Golden Gate (City Spies #2)


  • Author: James Ponti
  • Page count: 432
  • Started on: 2026/02/25
  • Finished on: 2026/03/01
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
  • ★★★☆☆



Book cover for City Spies: Golden Gate by James Ponti. Illustrated scene of three kids on a rocky cliff in front of the Golden Gate Bridge at sunset; one girl reaches down to pull up a boy with a backpack while another girl stands ready behind her. The bridge towers glow orange against a sky with clouds and flying birds. Title “City Spies: Golden Gate” appears in large bold letters above the author’s name.

This children’s book caught my eye at the Russian Hill Bookstore a while ago. When Amazon put a different book on my Kindle, I decided to read it as a physical book. That happens rarely, so it added to the experience. :)

The City Spies are a group of teens from around the world who become undercover spies, using unique skills to complete high-stakes international missions. In Golden Gate, the spies uncover a plot that centers around San Francisco.

Though the story and structure are pretty simple (expected for the audience), it is interesting enough and moves along nicely. The focus on San Francisco made it a fun read for me, but they only travel to the Bay Area in the final third of the book, which is a bit of a missed opportunity given the title. So: a quick and entertaining read. Go find it in a local library. :)

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