Realistic OwnVoices for elementary and middle-schoolers

These books are great entries in the “OwnVoices” category of books about regular kids with non-European backgrounds—in this case, Muslim girls living in the United States. These are everyday, ordinary kids, leading everyday ordinary lives, but their experiences give some insight to non-Muslim readers about what the lives of Muslim teens are like. Just as with teens of other religions, the characters’ faith is a part of their life. They question their relationship with their faith, try to be examples of their faith, etc.
 

Saints and Misfits
By S.K. Ali
Publisher : Salaam Reads / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition (June 12, 2018)
Paperback : 336 pages
ISBN-10 : 1481499254
ISBN-13 : 978-1481499255
Reading age : 14 years and up
Lexile measure : HL710L
Grade level : 9 - 12
 
Publisher’s Blurb:
There are three kinds of people in my world:
1. Saints, those special people moving the world forward. Sometimes you glaze over them. Or, at least, I do. They’re in your face so much, you can’t see them, like how you can’t see your nose.
2. Misfits, people who don’t belong. Like me—the way I don’t fit into Dad’s brand-new family or in the leftover one composed of Mom and my older brother, Mama’s-Boy-Muhammad.
Also, there’s Jeremy and me. Misfits. Because although, alliteratively speaking, Janna and Jeremy sound good together, we don’t go together. Same planet, different worlds.
But sometimes worlds collide and beautiful things happen, right?
3. Monsters. Well, monsters wearing saint masks, like in Flannery O’Connor’s stories.
Like the monster at my mosque.
People think he’s holy, untouchable, but nobody has seen under the mask.
Except me.
 
My Thoughts:
I sped through this book in an evening. The characters were engaging and imperfect, and real. Janna is a high school sophomore, dealing with being in a gifted program, having a crush (on a non-Muslim boy!), bullying, her parents’ divorce and father’s remarriage…and being a victim of sexual assault.
 
Of course, the boy who assaulted her is much admired at the mosque where Janna’s uncle is imam. That’s why she’s afraid to tell everyone what happened, even though she lives in fear every time the boy is near, or even looks at her. Eventually, though, she finds the courage to speak out.
 
Janna’s friends and acquaintances play a part, and I love that their motives aren’t always pure, and that they sometimes disappoint her, because that’s what life is really like. Her mother and brother don’t always understand her, and it seems like they often treat her as if she can’t understand adult issues, which frustrates her.
 
I’m looking forward to the forthcoming sequel, Misfits in Love.
 
Who Might Like This Book:
People who like coming-of-age stories. People who want to learn more about cultures other than white-bread American.
 
Possible Objectionable Material:
Some sneaking around. Teenage drinking. Bullying. Sexual assault, briefly and non-graphically described. I would totally let my rather naïve 13-year-old read it.
 
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
 

Amina’s Voice
By Hena Khan
Publisher : Salaam Reads / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition (May 1, 2018)
Paperback : 208 pages
ISBN-10 : 1481492071
ISBN-13 : 978-1481492072
Reading age : 8 - 12 years
Lexile measure : 800L
Grade level : 3 - 7
 
Publisher’s Blurb:
A Pakistani-American Muslim girl struggles to stay true to her family’s vibrant culture while simultaneously blending in at school after tragedy strikes her community in this “compassionate, timely novel” (Booklist, starred review) from the award-winning author of It’s Ramadan, Curious George and Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns.
Amina has never been comfortable in the spotlight. She is happy just hanging out with her best friend, Soojin. Except now that she’s in middle school everything feels different. Soojin is suddenly hanging out with Emily, one of the “cool” girls in the class, and even talking about changing her name to something more “American.” Does Amina need to start changing too? Or hiding who she is to fit in? While Amina grapples with these questions, she is devastated when her local mosque is vandalized.
Amina’s Voice brings to life the joys and challenges of a young Pakistani-American and highlights the many ways in which one girl’s voice can help bring a diverse community together to love and support each other.
 
My Thoughts:
This book aimed at late-elementary to middle school age is a nice look at the changes that kids go through as they make the transition into middle school. So many times this is an opportunity for kids to reinvent themselves, a theme in this book.
 
Amina enjoys being best friends with another immigrant girl, and when her friend tries to become more Americanized, Amina is left questioning whether she should do the same. She loves her heritage, and is worried that others might expect her to hide it.
 
There is a typical middle-school plot of changes in friend groups, and wondering whether there will be room for her as her bestie enlarges their friend circle. I say this is a typical plot, and it is, but not that it is a bad thing. It’s important for middle school girls, because they mature at such different rates. Mine is a late bloomer, and I see her feeling left behind as her friends’ interests change.
 
There is also a subplot of a visiting, rather disapproving uncle from Pakistan, and how Amina learns not to be afraid of him.
 
Predictably, Amina does gain confidence as the story progresses, and finds her voice.
 
Who might like this book:
Those who want to learn more about cultures other than their own. Those who like coming of age.
 
Possible objectionable material:
Vandalism. Friendship drama.
 
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
 

Amina’s Song
By Hena Khan
Publisher : Salaam Reads / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (March 9, 2021)
Hardcover : 288 pages
ISBN-10 : 153445988X
ISBN-13 : 978-1534459885
Reading age : 8 - 12 years
Grade level : 3 - 7
 
Publisher’s Blurb:
It’s the last few days of her vacation in Pakistan, and Amina has loved every minute of it. The food, the shops, the time she’s spent with her family—all of it holds a special place in Amina’s heart. Now that the school year is starting again, she’s sad to leave, but also excited to share the wonders of Pakistan with her friends back in Greendale.
After she’s home, though, her friends don’t seem overly interested in her trip. And when she decides to do a presentation on Pakistani hero Malala Yousafzai, her classmates focus on the worst parts of the story. How can Amina share the beauty of Pakistan when no one wants to listen?
 
My Thoughts:
Amina’s story continues, first as she visits her uncle in Pakistan. The descriptions of her visit there are vivid and make me want to see the sights for myself.
 
It’s on Amina’s return home and going back to school that the story really picks up. She continues to deal with some of the issues of the first book, as she and her friends continue to grow and change in their interests.
 
I really like that Amina’s friendship with a boy is just that—a friendship, not a romance. I really hate the pressure on kids to find a “boyfriend” or “girlfriend” so young, and this book resists the urge to pair kids off.
 
Amina’s development in the first book has not magically solved all her problems (yay!), and she continues to struggle at times with the spotlight and with learning to express herself.
 
Again, Khan gives us a window into a culture that may not be familiar to all of us. That is the beauty of books—they allow us the opportunity to experience new cultures and new ideas, and, in the end, become more empathetic and more understanding.
 
Who might like this book:
Those who want to learn more about cultures other than their own. Those who like coming of age.
 
Possible objectionable material:
Friendship drama.
 
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
 

Fantasy Duology in a Magical Land

We Hunt the Flame
By Hafsah Faizal
Publisher : Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (May 14, 2019)
Hardcover : 480 pages
ISBN-10 : 0374311544
ISBN-13 : 978-0374311544
Reading age : 14 - 18 years
Lexile measure : HL740L
Grade level : 10 - 12
 
Publisher’s Blurb:
People lived because she killed. People died because he lived.
Zafira is the Hunter, disguising herself as a man when she braves the cursed forest of the Arz to feed her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, assassinating those foolish enough to defy his autocratic father, the sultan. If Zafira was exposed as a girl, all of her achievements would be rejected; if Nasir displayed his compassion, his father would punish him in the most brutal of ways. Both Zafira and Nasir are legends in the kingdom of Arawiya―but neither wants to be.
War is brewing, and the Arz sweeps closer with each passing day, engulfing the land in shadow. When Zafira embarks on a quest to uncover a lost artifact that can restore magic to her suffering world and stop the Arz, Nasir is sent by the sultan on a similar mission: retrieve the artifact and kill the Hunter. But an ancient evil stirs as their journey unfolds―and the prize they seek may pose a threat greater than either can imagine.
 

We Free the Stars
By Hafsah Faizal
Publisher : Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (January 19, 2021)
Hardcover : 592 pages
ISBN-10 : 0374311579
ISBN-13 : 978-0374311575
Reading age : 14 - 18 years
Grade level : 10 - 12
 
Publisher’s Blurb (Spoilers for We Hunt the Flame):
Darkness surged in his veins. Power bled from her bones.
The battle on Sharr is over. The Arz has fallen. Altair may be captive, but Zafira, Nasir, and Kifah are bound for Sultan’s Keep, determined to finish the plan Altair set in motion: restoring the hearts of the Sisters of Old to the minarets of each caliphate, finally bringing magic to all of Arawiya. But they are low on resources and allies alike, and the kingdom teems with fear of the Lion of the Night’s return.
As the zumra plots to overthrow Arawiya’s darkest threat, Nasir fights to command the magic in his blood. He must learn to hone his power, to wield it against not only the Lion but his father as well, trapped under the Lion’s control. Zafira battles a very different darkness festering in her through her bond with the Jawarat―it hums with voices, pushing her to the brink of sanity and to the edge of a chaos she dares not unleash. In spite of everything, Zafira and Nasir find themselves falling into a love they can’t stand to lose . . . But time is running out, and if order is to be restored, drastic sacrifices will have to be made.
 
My Thoughts:
It’s always refreshing to find a fantasy universe that is not based in Anglo-European culture. The Arabic roots of this duology are clear and interesting, and include vocabulary and mythological creatures. We have Sarasins, hashashins, ifrits, and other creatures from the desert.
 
Many of the classic YA fantasy tropes are there—Chosen One, self-doubt, misunderstandings, loss, younger siblings who surprise the protagonist with their self-reliance and ability. (Zafira, her sister Lana, and their mother bear strong resemblance to Katniss, Prim, and their mother in The Hunger Games.) No love triangle though, which is refreshing!
 
There is love, however, in many forms. Love of country, love of community, love of family, and friends. And yes, romantic love as well. Some characters lose people they love deeply. All of this in the quest to restore magic to Arawiya.
 
These are long books, and complex. Although the lexile is accessible and listed as “high-interest, low-lexile”, getting through this duology is definitely a commitment.
 
The first book definitely left me with questions; most of them were answered satisfactorily in the second.
 
While parts of the resolution were bittersweet, the overall closure is satisfying. I will read these again some day.
 
Who might like these books:
Fantasy fans, people who want to experience a taste of Arabic culture (albeit in a fantasy world). There are strong men and women alike. Our main characters are definitely flawed individuals, but they learn, grow, and change.
 
Possible objectionable material:
There are battles, death, and blood. Indications of unmarried sexual activity.
 
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher, for the eARC of We Free the Stars in exchange for my honest review.

A New Installment of a Fun Series

 

Yoga Pant Nation

By Laurie Gelman

“Class Mom” Book 3

Publisher : Henry Holt and Co. (July 13, 2021)

Hardcover : 256 pages

ISBN-10 : 1250777577

ISBN-13 : 978-1250777577

 Publisher’s Blurb:

The now beloved hero of Laurie Gelman’s Class Mom and You’ve Been Volunteered has a lot on her plate this year in Yoga Pant Nation―from childcare duties for her daughter’s two-year-old to her determined mission to become a spin instructor. When her husband’s ex-wife shows up to her first ever class as a full-fledged teacher―and compliments her performance!―she can’t help but wonder what the catch is.

Throw in a mandate from the PTA president to raise $10,000 for the fifth graders’ new tablets and her granddaughter’s other grandmother (whom no one has ever met) visiting for Christmas, and Jen is going to need more than her regular spin class to get her through the year. But as ever, humor is her best stress relief. Her acerbic emails to the class parents and friendly spars with her daughter over how organic is organic-enough for baby food will have you laughing out loud and texting Jen’s best lines to your friends.

 My Thoughts:

I first discovered the Class Mom series a couple of years ago and have been waiting excitedly for this new installment! I relate to Jen, being the mom of two adult children as well as one still in school. 

Main character Jen's two grown daughters are the result of her wild life as a groupie for a rock band, so when she settles down to a husband and suburban mom life in her old home town, she tries to be more traditional--including being the class mom for her elementary-aged son. Her emails to the parents are irreverent, but she does her best to make things happen for the kids, amid personal and family drama.

In this book, it's her son's fifth-grade--and final--year of elementary school. Jen adds to her class mom duties by throwing a fundraiser with an outrageously large goal. She's also testing the waters as a certified spin instructor, dealing with her parents' strange infirmity, and being grandma to her adorable granddaughter.

The pace of this book feels a little more settled, perhaps because Jen herself is a little more settled. It's not quite as madcap as the previous books, and the energy lacks a little bit in comparison. Nonetheless, I read it in a matter of a couple of days and completely enjoyed it. 

It still features the cast of supporting characters we've come to love, plus a few new ones. (Although I didn't remember anything about her husband's crazy ex-wife. And frankly, the subplot with her was wasted. The climax of that episode was pretty flat after all the buildup.)

Now, Ms. Gelman...what's Jen going to do with a middle-schooler?

Possible Objectionable Material:

Some cursing. Jen refers to sex with her husband, though not graphically. Her granddaughter was born out of wedlock. Irreverence. 

Who Might Like This Book:

Moms can relate! If you like stories about families who love each other despite annoyances and drama, this is a good one. Also for people who like women with supportive friend groups.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Second Verse, Better Than the First

 

The Betrayed

By Kiera Cass

Publisher : HarperTeen (July 6, 2021)

Hardcover : 304 pages

ISBN-10 : 0062291661

ISBN-13 : 978-0062291660

Reading age : 13 years and up

Grade level : 8 - 9

Publisher’s Blurb:

Can you follow your heart when it’s already broken?

After fleeing Coroa and leaving the memory of her beloved Silas behind, Hollis is unsteadily adjusting to life in Isolte. The Eastoffe family’s affection is a balm on her weary spirit, though Etan, a surly cousin with a deep distaste for Coroans, threatens to upset the uneasy peace she’s found.

While tensions at home ratchet up, disquiet in the kingdom of Isolte is reaching a fever pitch. The Eastoffes may have the power to unseat a tyrannical king—but only with Hollis’s help.

Can a girl who’s lost it all put the fate of her adopted homeland over the secret longings of her heart?

 My Thoughts:

Let me be honest: I did not like the first book of this duo, The Betrothed. I only gave it two stars, and began to think that I might have finally gotten too old to enjoy YA novels.

 In the first book, I found the protagonist, Hollis, to be a shallow, vapid pushover. I didn’t like her “bosom friend” Delia Grace at all—talk about conniving. And there was a nagging plot hole about a certain set of deaths that really, really bothered me.

 By the end of book 1, I knew pretty certainly who Hollis would end up with. (Narrator voice: Vicky was right.)

 Really, I only requested an ARC of the second book because there were a couple of characters that I did enjoy, and did want to know the fate of.

 Reader, Kiera Cass redeemed herself in this one.

 This book picks up immediately after the first book’s end. So many of the things I disliked about the first book were resolved in the second. Delia Grace was barely present. Hollis matured from a vapid girl into a responsible woman. The plot hole was resolved, in a twist that might have even surprised me. Just a little.

 And there was one heck of a plot twist near the end that, although I realize now that it was heavily foreshadowed, I was not prepared for.

 Is it a perfect book? No. Middle-aged person that I am, I tire of the “instant love” of YA novels, in this case with Hollis and Silas (first book) and to a somewhat lesser degree here. At least, with Hollis’ ultimate pairing, there was a little bit more time for the relationship to blossom. (Let me be clear, I don't protest "insta-love" because I'm old. I protest it because I believe it sets up unrealistic expectations.)

 What I did like, though, was that Hollis learned what she was good at—caring about making people feel comfortable and safe—and she used it for the good of those around her. When she stopped thinking of all her weaknesses, she really bloomed. I loved the lesson about the importance of “found family” as well.

 If you didn’t like the first book—and I didn’t—definitely give this one a chance. It was a great three hours of a lazy Sunday morning.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

Lots of murders. A little fighting. Plotting and scheming. Kiera Cass is pretty squeaky clean, so the romance scenes don’t go beyond kissing.

 Who might like this book:

Fans of the author, of romance, of women who learn to stand on their own two feet.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperTeen for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

New Twist on an Old Favorite

Meg and Jo

By Virginia Kantra

Publisher : Berkley (December 3, 2019)

Paperback : 400 pages

ISBN-10 : 0593100344

ISBN-13 : 978-0593100349

Publisher’s Blurb:

The March sisters—reliable Meg, independent Jo, stylish Amy, and shy Beth—have grown up to pursue their separate dreams. When Jo followed her ambitions to New York City, she never thought her career in journalism would come crashing down, leaving her struggling to stay afloat in a gig economy as a prep cook and secret food blogger.

Meg appears to have the life she always planned—the handsome husband, the adorable toddlers, the house in a charming subdivision. But sometimes getting everything you’ve ever wanted isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

When their mother’s illness forces the sisters home to North Carolina for the holidays, they’ll rediscover what really matters.

One thing’s for sure—they’ll need the strength of family and the power of sisterhood to remake their lives and reimagine their dreams.

 My Thoughts:

I love classic stories retold, and I have loved Little Women since I was 12. This retelling is faithful enough to the original without being a hollow imitation, while having a fresh, contemporary twist. A really lovely blend of old story and new, the sisters are all in their 20s, with flashbacks into their youth. The author clearly loves the source material and treats it tenderly while still making it her own story. Dialogue is fresh and the relationship between the sisters is faithful to both the original and a modern world. Dynamics between characters are realistic. People are given room to grow and change, and the changes are organic and believable. Some of them still have some growing to do, and that’s fine, because Beth and Amy is coming in May!

Who might like this book:

People who like a new twist on a familiar old story. Those who like stories about family and finding yourself. Jo works in a restaurant, so foodies will find some satisfaction here as well!

 Possible objectionable material:

Some mild cursing, a couple of “F-bombs”. Unmarried sex, not described in detail, but kissing and lust are definitely there. Dishonesty. Drinking.

Illustrated Versions of Beloved Classics

Emma: Illustrations by Marjolein Bastin (Marjolein Bastin Classics Series) Hardcover -- March 2, 2021
by Jane Austen (Author), Marjolein Bastin (Illustrator)
Hardcover : 360 pages
ISBN-10 : 1524863076
ISBN-13 : 978-1524863074
Reading age : 7 - 10 years
Lexile measure : 10L
Grade level : 4 - 6

Pride and Prejudice (Marjolein Bastin Classics Series) Hardcover – March 2, 2021

by Jane Austen (Author), Marjolein Bastin (Illustrator)
Hardcover : 288 pages
ISBN-10 : 1524861758
ISBN-13 : 978-1524861759
Reading age : 7 - 10 years
Hardcover : 288 pages
ISBN-10 : 1524861758
ISBN-13 : 978-1524861759
Reading age : 7 - 10 years 

Jane Eyre: Illustrations by Marjolein Bastin (Marjolein Bastin Classics Series) Hardcover – March 2, 2021

by Charlotte Brontë (Author), Marjolein Bastin (Illustrator)

Publisher : Andrews McMeel Publishing (March 2, 2021)

Hardcover : 408 pages

ISBN-10 : 1524861723

ISBN-13 : 978-1524861728

Reading age : 12 years and up

Publisher’s Blurb:

The Marjolein Bastin Classics Series is a chance to rediscover classic literature in collectible, luxuriously illustrated volumes. For the first time ever, the internationally celebrated artwork of Marjolein Bastin graces the pages of timeless classics. Beyond bringing these stories to life, Bastin’s series adds elaborately designed ephemera, such as letters, invitations, and more. Whether an ideal gift for an Austen or Brontë devotee or a treat for yourself, the Marjolein Bastin Classics Series, as a set or individually purchased, is perfect for anyone who feels a connection to these enduring literary gems.

My Thoughts:

Marjolein Bastin’s beautiful illustrations of botanicals and nature have long been a favorite. Combine them with some of my favorite literature? Yes, please!

That said…the illustrations are incidental to the story. They are not illustrations of scenes from the books. The publisher’s blurb says there are facsimiles of sheet music, family trees, etc., but the eARCs I was provided did not include these, so I cannot comment on them.

Story wise, these are as they have ever been. Pride and Prejudice is one of my “desert island” books; I can read it over and over, and not tire of it. Emma is still my least favorite of Austen’s works, and she still bugs me.

But there is a reason these classics have been made and remade as movies, whether set in their original timeframe or updated. They are charming and witty, and Austen’s observations on human nature, like Shakespeare’s, hold up to the test of time.

Bronte's work is a little moodier and a little more tragic, but, like Austen, her story has permeated film and literature in the decades and centuries since its publication.

I definitely disagree with the publisher’s details on the reading level of these books. They are not for 7-10-year-olds, or 4^th- to 6^th-graders. I was a pretty advanced reader and didn’t read P&P until my sophomore year in high school. My college prep reading class struggled with the language and long sentences of these books.

If you’re looking to collect beautiful copies of favorite books, these fill the bill. I couldn’t find specific information, but I imagine them in a larger trim size, on beautiful glossy 100 lb. paper, as with our fancy editions of Tolkein or Rowling. As they will not be released for three more months, this is only speculation. However, that would definitely do Bastein’s beautiful, delicate work justice!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARCs.

I Spy...Some Great Books for Tweens and Teens!

 

City Spies

By James Ponti

Publisher : Aladdin (March 10, 2020)

Hardcover : 384 pages

ISBN-10 : 1534414916

ISBN-13 : 978-1534414914

Reading level : 8 - 12 years

Lexile measure : 750L

Grade level : 3 - 7

Publisher’s Blurb:

Sara Martinez is a hacker. She recently broke into the New York City foster care system to expose her foster parents as cheats and lawbreakers. However, instead of being hailed as a hero, Sara finds herself facing years in a juvenile detention facility and banned from using computers for the same stretch of time. Enter Mother, a British spy who not only gets Sara released from jail but also offers her a chance to make a home for herself within a secret MI6 agency.

Operating out of a base in Scotland, the City Spies are five kids from various parts of the world. When they’re not attending the local boarding school, they’re honing 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.

Before she knows what she’s doing, Sara is heading to Paris for an international youth summit, hacking into a rival school’s computer to prevent them from winning a million euros, dangling thirty feet off the side of a building, and trying to stop a villain…all while navigating the complex dynamics of her new team.

No one said saving the world was easy…

My Thoughts:

Short version: Get this book.

Longer version: I first became aware of Ponti through his TOAST series. My then-seventh-grader resists everything I suggest, but her love of John Grisham’s Theodore Boone books prompted me to nudge her a little. When the pandemic closed our schools, I got her a box set of the TOAST books and she loved them. So City Spies was a natural next step.

Reader, she has read the book at least 10 times. She loves it. This is an epic win.

Reader, I have read it too. I also love it.

Ponti has a great grasp of tween and tween behavior. The characters feel real, even if their situations (consultants to the FBI, MI6 agents) are a stretch for the imagination. The cover story for their presence in the organization is clever, and these characters function so well in their circumstances that it becomes easy to suspend your disbelief.

My daughter (and I) also enjoy Ponti’s sense of humor and sneaky allusions. We loved the Matilda references in Chapter 2.

The plot itself is fun, with teen themes of fitting in and adapting to new situations, as well as a fast-paced spy story.

Possible objectionable material:

Sara is a hacker and we meet her in juvie because of her illegal activities. Some violence. People have died, but offscreen. Perilous situations. Tweens and teens running around unsupervised. Deception.

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 Simon and Shuster and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

City Spies 2: Golden Gate

By James Ponti

Publisher : Aladdin (March 16, 2021)

Hardcover : 432 pages

ISBN-13 : 978-1534414945

ISBN-10 : 1534414940

Reading level : 8 - 12 years

Grade level : 3 - 7

 Publisher’s Blurb:

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!

My Thoughts:

The characters we loved in City Spies are back, and Ponti wastes no time bringing us into the middle of an operation.

Where the first book focused most on Sara/Brooklyn, this one gives us more from Sydney, without neglecting the other characters. We get to know more backstories of the various City Spies, as well as of Mother and Monty. Clues also trickle in about the disappearance of Mother’s wife and children.

The mystery plot is just intricate enough, with some good surprises that I didn’t see coming. Ponti’s screenwriting past is apparent with the quick cuts in the climactic scenes.

Once again, my 13-year-old is raving about this book. She’s read it three times and it won’t even be released until March. It’s a good thing Ponti is working on the next one already!

From my...slightly older...perspective, Ponti is writing good spy fiction. Forget that the spies are kids and just enjoy it as a good read.

There’s also a surprise appearance by the “Prince of Wales”—not the one we know, but an imaginary one!

Go ahead. Preorder it now. And then start your countdown!

Possible Objectionable Material:

Perilous situations. Breaking and entering. Tweens unaccompanied in a big city. Some violence, but what is shown is minimal. Deception.

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 Simon and Shuster and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my unbiased opinion.