A review by proudtobeabookaholic
Golden Gate by James Ponti

adventurous emotional hopeful informative mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

The young agents for MI6 are ready to take on new missions! Two of them, Brooklyn and Sydney, are onboard the research ship Sylvia Earle when it gets hijacked. Their mission is to protect two young girls from a kidnapping threat, but it almost blows up in their face. At the same time MI6 gets new information about a mole, who they've been trying to catch for several years. It leads the City Spies to San Francisco. 

Action from beginning to end! These kids are smart in different ways, and they complement each other in a great way. In this book Sydney is having some problem with Brooklyn. She's so "perfect" and good at everything, although she's the newest member and therefore has the least training. It creates tension in the whole group, but it's nice to see them work it through. When you're this young (12 to 15 years old) it's not easy to see the whole picture; it's easier to just see to yourself, and what you can and cannot bring to the table. Ponti shows this in a great way, as well as how they talk it out and solve the problem. They really come together as a group at the end of the book. 

This is both a thrilling and smart series, where we also learn a thing or two, without it being like a lesson. I'm looking forward to keep following these young spies for more adventures!