one.
Content
Mentions of climate changes & hints to evolution; Mentions of cathedrals & churches; A few characters mention about praying; A couple mentions of a Gutenberg Bible; A mention of God's creation; A mention of mediation; A mention of a crystal ball & Ouija board.
Like the first book, there are mentions of a murder in this sequel, and thought it's never said how the person was killed, it is an important part of the story.
A man makes a couple cracks about women and Brooklyn says that's sexist (one about girls always wearing makeup and another about women being in the kitchen); Brooklyn lies to a man that a fish will kill him after touching him with it (it will not, but it does cause another girl to be concerned that she's leaving him to die).
God's name is taken in vain once; Minor cussing such as 'blimey', 'bloody', 'idiot', 'OMG', 'screwup', 'shoddy', and 'stupid' are all used up to five times each; Lying (including under oaths, but it's deemed as okay because their vow as M16 spies trumps the other oaths); Some eye rolling & sarcasm. Mentions of a fire, injuries, & someone being left to die in a fire; Mentions of kidnappings, hijacks, & ransoms; Mentions of prisons, criminals, thieves, & stealing; Mentions of explosions; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of jealousy; Mentions of pop culture (Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Doctor Who, & Brad Pitt); A couple mentions of zombies.
July 8, 2024
I thought the second book was better than the first, since the plot and characters were more developed. My favorite part was when they stole R. F. Stroud’s bird books from the Bodleian library, and I liked that the main character of this book was Sydney. The ending was also well-done, with them catching the Magpie as well as the hijacker, and with Mother asking the City Spies if they’d like to be adopted. Overall, this was a really fun book.
January 8, 2022
Honestly speaking, this book was a vast improvement from the previous one, even if it was a bit irritating at times.
Golden Gate follows the City Spies after the events of the first book, this time telling the story from Sydney's perspective. Sydney and Brooklyn have been sent on an undercover mission on a marine research vessel, and things don't exactly as planned. To add to the situation, new intel comes in regarding the death of an agent in San Francisco who was looking into Magpie - a double agent in the agency. Once again, it's up to the City Spies to save the day.
My biggest problem with the last book was how seemingly perfect Brooklyn was at everything that she tried in regards to espionage, even more so than the other spies. I'm glad that this was addressed, even if a lot of drama came out of it. In a way, what happened was expected, but it was still,,, weird to read.
The plot, thankfully, is better and more substantial than the first book as well. There are actually quite a few plotlines being discussed as well as playing out this time, which made for a more interesting read.
Even so, the identity of the double agent was pretty easy to figure out. This time, however, I liked that there were clues regarding the true identity of Magpie, and everything sort of built up to the big reveal, rather than everything being out in the open since the very beginning.
There were more backstory reveals in this book, which I really liked, especially those of the City Spies that hadn't been given as much of the spotlight in the previous book. Again, same as the last book as well, I liked the friendships between the City Spies and how they grew in this book as well.
This book felt pretty short, but probably only because I didn't force myself to read it as much as the first one, which made for a short yet action-packed reading experience. It was definitely more enjoyable than the first book, to say the least. (Could this have something to do with the fact that it wasn't all about how pErFeCt Brooklyn was? Perhaps.)
Overall, this book was a vast improvement from the previous one. Even if the beginning was a bit weird, I liked how different plotlines that had only been touched upon in the previous book really began to come into play with this book, as well as how the character dynamics were clearer in this book. That, of course, isn't to mention all of the action that just felt more fun and characteristic of a middle-grade adventure novel that was included in this novel.
Golden Gate follows the City Spies after the events of the first book, this time telling the story from Sydney's perspective. Sydney and Brooklyn have been sent on an undercover mission on a marine research vessel, and things don't exactly as planned. To add to the situation, new intel comes in regarding the death of an agent in San Francisco who was looking into Magpie - a double agent in the agency. Once again, it's up to the City Spies to save the day.
My biggest problem with the last book was how seemingly perfect Brooklyn was at everything that she tried in regards to espionage, even more so than the other spies. I'm glad that this was addressed, even if a lot of drama came out of it. In a way, what happened was expected, but it was still,,, weird to read.
The plot, thankfully, is better and more substantial than the first book as well. There are actually quite a few plotlines being discussed as well as playing out this time, which made for a more interesting read.
Even so, the identity of the double agent was pretty easy to figure out. This time, however, I liked that there were clues regarding the true identity of Magpie, and everything sort of built up to the big reveal, rather than everything being out in the open since the very beginning.
There were more backstory reveals in this book, which I really liked, especially those of the City Spies that hadn't been given as much of the spotlight in the previous book. Again, same as the last book as well, I liked the friendships between the City Spies and how they grew in this book as well.
This book felt pretty short, but probably only because I didn't force myself to read it as much as the first one, which made for a short yet action-packed reading experience. It was definitely more enjoyable than the first book, to say the least. (Could this have something to do with the fact that it wasn't all about how pErFeCt Brooklyn was? Perhaps.)
Overall, this book was a vast improvement from the previous one. Even if the beginning was a bit weird, I liked how different plotlines that had only been touched upon in the previous book really began to come into play with this book, as well as how the character dynamics were clearer in this book. That, of course, isn't to mention all of the action that just felt more fun and characteristic of a middle-grade adventure novel that was included in this novel.
July 29, 2021
the end had me crying. also my kids kept going AWWWW. Does not read like a middle grade but is for middle grade and that is what I absolutely LOVE about this age range of books.
February 28, 2024
A very satisfying mystery and a great follow-up to the first one. 🤍 I especially enjoyed Sydney's turn as the MC. And the ending was so sweet!
January 25, 2022
It’s such a refreshing delight to read a book by someone who so clearly cares about kids and wants to give them the world (figuratively). It’s even more of a pleasure to read something for the twelve-year-old version of ourselves we never truly outgrow.
April 19, 2021
As this book opens, Brooklyn and Sydney, two of the team of City Spies, are on board a ship for a week of marine biology targeted at young women. While they certainly do appreciate the science they are getting, they are really there to covertly guard two of the other teens on the ship. And it’s a good thing, too, when Umbra agents show up trying to kidnap the girls. Meanwhile, there is a new lead on a mole inside MI-6 and a lead in a secret project for Mother, the spy in charge of all the City Spies. Might it tie into the kidnapping?
Last year, I fell in love with these characters with the first book in the series, and I’m delighted to say that this book was just as good as the first one. The story kept me engaged the entire way, and there were times I was turning pages as quickly as I could to find out what would happen next. While all of the characters get their moments to shine, this is really Sydney’s book since she sees the most growth. One thing I love is how much the characters care for each other, so we see them working through conflicts they have. I might have even teared up a time or two as I read. We also get plenty of laughs along the way. I especially enjoyed the scenes in San Francisco since I recognized so many of the places they went. Kids will love this book. I know I’m already anxious to find out what happens next.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Last year, I fell in love with these characters with the first book in the series, and I’m delighted to say that this book was just as good as the first one. The story kept me engaged the entire way, and there were times I was turning pages as quickly as I could to find out what would happen next. While all of the characters get their moments to shine, this is really Sydney’s book since she sees the most growth. One thing I love is how much the characters care for each other, so we see them working through conflicts they have. I might have even teared up a time or two as I read. We also get plenty of laughs along the way. I especially enjoyed the scenes in San Francisco since I recognized so many of the places they went. Kids will love this book. I know I’m already anxious to find out what happens next.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
January 14, 2026
Thank you to Edelweiss+ and the publisher for an eARC copy to read.
James Ponti is quickly becoming a go to author for me when I need action, mystery and some fun! I always have mixed emotions about a sequel when I enjoyed the first book - excited to be with familiar characters but leery the book will not live up to my now high expectations. Well, Mr. Ponti - get writing please as I want to read the next book in this fabulous new series!
The City Spies are back - five tween/teenagers each with a special skillset, from slight of hand to computer hacking are part of MI6 special secret operative cleverly housed under the guise of The FARM (Foundation of Atmospheric Research and Monitoring) and looked after by super spy known as Mother and codebreaker analyst Monty. Right from the opening chapter we are packed with action as Sydney and Brooklyn are on north sea secretly protecting an MLA's daughter and a royalty family member. When an attempted kidnapping goes awry due to the talents of Sydney and Brooklyn a whole new mission and rogue mission develop.
The new mission begins after a retired agent dies and leaves behind clues regarding a mole that has been operating in MI6 for more than a decade. The clues take the team to Oxford and finally to San Fransisco as they attempt to discover the alias of Magpie the mole. At the same time, Brooklyn and Mother have not so secretly attempting to find Mother's son and daughter when his wife whisked them away and became a double agent. However, as the saying goes, "things aren't always what they seem," and perhaps Mother's wife was actually trying to help find the mole without giving herself or children away. Lots of twists and action and definitely room to learn more about the entire group and have more adventures!
Although the page length (432) of this book may intimidate some readers - it does not read that way. I devoured this book in one sitting and with action packed short chapters -they will not notice the length and hopefully gain some confidence. As I noted in my earlier post regarding the evolvement of the other support characters in City Spies - I am happy to see the development of the other characters -in Golden Gate we learn a little bit more about everyone but more specifically Sydney. I hope that this continues as the series evolves. The hardest part will be waiting...
James Ponti is quickly becoming a go to author for me when I need action, mystery and some fun! I always have mixed emotions about a sequel when I enjoyed the first book - excited to be with familiar characters but leery the book will not live up to my now high expectations. Well, Mr. Ponti - get writing please as I want to read the next book in this fabulous new series!
The City Spies are back - five tween/teenagers each with a special skillset, from slight of hand to computer hacking are part of MI6 special secret operative cleverly housed under the guise of The FARM (Foundation of Atmospheric Research and Monitoring) and looked after by super spy known as Mother and codebreaker analyst Monty. Right from the opening chapter we are packed with action as Sydney and Brooklyn are on north sea secretly protecting an MLA's daughter and a royalty family member. When an attempted kidnapping goes awry due to the talents of Sydney and Brooklyn a whole new mission and rogue mission develop.
The new mission begins after a retired agent dies and leaves behind clues regarding a mole that has been operating in MI6 for more than a decade. The clues take the team to Oxford and finally to San Fransisco as they attempt to discover the alias of Magpie the mole. At the same time, Brooklyn and Mother have not so secretly attempting to find Mother's son and daughter when his wife whisked them away and became a double agent. However, as the saying goes, "things aren't always what they seem," and perhaps Mother's wife was actually trying to help find the mole without giving herself or children away. Lots of twists and action and definitely room to learn more about the entire group and have more adventures!
Although the page length (432) of this book may intimidate some readers - it does not read that way. I devoured this book in one sitting and with action packed short chapters -they will not notice the length and hopefully gain some confidence. As I noted in my earlier post regarding the evolvement of the other support characters in City Spies - I am happy to see the development of the other characters -in Golden Gate we learn a little bit more about everyone but more specifically Sydney. I hope that this continues as the series evolves. The hardest part will be waiting...
November 5, 2022
Still loving this series!
December 4, 2021
Kid's loved it. I liked this one as well.
Still reminds me of a modern Mysterious Benedict Society.
It was very relatable to the kids. This one had more history facts and literature facts added in here and there.
We were listening to it on audio and then checked it out from the library and my oldest finished it by reading and then still listened.
Still reminds me of a modern Mysterious Benedict Society.
It was very relatable to the kids. This one had more history facts and literature facts added in here and there.
We were listening to it on audio and then checked it out from the library and my oldest finished it by reading and then still listened.
January 18, 2023
Listened on audio which is really well done for this series.
I would have been obsessed with this series as a kid and I still find it delightful as an adult. Super fun spy adventures and clue solving on top of team building themes. It’s the perfect mix of not being too dumbed down but still staying at a kid appropriate level. Look forward to seeing what comes next!
I would have been obsessed with this series as a kid and I still find it delightful as an adult. Super fun spy adventures and clue solving on top of team building themes. It’s the perfect mix of not being too dumbed down but still staying at a kid appropriate level. Look forward to seeing what comes next!
August 28, 2022
This middle grade series is so much fun! I really loved this one. 🥰
September 29, 2021
I liked this book a lot. I made so much more cents then the first book because I new more about the main people in the book. I am so glad that i read this book. I can not wait to read the next one.
February 25, 2025
This book was OUT OF THIS WORLD!! Everything was just... awesome! I definitely recommend!
September 3, 2021
These kid spy stories are so much fun. I love seeing Brooklyn and her friends outsmart adults, put together puzzles, and apprehend bad guys. The story had a fun mystery and started out right in the middle of a spy operation. No dull moments in this book, it flew by and I'm really looking forward to the third installment.
In this book, we got several points of view and see how Brooklyn has affected the team. She brings a great skill, but Sydney is jealous of the attention and they have to learn how to work together. We also furthered the plotline about Mother's wife and children, making some strides to finding them. I'm really interested in what is going on there and I hope we find out soon.
This found family group is so great and I love seeing them get the family they're missing. Mother and Monty are amazing parental figures. I couldn't get enough of this book and definitely recommend it for a fun read.
In this book, we got several points of view and see how Brooklyn has affected the team. She brings a great skill, but Sydney is jealous of the attention and they have to learn how to work together. We also furthered the plotline about Mother's wife and children, making some strides to finding them. I'm really interested in what is going on there and I hope we find out soon.
This found family group is so great and I love seeing them get the family they're missing. Mother and Monty are amazing parental figures. I couldn't get enough of this book and definitely recommend it for a fun read.
January 12, 2022
This was a great follow-up to the first book. While the first book begins with Brooklyn and seems to center around her as she joins the team, this one focuses on the entire team and highlights some of Sydney's personal struggles. To me, this is the story where they truly become like family as each of the members wrestle with something, including Mother. We also learn how Kat joined the team and I loved her story, just as I loved the stories for Brooklyn, Sydney, and Paris from the first book. I'm looking forward to learning Rio's story next, maybe in the next book. While this book is called Golden Gate, most of the book takes place in Scotland, England, and a ship near Scotland. Still, Ponti included a ton of San Francisco landmarks, including Alcatraz. I really loved how he used some of those places in the story.
So far for this series, I love the characters, plot, pacing, action, dialog, all of it. It is such a well-written middle school book that is entirely enjoyable as an adult. At first, I was expecting something similar to the Alex Rider books, which I've also enjoyed, but I think there is so much more to these books. Except for the fact that these are 12-16-year-old spies, much of how they behave and talk to each other is very realistic. Yes, they're all geniuses of one kind or another, but I've met kids that could be considered geniuses and their behaviors and accomplishments are pretty believable. There's enough realism in these books to make it a lot of fun for kids to dream and imagine. I highly recommend these books and can't wait for the next one! I'm not sure if it'll be the final book, but I'm looking forward to it!
So far for this series, I love the characters, plot, pacing, action, dialog, all of it. It is such a well-written middle school book that is entirely enjoyable as an adult. At first, I was expecting something similar to the Alex Rider books, which I've also enjoyed, but I think there is so much more to these books. Except for the fact that these are 12-16-year-old spies, much of how they behave and talk to each other is very realistic. Yes, they're all geniuses of one kind or another, but I've met kids that could be considered geniuses and their behaviors and accomplishments are pretty believable. There's enough realism in these books to make it a lot of fun for kids to dream and imagine. I highly recommend these books and can't wait for the next one! I'm not sure if it'll be the final book, but I'm looking forward to it!
March 7, 2024
“Dead ends are only course corrections to help you find the right direction.”
I'd like to thank Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.
Instagram Post
Blog Post
Content Warnings: death, kidnapping, murder
This was a great read! I loved how from the very first chapter we're thrown back into the action and adventure of the City Spies world. Just like in book one, there were exciting spy missions and daring action scenes. Each mystery and puzzle were a lot of fun to solve and their solutions were surprising at every turn. The writing style is very easy to follow and sucks you into the story. I could vividly picture each setting and it made for a very immersive reading experience. All of the amazing characters are back in full force and have a lot of character development. I'm very excited to learn more about each of the City Spies as the series continues. I also highly recommend the audiobook version, the narrator did a fantastic job of voicing all of the characters. Readers of every age will enjoy this series, I recommend it to anyone who likes a good spy story. It has everything from heists to royalty, and everything in between!
A great sequel filled with exciting plot twists, intriguing puzzles, and loveable characters.
I'd like to thank Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.
Instagram Post
Blog Post
Content Warnings: death, kidnapping, murder
This was a great read! I loved how from the very first chapter we're thrown back into the action and adventure of the City Spies world. Just like in book one, there were exciting spy missions and daring action scenes. Each mystery and puzzle were a lot of fun to solve and their solutions were surprising at every turn. The writing style is very easy to follow and sucks you into the story. I could vividly picture each setting and it made for a very immersive reading experience. All of the amazing characters are back in full force and have a lot of character development. I'm very excited to learn more about each of the City Spies as the series continues. I also highly recommend the audiobook version, the narrator did a fantastic job of voicing all of the characters. Readers of every age will enjoy this series, I recommend it to anyone who likes a good spy story. It has everything from heists to royalty, and everything in between!
A great sequel filled with exciting plot twists, intriguing puzzles, and loveable characters.
January 20, 2024
Mmmm...loved this one! Seeing Sydney struggle with Brooklyn's place on the team, with her own history, with the revelations about Mother's family...especially since she's always come off as so confident and self-assured, was wonderful. Heart-tugging, but opening the gates for so many heart-warming moments. The ending especially...ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love, love, love, love, LOVE! Though there was one other part that almost made me scream--so not fair to set it up that way and make us think...aaaargh!!! (Does it seem like my emotions are wrapped up in this series? What on earth gave you that idea?) I loved watching the team at work on both parts of the mystery and how everyone got to play a part. I loved the deepening relationships. I loved all the spy stuff. I loved the bits of new background knowledge we got. Also, I am now...very confused about what's actually going on with Clementine... Also, I should maybe stop thinking an incongruity is an author error when it's actually a clue. :P
Anyway, to sum it up...I loved it! :D
Anyway, to sum it up...I loved it! :D
October 23, 2022
The young agents for MI6 are ready to take on new missions! Two of them, Brooklyn and Sydney, are onboard the research ship Sylvia Earle when it gets hijacked. Their mission is to protect two young girls from a kidnapping threat, but it almost blows up in their face. At the same time MI6 gets new information about a mole, who they've been trying to catch for several years. It leads the City Spies to San Francisco.
Action from beginning to end! These kids are smart in different ways, and they complement each other in a great way. In this book Sydney is having some problem with Brooklyn. She's so "perfect" and good at everything, although she's the newest member and therefore has the least training. It creates tension in the whole group, but it's nice to see them work it through. When you're this young (12 to 15 years old) it's not easy to see the whole picture; it's easier to just see to yourself, and what you can and cannot bring to the table. Ponti shows this in a great way, as well as how they talk it out and solve the problem. They really come together as a group at the end of the book.
This is both a thrilling and smart series, where we also learn a thing or two, without it being like a lesson. I'm looking forward to keep following these young spies for more adventures!
Action from beginning to end! These kids are smart in different ways, and they complement each other in a great way. In this book Sydney is having some problem with Brooklyn. She's so "perfect" and good at everything, although she's the newest member and therefore has the least training. It creates tension in the whole group, but it's nice to see them work it through. When you're this young (12 to 15 years old) it's not easy to see the whole picture; it's easier to just see to yourself, and what you can and cannot bring to the table. Ponti shows this in a great way, as well as how they talk it out and solve the problem. They really come together as a group at the end of the book.
This is both a thrilling and smart series, where we also learn a thing or two, without it being like a lesson. I'm looking forward to keep following these young spies for more adventures!
December 9, 2024
Perfection
Wyśmienicie się bawiłem podczas lektury. Tak jak pisałem w opinii pierwszego tomu, to jest Mission Impossible w wersji z dziećmi. Ale to wcale nie sprawia, że jest mniej niebezpiecznie lub emocjonująco. Także fanom tej serii filmów, oraz serii The Naturals (tak myślę) może się ona bardzo spodobać.
James Ponti ponownie mnie zachwycił pięknym przedstawieniem bohaterów i ich problemów, dodał trochę humoru, powagi i wyszło coś cudownego. Było kilka plot twistów, ale nie jakieś wyszukane, gdybym podczas czytania próbował rozgryźć te elementy, z pewnością by mi się to udało.
Ale właśnie dzięki tej prostocie ta książka tak łatwo wchodzi, tyle przyjemności wywołuje podczas czytania, a każdą stronę się przewraca z ciekawością co będzie dalej.
(ta opinia to jeden wielki chaos, ale trudno)
Wyśmienicie się bawiłem podczas lektury. Tak jak pisałem w opinii pierwszego tomu, to jest Mission Impossible w wersji z dziećmi. Ale to wcale nie sprawia, że jest mniej niebezpiecznie lub emocjonująco. Także fanom tej serii filmów, oraz serii The Naturals (tak myślę) może się ona bardzo spodobać.
James Ponti ponownie mnie zachwycił pięknym przedstawieniem bohaterów i ich problemów, dodał trochę humoru, powagi i wyszło coś cudownego. Było kilka plot twistów, ale nie jakieś wyszukane, gdybym podczas czytania próbował rozgryźć te elementy, z pewnością by mi się to udało.
Ale właśnie dzięki tej prostocie ta książka tak łatwo wchodzi, tyle przyjemności wywołuje podczas czytania, a każdą stronę się przewraca z ciekawością co będzie dalej.
(ta opinia to jeden wielki chaos, ale trudno)
April 2, 2021
Ponti delivered other addictive and non-stop adventure. It was so addictive that I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. It was such a non-stop story that I read it in one sitting.
When I read book 1 last year, it was in my top 10 favourite reads of 2020. So I went into this with my expectations pretty high. Somehow Ponti made an even more exciting and unforgettable read. I didn’t expect to love it even more than City Spies, but I did. The mystery was great, the characters are still outstanding, and the continuing story arc pulls at the heartstrings.
I can’t wait for the next book!
When I read book 1 last year, it was in my top 10 favourite reads of 2020. So I went into this with my expectations pretty high. Somehow Ponti made an even more exciting and unforgettable read. I didn’t expect to love it even more than City Spies, but I did. The mystery was great, the characters are still outstanding, and the continuing story arc pulls at the heartstrings.
I can’t wait for the next book!
February 27, 2024
Just as entertaining as the first. This one is filled with smart kids, evil villains, and thrilling adventures across the globe. The City Spies prove they are deserving of their place in the intelligence agency and the ending was particularly heartwarming. There is an ongoing storyline that they are following and I can’t wait to see what happens with this next. The story may be about tweens/teens that are spies but there’s enough adventure and intrigue in this one for all ages.
March 27, 2021
A definite favorite series.
April 30, 2023
I’m so glad I decided to start this series, these books brings me so much joy!
April 26, 2021
I enjoyed the first book more, and I think it was because the character backstories they revealed were better than the ones in this book, but it was still good.
September 12, 2021
I cannot wait to get this book into my students’ hands! Book 2 was just as much fun as Book 1. I think I’m going to need more copies.
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