City Spies

“This is what happens to criminals.”

The differences between Justice and Crime and the nuance within the morality of these concepts is explored in James Ponti’s novel. When Brooklyn is arrested for hacking into the juvenile justice system to expose her foster parents’ crimes, it is she who is targeted instead. Mother catches wind of the case and sees the injustice in Brooklyn’s experience, as well as her resolve to use her skills to expose criminals.

“This is what justice feels like. This is what we’re all about.”

When Sydney helps Brooklyn break into her old foster home to retrieve her shoebox, Brooklyn is overwhelmed by the way Sydney and Mother are willing to help her and sacrifice their safety even though they have just met. Sydney expresses the group’s values of striving for Justice, and Brooklyn knows she is where she belongs.

“The Rwandan refugee who lived alone in an abandoned factory was now part of a family in which he played the role of protective older brother. He’d flourished in his new environment.”

Paris has transformed during his time with the spy team. After being adopted by Mother, the other children joined one by one, and Paris took each on as a younger sibling. He acts as a guide and protector for everyone on the team, and regularly reinforces their self-esteem and courage. The environment that Mother provides the children is one which allows them to grow into their full potential as people and as spies, and to Prevail Through Their Own Experiences of Adversity.