Each book in this series is better than the last. I love how Ponti has chosen to tell each story from the perspective of a different kid in the spy group. In a fast-paced adventure that goes between London and Russia, the City Spies are working furiously to prevent nuclear weapons from getting in the wrong hands. In the middle of this spy tale, which is full of realistic details, are the real emotions and fights that friends and siblings have. They are trying to figure out who they are, how they fit in, and how to save the world. I couldn't put it down!

I loved this book, with its constant suspense, action, twists and turns; fascinating, compelling, I was urging the City Spies on! This plot was anything but linear- started with a heart-stopping bang, continued with so many ups and downs- James Ponti kept me on my toes throughout!

I was very excited to read book 3 in the City Spies series by James Ponti. He is one of my favorite authors for his great books as well as everything else he does to promote reading, book stores, and librarians. City Spies was more cerebral and less action packed than the first two books in the series. This one focuses on Paris as he competes in a chess tournament while MI6 tries to turn a North Korean nuclear physicist whose son is also competing. Former City Spy, Charlotte, shows up again in this one, and I can't wait to find out if she's really just looking to be friends with Brooklyn or up to something else. I definitely plan to read on with this series and can't wait for their next adventure.

Another great entry in the City Spies series. Fun and mysterious and adventure filled. Highly enjoyable!

The third book (Forbidden City) focuses more on the missions. Through a series of chess tournaments, fashion blog assignments, and other data collection missions, the team hopes to flip a North Korean scientist to work for MI6 before Umbra can get him. I would recommend reading the first two books before this one.

I enjoyed all of the chess information (and puns) included in this book. I have a rudimentary knowledge of how to play the game, which probably helped me understand what went on in some of the scenes.

I appreciated the team looking up to and respecting the parental figures in this book: Mother (the man who adopts the kids in the previous book) and Monty. Both of these people play integral roles in planning and overseeing the missions and the teens’ training. They also do their best to raise five teens from different backgrounds. The adults in this book make mistakes and admit them and try to repair any brokenness in their relationships with the City Spies. Ponti doesn’t try to make the adults perfect or terrible, the two tropes middle grade fiction usually use. As a mother, I appreciate Ponti portraying adults (at least Mother and Monty) as people capable of mistakes yet still trying to do their best in their jobs and for the children in their lives.

The diverse nationalities and genders of the City Spies feels natural, instead of trying to tick off the boxes of inclusivity. Brooklyn, Kat, Sydney, Rio, and Paris all have skills and personalities which contribute to the team and the missions they pull off. Again, Ponti doesn’t try to make his characters overly perfect or flawed. He shows natural conflicts teens could come across in real life, such as making friends with someone another friend doesn’t like, along with the cool spy life. Overall, I really enjoyed this installment of the City Spies and hope Ponti continues the series.

I read an advanced reader copy through NetGalley.

Another fast-paced thrill ride in the City Spies series that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the last page. Ponti's descriptions of Scotland, Beijing and Moscow are so vivid that it felt like I was right there with the spies. Can't wait fro book 4!

A diverse group of international kids 12-15 are officially adopted by mother, a male spy from Mi6. They attend an elite school, live at the farm, and of course, go on significant spy cases. This series is a lot of fun if your kids are fans of spy kids or like mystery detective-type stories. This one was one of the more elaborate spy adventures out of the three books and the traveling and clue solving is more involved. The forbidden city was a lot of fun to read, and I highly recommend it.

Love love love just like the others! Thanks for this copy. Our company is in talks with James' people, so hopefully good screen news to come.

I’m a huge fan of this series, and this third installment did not disappoint! James Ponti is skilled at keeping the stakes high, the momentum going, and simultaneously writing characters that you care about! There are a lot of moving parts in this book, but it was so fun to read. A middle grade adventure with heart, humor, and international hijinks, a found family, chess, codes, fashion - there is something for everyone in this book, and I am already excited to see what’s next for our City Spies!

Forbidden City is the third installment of the City Spies series. The story takes us to Russia and China and we get to find out a bit more about Mother and the spies. There is nonstop action and many twists and turns to keep middle grade readers turning the pages.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

James Ponti has done it once again. He crafts an engaging mystery that readers will eat up. Forbidden City is the third installment of the City Spies series. The MI6 spy kids are busy helping to recruit a North Korean nuclear physicist and trying to uncover the truth behind a connection between a billionaire and a musical band. Ponti's attention to detail will have readers on the edge of their seat while devouring this book. I had so much fun learning more about Paris and Sydney especially. Each book gives us a better understanding of these unique kids. The plot is engaging and fast paced. I can't wait for the next book.

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

James Ponti has hit it out of the park in the latest installment of the City Spies series. The nonstop action will keep middle grade readers turning the page to find out what is next. The elite team of kid spies must try to extricate a North Korean world class kid chess player, and his father. But they are not the only ones who want to turn the father scientist, Sir Reg and Umbra want him too. But the problem is, every move the kid spies make, Umbra already knows. The big question is, will the kid spies be able to outplay their opponent and win the big prize1

Although most of this book takes place in Russia, it does end in China. The spies must break into smaller groups to thwart a British billionaire working for Umbra. He wants to kidnap a North Korean nuclear scientist and his chess playing son. Mother takes Paris to play in the world chess competition while Monty and others look for clues to what the billionaire has in mind. Plenty of derring-do and quick thinking all around. Each of the kids has an important part and through the mission several of them come to deeper understanding of themselves and who they are. Another excellent addition to this series.

Another fun installment in the City Spies series! I loved the spotlight in more cities around the world, and getting to know Paris, Kat, and Rio better. This is a great book that kids will love!


I was provided with a copy of this book bh the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I reviewed the first two books of this series here: https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2020/12/i-spysome-great-books-for-tweens-and.html

Once again, James Ponti has written a spy novel that just happens to be for kids, but the plot could easily be found in the adult spy world. There are codes to break, secret messages to send, and nuclear weapons to recover—and it’s up to a bunch of teenagers to keep the world safe from super-secret espionage group Umbra.

Even though I am not the target market, I thoroughly enjoyed this third installment in the City Spies series. The plotting is tight, the secrets hinted at, though not enough to be a dead giveaway. I almost managed to crack the color code, although I was thinking like a yearbook teacher and not like a computer whiz.

My 14-year-old read the book in a day. Her favorite parts (spoiler-free) are: Santa Claus, pyrotechnics, and chess notation.

The chess notation part was particularly clever. As a parental, adult-type person, I particularly enjoyed the parts where Mother gets the opportunity to be a father to the City Spies.

It is also fun to travel to new countries with the City Spies, and get a little lesson on other cultures. Mr. Ponti’s website has features on each country, with photos and video from his research visits.

I’m so glad to know from his Twitter that Mr. Ponti is at work on the next book. I hope they keep going for a long, long time.


Possible objectionable material:
These teenagers are international spies. Naturally, they get in some dangerous situations. They also have to lie to people as part of their job.

Who might like this book:
People who love spy stories. People who enjoy humor. Those who like stories about teens. Either gender—both are well represented in this book. This book was very readable for me as an adult, with strong adult characters.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Also reviewed at http://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2021/10/this-series-just-keeps-getting-better.html

James Ponti unfailingly delivers time and again. The return of City Spies is no different as the crew takes on Moscow, Beijing and a new cast of villains. There are mysteries to solve and shenanigans to be had as the team races against the clock and learns a little more about their pasts, their friendships and themselves along the way.

Forbidden City is the third installment of the City Spies series. A diverse group of international kids 12-15 are adopted by Mother, a male spy from MI6. They are being educated at an elite school in Scotland and get breaks when MI6 needs their unique skills for spy work. Paris (age 15 from Rwanda) is entered in an international test tournament to keep tabs on the son of a North Korean nuclear physicist. Sydney (age 14 from Australia) is posing as a junior reporter following a boy band to watch a British billionaire who is their sponsor. This is a lot of fun if you like junior spy novels. It reminds me of the Gallager Girls spy academy books by Ally Carter. I have read the first in this series and enjoyed it slightly more than this adventure (personal storyline preference). And I'm sure there will be more adventures in the future. This is geared towards middle school readers (ages of the main characters) but could be read by upper elementary as well. Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the ARC.