Today's book review is "City Spies: Mission Manhattan" by James Ponti! Thank you to Aladdin, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, for the book and my honest review. Find out more about this riveting spy adventure below!
My Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
James Ponti's latest installment, "City Spies: Mission Manhattan," delivers another pulse-pounding adventure that captivates readers young and old. Set against the iconic backdrop of New York City, this fifth book in the bestselling series follows a talented group of young spies as they embark on a mission to protect a young climate activist.
The multicultural cast of characters, including Brooklyn, Kat, Sydney, Paris, and Rio, adds a rich and diverse dynamic to the story. Each character brings a unique skill set and background, making them a formidable team that appeals to readers from various walks of life. Ponti skillfully weaves together their strengths, creating a team that is not only effective in their espionage endeavors but also relatable and endearing.
The plot unfolds with a credible threat to the young climate activist scheduled to speak at the United Nations General Assembly. With Rio leading the team and a new member joining their ranks, the spies delve into an exciting adventure that takes them through the city's outer boroughs, the UN Headquarters, and even the mysterious depths under the New York Public Library.
"City Spies: Mission Manhattan" is a rollercoaster ride of action, adventure, intelligence, and intrigue. Ponti effortlessly blends humor and heart, ensuring a captivating read for audiences of all ages. The incorporation of contemporary references adds a modern touch, keeping the narrative fresh and engaging.
One of the series' standout features is Ponti's meticulous portrayal of locations and cultures, even in a fictional setting. This attention to detail enhances the immersive experience for readers, creating a sense of authenticity in the story's backdrop.
As the series continues its impressive streak on the New York Times bestseller lists, it's no surprise that Amazon MGM Studios is eyeing "City Spies" for a global film franchise. James Ponti has once again crafted a thrilling adventure that cements the City Spies series as a must-read for fans of espionage tales and mystery.
In "City Spies: Mission Manhattan," Ponti proves that the world of espionage is not limited to adults, offering young readers an exhilarating journey through the streets of Manhattan and beyond.
Title: City Spies: Mission Manhattan
Author: James Ponti
Pub. Date: February 6, 2024
Publisher: Aladdin
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Pages: 430
In this fifth installment in the New York Times bestselling
series from Edgar Award winner James Ponti, the young group of spies take
on New York City in another international adventure perfect for fans of Spy
School and Mrs. Smith’s Spy School for Girls.
The City Spies head to the Big Apple when a credible threat is made to a
young climate activist who is scheduled to speak in front of the upcoming
United Nations General Assembly. With Rio acting as alpha and a new
member in their ranks, the team’s mission to protect a fellow teen takes
them on an exciting adventure in, around, and even under the greatest city
in the world as they follow leads to the outer boroughs, the UN
Headquarters, and even the usually off-limits stacks that extend deep
under the main branch of the New York Public Library.
Great multicultural cast of characters! Nicknamed for the various cities they hail from around the globe, Brooklyn, Kat, Sydney, Paris, and Rio--represent an impressive range of ethnicities, personal backgrounds, and unique skill-sets--making them a spectacular team of spies that truly offer something for every reader. And as readers learned in book 4, there's been a recent addition to the team as well.
City Spies has it all! Action and adventure, intelligence and intrigue, humor and heart—plus lots of fun contemporary references and believable interpersonal dynamics to keep things moving on multiple levels. Every book in the series so far has been a New York Times bestseller, with appearances on the hardcover, paperback, and series lists. Even though he writes fiction, Ponti is very conscientious about how he portrays the various locations and cultures in each story.
Amazon MGM Studios is currently developing a global film franchise based on the City Spies series!
JAMES PONTI (he/him/his) is the New York Times bestselling author of four middle grade book series: City Spies, about an unlikely squad of five kids from around the world who form an elite MI6 Spy Team; the Edgar Award–winning Framed! series, about a pair of tweens who solve mysteries in Washington, DC; the Dead City trilogy, about a secret society that polices the undead living beneath Manhattan; and The Sherlock Society, launching in September 2024. His books have appeared on more than fifteen different state award lists, and he is the founder of a writer's group known as the Renegades of Middle Grade. James is also an Emmy–nominated television writer and producer who has worked for many networks, including Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, PBS, History, and Spike TV, as well as. NBC Sports. He lives with his family in Orlando, Florida. Find out more at JamesPonti.com.