This book was literally just a play-by-play account of the movie. I understand that this is a movie novelization and a kid's book, but still. There is absolutely no depth or insight into the characters. This book added nothing to the movie. It actually took away from the movie in terms of making the characters seem one dimensional. I never thought I could be this uninterested in anything Marvel. Also, the excessive use of exclamation points irked me beyond belief. ( )

US Army recruiters repeatedly turn Steve Rogers away, deeming him unfit to fight for his country. But when the Strategic Scientific Reserve selects Steve to become a Super-Soldier, he'll be in for a mission of heroic proportions in Captain America: The First Avenger, adapted by Alex Irvine.

Disclosure: I'm watching some of the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies and didn't want to break the flow in my lineup before getting my hands on the first Captain America flick. So I decided to read a book based on the screenplay for now.

It so happens to be a book targeted at kids. Doesn't bother me, since I can do middle grade books now and then.

What did bother me was running into two instances of a little foul language. So what if those words are now allowed on 21st-century network TV? Can't we give youngsters a tad more time to read books that are free of that stuff? Eeesh.

Besides that, though, I got a kick out of this read. A "never give up" type of story with exciting turns and plenty of action. It's a bit choppy and head-hoppy in places but still easy to follow. Given the genre and reading level, I just smiled at some of the corn, and, yes--I certainly did do the sound effects aloud, when they came up. WHACK! WHAM! BLAM! The intriguing ending must be an after-Marvel-movie-credits kind of scene.

Steve's heart, his determination, may be this book's highest recommendation. ( )