4.5 stars

This is a really strong start to what promises to be a great spy/adventure series! In some ways, it reminds me of the Gallagher Girls series, except there is less romance (none so far) and a lot more about the interactions between the different kids as well as the adults who work with them. I also like that this spy school includes both girls and boys. I think this book targets its audience perfectly and I can see many upper elementary/middle school kids eating this up. However, it might feel a tad long for younger kids, but the story is well-written and within the realms of possibility that kids might enjoy reading and imagining themselves in these kids' places. I'm definitely looking forward to future books in the series as some questions are left unanswered at the end of this story (but not in a way that feels like a cliffhanger). I will be recommending this to some of my students!

Thanks to #JamesPonti, #SimonandShusterChildrensPublishing, and #NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I just devoured my first, and definitely not last, James Ponti book. What a writer! From the first chapter in City Spies, I was hooked. I loved the premise of this story. I am a sucker for a good spy story, especially ones geared to the middle school audience. I adored the cast of characters too. We have Brooklyn, a girl who is recruited to join MI6 after being arrested for hacking. She is then introduced to Mother, Sydney, Paris, Rio, Monty and Kat. Ponti unfolded the plot with unique twists and turns, and the ending was perfect. I'm really hoping that there will be more books to follow.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

No one I know of is writing more smart, suspenseful, *fun* mysteries for children (and perhaps even for adults—I’m more impressed by Ponti than by most adult mystery writers) than James Ponti. He’s an author I’m really glad to be able to turn kids on to, knowing that when I recommend him, they’re going to have a great time. This new one is every bit as solid as those in the Framed! series.

So much fun. The best kind of adventure ride possible. You've got mystery, intrigue, picturesque settings, smart kids, what's not to like? This is the first of a trilogy (or more!), and for your middle-grade readers, it is what "fun " reading should be. This book is made for a day off on the sofa, slurping down tea and cookies while you fly through the story.
The story begins with Sara; she is both a foster kid and a hacker. She's in court when instead of a public defender, someone else volunteers to represent her provided that she trusts him and plays along with whatever he says in court. It doesn't take her long to agree, and soon she finds out that he isn't even a real attorney and works for MI6 as a spy. Also, now she does too!
She joins a group of misfit teens from around the world on a secret team of spies. This story is full of all the twists and turns of an adult spy novel, and your kids will love it!
The teens work together to solve a mystery in Paris, and I'm hoping each book will center on a different worldwide city. You get to know each of the teens a bit, and I can't wait to read more.

My middle school students this year can't get enough of Spy School, Cherub, and Alex Rider, so when I saw this come up on Net Galley, I had to ask for it! Following a group of teens and tweens from around the world and recruited to work for a secret program in MI-6, this story is full of action, problem solving, and teamwork. I flew through it in an afternoon and can see my kids eating this up! A great start to a fun series.

City Spies tells the story of talented kids who are otherwise seen as nuisances. They stick out because of their gifts, but they find a place to belong as a member of a secret branch of MI6. This book is perfect for upper elementary and middle grade readers.

City Spies is a fantastic beginning to a new series by James Ponti. Filled with all the intrigue and thrill of an adult spy novel, this story will appeal to a wide range of young readers. Some students may find the overall length of the book challenging, but the story is fast-paced and action-packed, which will help. Highly recommend this great title!

When Sara, a foster kid and hacker, gets in trouble again, her new so-called lawyer recruits her to be an MI6 spy. Sara joins a team of other kids, trains quickly, and is immediately sent undercover to break open a big case in Paris. I loved every second of this action-packed story! It's filled with great characters and an interesting twisty plot. I can't wait for more books in this series!