City Spies: Forbidden City
#3 of 6 in City Spies Series
on Goodreads (4,575)
What’s inside...
In the third installment of the New York Times bestselling series by Edgar Award winner James Ponti, the City Spies, a group of young spies, embark on a new international adventure. After exposing a mole within their organization, they are tasked with preventing the sinister Umbra from recruiting a North Korean nuclear physicist. The spies use their unique skills to track the physicist's son in chess tournaments across Moscow and Beijing, while also investigating the ties between a British billionaire and an old Soviet missile threat. The mission includes a daring break-in, an undercover operation, and a desperate search and rescue on the streets of Beijing, making it their most dangerous mission yet.
Character compass
Sara Martinez
Sydney
Rio
Kat
Paris
Mother
Discussion points
How do you think Sara used her skills to adapt to her new role in the City Spies? What skills would you like to improve or learn?
What did you think about the team's mission in Beijing? How did the different settings affect the story?
Each character in the book has unique talents. Which character did you relate to most, and why?
The theme of trust is prevalent throughout the book. What are some key moments where trust was built or broken? How did it affect the team?
If you were part of the City Spies, what role would you choose and why? How would you contribute to a mission?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to think about the problem-solving aspects of the book by asking them how they would have handled specific challenges faced by the characters.
Discuss the cultural elements presented in the book. This could be a great opportunity to explore more about foreign cultures and spur interest in global geography.
Emphasize the teamwork displayed by the characters. Ask your child about times they had to work as part of a team and what they learned from those experiences.
Point out the moral dilemmas and decisions in the book to gauge your child’s understanding of right and wrong, and encourage them to think deeply about the consequences of actions.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Teamwork and Collaboration
Explanation: In 'City Spies: Forbidden City', the young spies must work together, using their unique skills to solve challenges. Their success hinges on effective collaboration and trust among team members.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by participating in group projects at school or in sports, learning how to cooperate and value everyone’s contributions to achieve a common goal.
Example Lesson: Problem-Solving Skills
Explanation: The characters frequently face complex problems that require critical thinking and creativity to resolve. These scenarios encourage readers to think outside the box.
Real-World Application: This can encourage children to approach their own obstacles with creativity and persistence, whether it be in their academic tasks or personal life.
Example Lesson: Cultural Awareness and Appreciation
Explanation: As the story unfolds in different global settings, it introduces various cultures, highlighting the importance of understanding and respecting diverse backgrounds.
Real-World Application: Children learn the value of diversity and can practice inclusivity and respect towards people from different cultural backgrounds in their community.
Example Lesson: Integrity and Ethics
Explanation: The young spies face moral dilemmas where they must choose between easy options and the right actions, teaching the importance of ethics and integrity.
Real-World Application: This lesson can guide children in making ethical decisions in everyday situations, reinforcing the importance of honesty and moral courage.
Example Lesson: Resilience in the Face of Challenges
Explanation: Characters often encounter setbacks and must persevere through difficult times, which exemplifies resilience.
Real-World Application: This shows children the importance of perseverance and maintaining a positive attitude, even when faced with difficulties, whether in school or in other activities.