by Alan Gratz, illustrated by Brent Schoonover
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Publication date: January 3, 2023
Review copy provided by the publisher
Content: There is violence depicted, but not terribly graphically It’s in the middle grade graphic novel section of the bookstore.

Captain America and Bucky are in the field in the middle of World War II when they encounter something they’ve never seen before: Ghost Nazis. They defend themselves against some Nazis, later coming back as indestructible ghosts. The source of this turns out to be a magician that’s trying to prove something to his grandfather and (dead) father. It happens to be just outside of Romania (yes there was a Dracula joke), and Bucky and Cap find a good Romany family to help them infiltrate the magician’s castle and defeat them.

Give this to either a kid who is a history buff but also wants a bit of action/adventure/magic with it or a kid who is a Captain America fan and won’t mind the history bit. Alan Gratz is known for his middle-grade historical fiction books, and you can tell here that he knows his stuff. It’s jam-packed with tidbits about WWII – mentions of the Japanese internment and the United States “Ghost” Army. It’s got adventure and a small bit of romance. Perfect for lots of kids.

Honestly, though? It’s not for me. I found it kind of pedantic and predictable. And the relationship between Cap and Bucky was kind of weird (i was expecting more Batman/Robin, and it didn’t quite hit). But I can see how certain kids will eat it up.