Europa (City Spies #7) by James Ponti, - ADVISABLE

Europa (City Spies #7) by James Ponti, 378 pages. Aladdin (Simon and Schuster), 2026. $19

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

The City Spies are trying to stop bombs from targeting high level targets in Europe. Their key suspect is behind bars, but insists that he can stop the threats if he is released from prison. Clementine's name appears in secret communications, implying her involvement. The team has to pool its resources to figure out clues to where the next bomb sites might be.

City Spies always has a lot of action and fast-thinking kids. Outguessing the clues is like outguessing a Jeopardy champion, so that's not going to happen much. While the story is good, I'm getting ready for some closure before the kids start shaving and paying taxes. If you like the City Spies, you'll know what you're in for, though the storyline doesn't advance the Clementine thread much. The City Spies come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds.

Michelle in the Middle 

The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin - ESSENTIAL

The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin, 400 pages. Penguin, 2024. $19

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (peril, civilian war violence - bombs, injuries)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

It's 1940, and Germany's invasion of England is imminent. 14yo Lizzie is being evacuated by her grandmother to the United States, and she's not going. She evades her grandmother's agent and sets out to find her 19yo brother Collin. Their mother was working for the US embassy and is missing (and presumed dead) in Poland. Lizzie can't believe her mother is dead. There's no body, no one saw her die; she just disappeared. All Lizzie has is hope, and she's going to find out the truth. Collin is working in the town of Bletchley, and can't talk about what he does. He's a mathematician and has signed the Secrets Act. When Lizzie joins him, she signs the Act too. Now they are both very busy, trying to stop Hitler - and looking for clues to find out what happened to their mother.

These two powerhouse authors are the perfect team! Told in alternating chapters (more or less), the two teens' stories are exciting, suspenseful, and age-appropriate both for the characters and the intended readers. I know Historical Fiction is a hard sell, but I'll be recommending The Bletchley Riddle whenever it's back on the shelf. Collin and Lizzie are English; their mother is American.

Lisa Librarian 

The Mean Girl Mission by Rosaria Munda - OPTIONAL

The Mean Girl Mission (Confessions of a Junior Spy #2) by Rosaria Munda, 189 pages. Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan), 2026. $9 (pb)

Content: G (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Bea has heard from her best friend Chantal that there may be a spy problem at Chantal’s new private school, so Bea jumps to the rescue, with Tommy playing back-up.  Bea is determined to save Chantal from a possible Arctic assassin plot, even if it means she may have to do homework.

I was surprised that I did not like #2 as much as I enjoyed #1. I know why, though.  1 - I don’t spy novels that set-up one person, or group, as “the enemy”; I want variety in my villains. 2 - a mean girl problem at a local middle school is frankly boring if you are determined to become an international spy. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Assassin's Guide to Babysitting by Natalie C. Parker - OPTIONAL

The Assassin's Guide to Babysitting by Natalie C. Parker,  320 pages. Candlewick Press, 2025. $20

Language:  R (5 swears, 2 ‘f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (fighting, death)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO:  SEVERAL

17yo Tru Stallard has spent most of her life hiding who she really is. She isn’t just a normal teenager, she is one of the rare “bastions,” meaning her body is basically unbreakable. After surviving the attack that killed her parents, Tru has been raised and trained by Logan Dire, one of the world’s most legendary assassins. She’s learned how to fight, how to disappear, and how to stay alive.

When Tru agrees to take a simple babysitting gig for her friend’s family, she expects the hardest part to be keeping a toddler entertained. Instead, everything goes off the rails fast. The baby she’s watching, Thea, isn’t just a sweet one-year-old. She’s tied to a dangerous secret that powerful people would kill for. And suddenly Tru isn’t just babysitting… she’s running for her life with a baby on her hip.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book.  There is so much more to it than just a "babysitter on the run" story.  The book was fast paced and a fun thrill ride until the very end. Tru’s voice felt real, and the mix of superpowers, found family, and a low-key queer romance made the book really fun. I especially liked how the danger and humor balanced each other. That said, I did want more explanation of the world’s “Talents” and how everything worked. Overall, though, it was a high-energy, entertaining read that kept me turning pages.

Tru and Thea are presumed to be white.  Embry is Latin.

Jessica Nelson CTHS Librarian

Blackout (Spy School #13) by Stuart Gibbs - ESSENTIAL

Blackout (Spy School #13) by Stuart Gibbs, 352 pages. Simon, 2025. $19

Content: PG (danger, violence mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

After their last mission, the spy school core has been invited to visit Orion on his mansion estate in Indonesia.  As they approach, however, the whole country goes black.  Could someone, someone evil, have unleashed a Birthday Cake (lights out) on the country.  Its worse than they even imagined - someone has turned off the whole world. The kids are left behind by the adults who go charging off to save the world.  But you and I know who is going to really save the day. 

I love that Gibbs is letting his characters grow and show vulnerabilities and doubts as they go. I do wish the author would give them a breather before they launch into the next mission to save the world, but I already know that isn’t going to happen. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

A Royal Conundrum by Lisa Yee and Dan Santat - ADVISABLE

A Royal Conundrum (The Misfits #1) by Lisa Yee, art by Dan Santat, 276 pages. Random House, 2024. $15. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence Rating: PG (chases, peril) 

BUYING ADVISORY:, EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

When 12yo Olive is enrolled in "Reforming Arts School" a boarding school near San Francisco, she finds herself in a class of elite Misfits - a group of 5 preteens who secretly work for NOCK (No One Can Know), whose mission is "ensuring the safety of the community, guarding the possessions of the citizens, and preventing civil disorder." Each of the kids have exceptional talents, but Olive hasn't discovered hers yet. 

Dan Santat's illustrations are great! I really liked the storyline, and although, sending children after dangerous jewel thieves seems like a really bad idea, this group of misfits is up to it. The beginning of a 3 part series, I felt The Royal Conundrum stood on it's own, and wasn't bogged down with character building. A perfect adventure spy novel for upper elementary, and although the characters are young (one of them is still 10) the cool cover illustration will appeal to middle school and once they start reading will be hooked. The kids are mixed races and cultures. 

Lisa Librarian 

Confessions of a Junior Spy by Rosaria Munda - ADVISABLE

Confessions of a Junior Spy by Rosaria Munda, 224 pages. Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan), JUNE 2025. $20.

Content: G (some danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

12yo Bea has lived in the hotel Pangean her entire life.  Her dad is the Chef, while her mom appears once in a while to recuperate between spy jobs. Bea is waiting for her Knack to manifest.  Bea wants a Knack that will help her be a spy like her mom- fighting the good fight. But Mom seems to have a different idea - she wants Bea to be a Normie? 

Munda has packed in adventure and danger into this middle grade version of The Gallagher Girls or Alex Rider.  A fun, fast read with danger around each corner.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

City Spies: London Calling by James Ponti - ADVISABLE

City Spies: London Calling by James Ponti, 396 pages. Aladdin (Simon and Schuster), 2025. $19 

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY

In book six of the City Spies, 11yo Cairo takes center stage as he helps look for his sister, Annie, who has disappeared. The teen spies are caught between looking for Annie, and helping with security during a royal wedding in London. Umbra appears to be a threat, and Clementine, Cairo and Annie's mother, may be involved. 

If you are into the City Spies, then this will be a welcome sequel. There is the usual blend of exotic cities, danger, action, and friendship. Hints at Clementine's storyline and possible betrayal helps boost the interest level, keeping the stories from being too same-ish. The City Spies come from a variety of ethnic background.

Michelle in the Middle 

Max in the House of Spies by Adam Gidwitz - ADVISABLE

Max in the House of Spies by Adam Gidwitz, 320 pages. Dutton (Penguin), 2024. $19.

Language: PG (5 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (described violence from Kristallnacht, bullying, racist language) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

11yo Max is sent to England as his parents try to send him to safety from the Nazis. He hates that he was sent away, but as the family in London is kind to him, the bullies are terrible to Max because he is Jewish and he wants to find a way back to Berlin. One of the Montegue uncles is a navy spy, and Max, smart and clever, volunteers himself for the job. No one would send a Jewish boy back to Germany, but Max just needs to prove himself to the right people. 

Max has a couple of magical creatures riding on his shoulders as he joins the kindertransport; a kobold and a dybbuk who are the providing comedic dialogue for the reader, and extra problems for Max as he is the only one who can see and hear them. It's like having Danny Devito and Billy Crystal comment on everything you do. I loved it! A serious topic, a child is separated from his parents who have likely been swept away to a prison camp, Max's resourcefulness and spunk makes for an exciting read and a great history lesson. Gidwitz has set us up for book two. 

Max is Jewish and German, the rest of the characters are British. 

Lisa Librarian

Undercover Latina by Aya De Leon - OPTIONAL

Undercover Latina by Aya De Leon, 336 pages. Candlewick, 2023. $9 (paperback) 

Language: PG (8 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (brief fight against a terrorist) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

14yo Latina Andrea and her family are part of an undercover international group called the Factory, which helps governments around the world extend protection to people of color. Andrea and her mother are activated to infiltrate a suburban Arizona school to befriend the estranged son of a white supremacist - but Andrea and her mom have to pass as white to do so. Add complications from Andrea getting her first crush and perhaps her first kiss. 

As fun as the book was to listen to (major Gallagher Girl vibes here), SPOILER - I hated that Andrea’s cover was so thoroughly blown at the end that she might get little chance in the future for the spy work - I was really hoping for a whole series. Also - book #2 is now out, but both books need major cover redo’s - the first is too cartoony and the second too dark (at first glance it looks like Amani has a beard). At over 300 pages, most of my students will pass it up for something tighter. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Evil Spy School: The Graphic Novel by Stuart Gibbs and Anjan Sarkar - ADVISABLE

Evil Spy School: The Graphic Novel by Stuart Gibbs, illustrated by Anjan Sarkar, 352 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Simon and Schuster, 2024. $25 

Language: G (0 swears) Mature Content: G Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

13yo Ben Ripley just got expelled from spy school. Luckily (or unluckily) he gets picked up by the evil organization, SPYDER. They begin training Ben but he's not sure for what. Turns out Ben is so deep undercover in SPYDER, not even he realizes it at first. He will have to make his new evil companions trust him while finding a way to communicate to his CIA friends. 

 As the graphic novel rendition of the book, this is fabulous. It is well illustrated and the pictures help tell the story. The story is fun and keeps. you guessing. I loved Ben's new evil friends and their quirks. There's plenty of humor to go with the high adventure and kids will be wishing they had spy missions of their own. The Spy School novels just got another reason to cheer. Race is never stated, but most of the characters are white. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Mission Manhattan by James Ponti - ESSENTIAL

Mission Manhattan (City Spies #5) by James Ponti, 423 pages. Aladdin Paperbacks, (Simon and Schuster), 2024. $19 

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY

Book five in the City Spies series shines some love on 13yo Rio, who is a skilled street magician on top of being one of the City Spies. The group of spies travels to Venice, Italy to protect a teen environmentalist during a demonstration and her speech to the UN conference. When Rio spots a bomb, he is hailed as a hero, but finds that there are a lot of sinister powers in play. 

Another engaging spy novel that will suck you in. There are a lot of characters to root for, and the Venice and Washington, DC settings make it even cooler. Yes, the young spies seem almost superhumanly gifted, but who wouldn't want to be them? Plus Cairo's mom, who seems to be the City Spies' enemy, is lurking in the shadows and figures to play a bigger role in the future. I shall anxiously await further missions! City Spies represent a variety of ethnicities. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Spy Camp the Graphic Novel by Stuart Gibbs and Anjan Sarkar - ESSENTIAL

Spy Camp the Graphic Novel (Spy School) by Stuart Gibbs, illustrated by Anjan Sarkar, 312 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Simon and Schuster. 2023. $23. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (peril, guns, explosions). 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY

SPYDER is back and has another evil plan. Ben is being openly recruited and the CIA seems to be full of double agents. It's up to the kids from Spy School to intercept.

I love that Gibbs is reworking the Spy School novels as graphics! Sarkar's illustrations are fantastic, and the story is action-packed and fast-paced. My middle graders are going to love this. Ben is white, other characters are a mix of different races and cultures. 

Lisa Librarian 

Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu - MANY

Stars and Smoke (Stars and Smoke #1) by Marie Lu, 336 pages. Roaring Brook Press, 2023. $20.

Language: R (60 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

At 19yo, Winter Young is selling out concerts and features in headlines every day. His popstar status gives him everything he wants, but something is still missing. When Winter’s post-concert car is hijacked by two strangers claiming that they need Winter to become a temporary spy to prevent another world war, he has to wonder if this is the opportunity he’s been looking for.

The superstar-turned-spy premise was as fun to read as I wanted it to be, though I was surprised by how intense the situation became as Winter and his partner carried out the mission and navigated the not-small-hiccups that arose. I expected the story to be on the light-hearted side of intrigue up until one of the characters was murdered. A new awareness of the stakes for character—and readers—made it all the more exciting—and this is only the first of Winter’s adventures.

Winter is Chinese American, Sydney is white, Dameon is Black, Leo is Hispanic, Sauda is Muslim, and Claire is described as having “dark” skin. The mature content rating is for mentions of drugs, alcohol use, illegal activity, innuendo, and partial nudity. The violence rating is for gun use, mentions of suicide, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu - MANY

Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu, 336 pages. Roaring Brook Press(Macmillan), 2023. $18

Language: R (49 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (bisexual relationships mentioned, off-page sex; drinking, transporting drugs); Violence: PG (kidnapping, killing mentioned, death by choking on a chemical weapon, hand to hand combat, shot in the chest. Sydney’s mother killed by father in domestic abuse rage)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Present time in America, 19yo Winter is a famous performer who is being recruited by the Panacea Agency to help take down a dangerous criminal, Eli Morrison. Eli has invited Winter to perform at his daughter Penelope’s birthday celebration in London. This is why Panacea wants Winter’s help, because he can infiltrate Eli’s life with little suspicion. Sydney Cosette works for Panacea and poses as Winter’s bodyguard. The two seem to come from very different backgrounds but they discover they have commonalities. Winter and Sydney get hit with a few surprises on their mission and they’ll have to rely on their wits and trust each other to make it through alive.

Winter and Sydney are interesting characters with unspoken depth. I like the mystery, action and setting of the story. I love the ending. The ethnicity of the main character is Chinese American, other characters are Black, white, brown-skinned, mixed.

LynnDell Watson, Delta High School Librarian

City of the Dead James Ponti. - ESSENTIAL

City of the Dead (City Spies #4) James Ponti, 390 pages. Aladdin (Simon and Schuster). 2023. $19 

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

The City Spies are back with Kat leading out. Kat is a math whiz who can spot patterns anywhere. Their first mission isn't what they think and it raises more questions than answers. The team heads to Egypt to solve cyberattacks against key London targets and possible connections to ancient Egyptian artifacts. The action picks up when a new player could help them or undermine their whole operation. 

Ponti keeps the action going, but offsets the tension with humor and the interactions of the City Spies team. There is something oddly addictive about this series. Once you pick it up you have to finish. The characters are a delightful mix of different personalities and ethnic backgrounds, and we all wish we had some of their sweet skills. In this book, it was nice to see Kat get to take the lead in a mystery that will make you already want to read the next book in the series. (already mentioned) 

Michelle in the Middle

Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong - MANY

Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong, 528 pages. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2022. $18

Language: PG (3 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: ; Violence: PG-13 (Killing by poison, shooting, bloody shooting and stabbings)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

The prologue tells of a painful scientific experiment on a person that has been strapped down. Then the story starts as Rosalind is trapping a criminal who is a member of the group responsible for the death of her cousin Juliette during a past act gone awry. She’s exacting revenge on those who were part of it. Political intrigue, spies, agents, Communists and Nationalists describe the characters in this book. Her handler pairs her with another agent, Orion, who has family issues as well. The two of them have to pretend to be married so they can infiltrate the newspaper company and try to discover information on the serial killer murdering people with a toxic liquid in syringes. What they discover turns their lives around and, unbeknownst to Orion and Rosalind, the reader is given the true identity of a mysterious agent, Priest. 

I enjoyed learning about the history of 1930’s China. The author’s notes give readers a glimpse into her research and what's based on facts and what’s completely fiction in this story. The author’s notes on Asian history during the 1930’s are fascinating. Rosalind and Orion are characters with depth and I had fun getting to know them. All of the characters or of Chinese descent. Mentions that one of the characters is transgender. 

LynnDell Watson, Delta High School Librarian

Charlie Thorne and the Curse of Cleopatra by Stuart Gibbs - ADVISABLE

Charlie Thorne and the Curse of Cleopatra by Stuart Gibbs, 367 pages. Simon & Schuster, 2022. $18

Content: G (Mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

13yo Charlie is on the hunt and on the run again. This time she is in pursuit of her own aims - a treasure that Cleopatra supposedly left behind for her progeny. But the CIA aid after her, so are some Egyptians, and of course the remaining criminals who wants want access to Einstein’s Pandora, which only copy of which exists inside Charlie’s brain. Cue the danger and the drama!

How can Gibbs write so many high energy series and keep them all straight!? Will Charlie, Ben, and Teddy meet up sometime? 

Cindy, Library Teacher  

Project X (Spy School) by Stuart Gibbs - ESSENTIAL

 Project X (Spy School) by Stuart Gibbs, 352 pages. Simon, 2022. $18

 Content: G (mild danger) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

 Murray Hill, Ben’s nemesis, is supposed to be in a maximum security prison, but Ben is not so sure. Someone is trying the kill Ben, again, and how could Murray orchestrate that rom prison? It will take all of the Hales, all of Ben’s friends and Ben’s ingenuity (or luck) to thwart the latest plot.

I love how Gibbs uses Internet conspiracy theory lovers as a plot point in his latest. While he might exaggerate the power the head trolls hold over their followers (or maybe not), it still feels like it could be all too real. Ben and his friends have another grand adventure in store! Default White here. Ethnicity plays no role in anyone’s actions, thoughts, or motives.

 Cindy Mitchell 

Forbidden City by James Ponti - ESSENTIAL

 Forbidden City (City Spies #3) by James Ponti, 442 pages. Aladdin (Simon & Schuster), 2022. $18

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content PG; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

MI6 needs to thwart Umbra’s attempts to recruit a prominent North Korean nuclear physicist, and the youthful City Spies are up to the task. This mission takes place on two continents and involves serious undercover work and a code so baffling it is deemed unbreakable. Paris becomes the star of this mission when he goes undercover at a chess tournament where he can make contact with the nuclear physicist’s chess prodigy son. The rest of the team has challenging and dangerous roles as well: breaking codes and going undercover as a reporter.

This is the third installment of the City Spies series and it holds up well. The plot doesn’t disappoint and the action is steady and engaging. The characters are likeable and I found myself worried for their safety. There are some great chess analogies and the boy band was a nice touch. I found myself swept up in the story and the great locales. Fun read with action, family, friendship, and intrigue.

Michelle in the Middle