Get on Your Way: Reviewing One Mystery and One Adventure Novel in Juvenile Fiction

 City Spies- James Ponti 

Ponti, James. City Spies. Aladdin Paperbacks, 2020. 400 pages. Tr $8.99 ISBN 9781534414921

City Spies is a midle grade Mystery Spy Adventure filled with puzzles, ciphers, and hackers and the ups and downs of a found family. Sara Martinez finds herself in some hot water when she's sent to juvenile detention for hacking. But lucky for her the mysterious "Mother" a british spy, offers her a way out by giving her a spot on the the children division of MI6 agency. 

I found this book to be particularly engaging. There are many unexplained events that help push tension and maintain interest. Mother remains to be somewhat of an ambiguous figure, Sara spends most of the novel not knowing if she can trust him, therefore leading the reader to feel the same. Additonally, the inclusion of many mstery elements like hacking, red herrings, and POV shifts create a story that keeps the reader guessing and trying to solve the mysteries along with the characters. My only issue with this aspect of the novel is that some mysteries seem to be solved a little bit too conveniently for my taste. Sara (codename Brooklyn), for example, is able to hack into pretty much anything when the situation demends, deflating any sense of obstacle or tension in that particular scene. 

But, what I think works really well in this book is the characters. In addition to Sara, there's Sydney, Rio, Kat and Paris. They all play different roles on the MI6 team and they all work well together. The fact that they are so diverse is what makes this book a particularly successful example of a found family. Sara begins the novel lacking a lot trust and, as a child of the foster system, feeling like she doesn't belong. By the end of the novel she discovers that thare people she can trust and that this new group of friends really are her family.

A good choice for readers who enjoy action, adventure and solving msyteries. Particularly those who also enjoy espionage or the intrigue of being a spy.  

Northwind- Gary Paulsen

Paulsen, Gary. Northwind. Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, 2022. 246 Pages. Tr $17.99 ISBN 9780374314200

Northwind, is an incredible survival and adventure novel that follows a young boy's trek along the coastline of 19th century Scandinavia. Northwind is rife with beautiful and lyrical descriptions and imagery of the wilderness that encompasses Leif. There is also a continual motif of a Viking message that helps Leif stay focused and connected to a sense of self, purpose, and belonging. 

This book is definitely full of tension that helps move the story forward and keep it's audience interested and wondering what happens next. To begin, Leif starts the novel under the watch of Old Carl, a seasoned fisherman and navigator. But when Old Carl dies, Leif is left all on his own. In addition to know being particularly skilled enough to navigate the waters and the wilderness, Leif also has to combat the harsh weather and dangerous wildlife of the north, and figure out how to satiate his hunger and thirst. 

Ironically, what I like about this book is that it's not meant to read as an action-packed survival story. But rather reads as a story about transformation. Rather than just have pages about  how Leif survives against Wolves, Bears or Sharks, alot of the book is dedicated to the over arching metaphor that the north represents freedom. The outbreak of cholera that begins this novel and the overall human cruelty that Leif bares witness to is a direct contrast to the peace and tranquility that the wilderness offers. And because Leif undergoes such a dramatic transformation due to his time in nature, the main take away thusly becomes: Nature is healing while mankind is cruel. 

I don't know if the average middle grade reader is going to appreciate this metaphorical emmergent nuances. I can picture a child who picks up this book expecting to read about a true action packed adventure and feeling underwhelmed. But I do think this is good pick for the child who has reverence for the great outdoors or simply a child with an inner explorer. 


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