Really quick read. Love the fast pace. Really enjoying this series. I can’t wait to see if and when Mother finds his kids.

This is one of my new favorite MG series! Sometimes series make me nervous because they don't keep my attention throughout the whole series, but not with this one! James Ponti knows how to write a hit MG series with just enough action, adventure, and mystery!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

This second book in the series was just as good as the first one! Kudos to Ponti for making this a mystery that kids can solve if they follow the clues. Great adventure, loved the spy aspect of the book.

The second book in the City Spies series delivers the adventure, humor, and heart that is central to James Ponti's writing. I was thrilled to get to know Sydney, the second of the kids to be found by Mother, in this book as she struggles with feelings of jealousy, self-doubt, and her place in the family. Ponti balances out Sydney's inward reflections with the humor, fun, and mystery of another case to solve - this one possibly bringing the team closer to finding Mother's own children - but what will this mean for the City Spies? I also enjoyed learning more of Kat's backstory and her connection with Monty. Ponti balances action and description so well that readers will picture what is happening without ever feeling bogged down by lengthy descriptions. I am a huge fan of this series, and can't wait to get it into the hands of more kids! They are perfect for middle-grade readers (9-14) and anyone who likes humor, adventure, and mystery!

This books is just as exciting and engaging as the first one. I love how this iBook is told from a different characters perspective. It adds interest and excitement to the series.

The five City Spies are back in another fast paced espionage mystery which takes the reader from a marine life research vessel off the coast of Scotland, to The Farm, into the halls of Parliament, with a side trip to Oxford, and its cathedral of knowledge--The Bodleain Library-- and then onto San Francisco. Whew! Ponti fills the pages with the lingo and nuances of the spy trade, as well as those wonderful “Motherisms” toas guides. The group is an example of how to support and bond, while overcoming feelings of being neglected. Although this is the second in the series, you do not need to have read the first, but the thrill is worth it. The talented spies are ages 12-15, and any young thrill seeker will love this. Gave #1 to a fourth grader when it came out in 2020, and she was horrified that she had to wait for 2021 for #2. I sent it to her on pub release day, and she didn't put it down until she was done. Thanks to Aladdin and Netgalley for the ARC.

This follow up to City Spies does not disappoint! The five teens who happen to be working as top secret spies for MI6 are back and this time they are trying to track down Mother's children, while also uncovering a mole within the agency that has threatened their lives on more than one occasion. From Scotland to San Francisco, this fast-paced sequel brims with suspense and readers won't want to put the book down until the last page.

The City Spies are back in this fact-paced, action-packed mystery. Never a dull moment as the team travels from Scotland to London to California looking for Mother's wife and kids and trying to figure out who Magpie is.

I love all of Ponti's books and this title is no exception. Readers will delight in the continued adventures of the City Spies in an adventure that takes them across the globe. I can't wait to share this new title with students!

With thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for an early copy in return for an honest review.

Before I read book two in a series I always get a little bit nervous...what if it's not as good as the first book?!? I clearly had no reason to worry as this book was just as amazing as the first installment!

Not only does the book have exciting spy adventures but it also tackles friendship issues so many kids face...navigating new friendships and changing friendships. I also love books with a strong sense of setting and once again, James Ponti delivers. I felt transported to London and San Francisco while I was reading.

I am looking forward to adding this book to my classroom library and sharing it with my students.

I absolutely loved Golden Gate. I did not think it was possible to appreciate James Ponti's writing more than I already do, but each book becomes more and more endearing to me. I first read his Framed series when I was on a statewide committee to choose books for pleasure reading for children. Espionage books for kids - what a fabulous concept!

There is something for all readers in Golden Gate. Espionage, travel, friendship, working together, working out differences. The story starts with a on the high seas. Sydney knows she should not be diving alone, but she just wanted some alone time - meanwhile, Brooklyn is left to thwart the hi-jackers who are attempting to abduct the very girls Sydney and Brooklyn are along ship to protect.

Sydney, Brooklyn, Kat, Paris, and Rio are an elite team put together by Mother, the leader of their group of spies; a faction of internationally known M16. The girls overcome their differences and together the five set out to trap a double agent, along the way trying to fit together the pieces of Mother's missing family and the death of another retired agent.

As a librarian, I appreciate the diversity of Ponti's writing. He does not write "girl or boy" books, or books for any specific culture. His characters are well written and full of life, and they do not fit into any stereotypical mold. As an adult I can appreciate the time and effort he puts into these stories. As an adult reading to determine a child's perspective, I can appreciate the action, the adventure and the curiosity of the characters. It is not an easy task to write for young readers, and I very much appreciate the quality of the authors writing. Golden Gate is an exceptional book for young readers (and adult readers will enjoy it too!).

This sequel is just as exciting and clever as the first book. In addition Ponti includes some common friendship issues for those looking for more than just a thriller story. I highly recommend this series and hope to see the third book soon!

What a fantastic book! James Ponti does not disappoint! In this second book of City Spies series, we get the same adrenaline-pumping action, mind-stretching clues to piece together, and overall superbly-developed plots to follow.

James Ponti is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. He does such a good job crafting a story. Golden Gate is the second book in the City Spies series. The action starts off right away with Sydney and Brooklyn trying to stop some kidnappers at sea. The team also pursues some leads on a double agent that has alluded MI6. What I enjoy the most from Ponti's books is that they are not predictable. There are so many twists and turns to keep you guessing as to what is to come. His characters are ones who are unique and you want to root for. I can't wait for the next installment of this series!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Having loved City Spies, I've been eagerly anticipating City Spies - Golden Gate. And it did not disappoint!
The teens at FARM are at work again, this time working "off the books" to solve a murder and continue looking for Mother's family. In the search for family, what these teen spies discover is that there is more to family than genetics.
I loved this fast paced mystery and the continued character development of our young spies. But what struck me most is not the mystery they solved, but the family they found in each other.

I read this book through NetGalley in exchange for a review.
A fully satisfying sequel. I fell in love with these characters and look forward to future sequels! The fast pace of the plot will draw in reluctant readers and keep them hooked. This book would be a great addition to a middle school classroom library and would also make a wonderful read-aloud.

Golden Gate is the second book in the City Spies series and let me tell you how much I adore this series! Just like the first book I could not put this one down until I got to the very end. Oh so good. I love the characters and how much more we learn about them as they work though the action in the book. The plot takes us on many twists and turns which you want in a spy book. I also really enjoyed how the author brings to light that what makes a family isn't necessarily blood. Now the hard part, waiting for the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review. All spelling and grammar errors in this review are totally my own.

I loved this book! I'm a fan of James Ponti's Framed series, so I was excited to read this book even though I didn't read book one. This book didn't disappoint. The characters are so well-developed and interesting! The plot was engaging and kept my interest. I can't wait to read the next one.
I can't wait to share this book with my students.

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts are my own.

I adore this series so much. Diverse secret agent kids is such a winning concept. I'll be recommending this to my undergraduates and holding it up as a great example of empowering detective and mystery fiction for kids. It takes such jabs at power structures without sounding message-y. Thank you!

The second book in this series is even better than the first! This book continues the adventures of the top secret group of children in M16. The story begins with Sydney and Brooklyn foiling a kidnapping attempt on the high seas. They then have to solve two inter-related mysteries - who is the double agent within M16, and what clue did Clementine send for them to solve?
This book goes deeper into the lives of the City Spies, and how they interact. It shows their emotions as these lost kids become a family, competing with each other, getting jealous, working together, and loving each other for their strengths and weaknesses. The twists and turns are cleverly plotted, keeping the reader at the edge of their seat wanting to know what will happen next. I cannot wait to share this book with my students. I know they will love it.