Captain America
Alan Gratz
Captain America
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
The Ghost Army
by Alan Gratz
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
Did you know Captain America once faced a Ghost Army that no one else could see? Steve Rogers and his friend Bucky Barnes are in the middle of World War II, fighting battles that will change everything—but that's only the beginning.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade historical fiction follows 18-year-old Steve Rogers, also known as Captain America, and his sidekick Bucky Barnes during World War II as they encounter a mysterious and supernatural enemy called the Ghost Army. Suitable for ages 9 to 12, the story includes themes of war and bravery, handled with age-appropriate language and intensity. Parents should note the presence of war-related peril and fantasy violence typical of wartime adventures.
Why we rated Captain America 9ME
Captain America is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 176 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Captain America works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Captain America as 9ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, Captain America explores adventure, historical, fantasy world-building, friendship, and war & conflict — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about adventure, historical, fantasy world-building.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781536477115
- Pages
- 176
- Publisher
- Graphix
- Published
- 2023
- Type
- Fiction