City Spies – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

City Spies

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2020

91%

WISE Score

4.7

Amazon

Think 'Ocean's Eleven' but with middle schoolers, international hacking, and way more heart.

City Spies

book

2020

91%

WISE Score

4.7

Amazon

Think 'Ocean's Eleven' but with middle schoolers, international hacking, and way more heart.

4.7

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Screenwise Verdict

City Spies is the antidote to 'brain rot' entertainment. It’s fast, smart, and doesn't treat kids like they're too young to understand complex puzzles or global stakes.

James Ponti has managed to create a spy series that feels modern and cool without relying on gadgets that do all the work. The characters have real backstories—Sara’s history in the foster system adds a layer of grit that makes the 'spy castle' payoff feel earned rather than just lucky.

If you have a kid who is bored with the usual school-based dramas, give them this. It’s one of those rare books that actually competes with a tablet for their attention.

Age Fit

Perfect for the 8-12 crowd. If your kid is 13 or 14 and still likes a fast adventure, they’ll enjoy it too, but it’s firmly rooted in that Middle Grade sweet spot.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The core of the story is a 'found family' of kids who look out for each other. While they are 'delinquents' in the eyes of the law, their motivations are rooted in justice and survival. It models teamwork and loyalty without being preachy.

Imaginative

It’s peak wish fulfillment. Five kids living in a Scottish castle training to be MI6 spies? It invites kids to think about codes, puzzles, and how they’d navigate a high-stakes mission in a foreign city.

Safe

Very safe for the middle-grade audience. There is some 'spy peril' and the protagonist starts in a rough foster care situation, but the violence is mild and the tone remains adventurous rather than traumatic.

Enriching

It’s a stealth geography and history lesson. The book moves through real-world locations and uses actual logic and crypto-puzzles that encourage kids to think critically rather than just waiting for the next explosion.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

The kids are actually smart and use logic, not just 'chosen one' magic or luck.
It features a truly global cast that feels authentic rather than like a diversity checklist.
Fast-paced enough to hook kids who usually claim they hate reading.
The 'found family' dynamic is genuinely touching for kids who feel like outsiders.

⚠

What to Watch For

The protagonist, Sara, is introduced while hacking into the justice system—it’s for a good reason, but she is technically a criminal at the start.
Some light 'spy violence' and moments of genuine tension during missions.

Conversation Starters

"If you had to pick a city for your spy code name, which one would you choose and why?"
"Sara hacked the system to expose her foster parents' crimes. Was that the right thing to do even if it was illegal?"
"Which of the five kids' skills would you most want to have: hacking, sleight of hand, languages, or logic?"

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