Review: How the Ghost Army Hoodwinked Hitler
How the Ghost Army Hoodwinked Hitler:
The Story of American Artistry and Deception in World War II
by Rebecca Siegel
Peachtree, 2025
Category: Middle Grade
Reviewer: Stacey Rattner
Before reading this book, if you had asked me about the Ghost Army I would have looked at you quizzically. Now I am grateful that I am educated and that so many young people will have the opportunity to become educated as well.
As evidenced by the author’s extensive bibliography, a substantial amount of research went into writing this narrative nonfiction middle grade, which is greatly appreciated. In January 1944, a United States army unit of deception was created with a diverse group of creative, smart and talented soldiers. The secret Ghost Army was made up of not only visual artists, fashion enthusiasts, film and theatre set designers, but also coal miners and bartenders and everyone in between.
The Ghost Army used their talents to distract the Germans with deception operations, they called “Special Effects.” So much work went into their top secret deception tactics. For example, they used hundreds of inflatable tanks to deceive the enemy into thinking that the 1,100 Ghost Army had thousands more troops. Airwaves filled with misinformation. Sonic deception occurred and officers stood at fake command posts. Across the board, it was a true theatrical experience.
This book is unputdownable. I was on edge so much of the time, wondering if and how they would get caught (Spoiler: they never did). How could they go on for so long without casualties within their unit? (Spoiler: their first casualty was way later than they expected). And yet it is estimated they saved lives, so many lives. 20,000, 30,000, possibly more? Truly amazing and remarkable.
Many of the members of the Ghost Army were Jewish including highlighted soldiers in the book, Bernie Bluestein and Arthur Singer. It was heartening to me, as I imagine it will be for young Jewish readers, to learn about the courageous acts of these young Jewish soldiers. I hope this bit of history will send our young readers to find out more about their Jewish family history during this time. It made me appreciate the heroism of my grandfather, great uncle and cousins who all fought overseas and not only survived, but thrived, when they returned home.
As evidenced by the author’s extensive bibliography, a substantial amount of research went into writing this narrative nonfiction middle grade, which is greatly appreciated. In January 1944, a United States army unit of deception was created with a diverse group of creative, smart and talented soldiers. The secret Ghost Army was made up of not only visual artists, fashion enthusiasts, film and theatre set designers, but also coal miners and bartenders and everyone in between.
The Ghost Army used their talents to distract the Germans with deception operations, they called “Special Effects.” So much work went into their top secret deception tactics. For example, they used hundreds of inflatable tanks to deceive the enemy into thinking that the 1,100 Ghost Army had thousands more troops. Airwaves filled with misinformation. Sonic deception occurred and officers stood at fake command posts. Across the board, it was a true theatrical experience.
This book is unputdownable. I was on edge so much of the time, wondering if and how they would get caught (Spoiler: they never did). How could they go on for so long without casualties within their unit? (Spoiler: their first casualty was way later than they expected). And yet it is estimated they saved lives, so many lives. 20,000, 30,000, possibly more? Truly amazing and remarkable.
Many of the members of the Ghost Army were Jewish including highlighted soldiers in the book, Bernie Bluestein and Arthur Singer. It was heartening to me, as I imagine it will be for young Jewish readers, to learn about the courageous acts of these young Jewish soldiers. I hope this bit of history will send our young readers to find out more about their Jewish family history during this time. It made me appreciate the heroism of my grandfather, great uncle and cousins who all fought overseas and not only survived, but thrived, when they returned home.
Editor's Note: While not a Jewish book per se, titles about World War II are generally of Jewish interest. In this case, the spotlight on Jewish soldiers adds to that interest.
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Reviewer Stacey “Leaping Librarian” Rattner is an elementary school librarian in upstate New York. In addition to leaping, she loves to bike, travel, drink coffee, hang with family and of course, read. Stacey is also the co-host of the middle grade YouTube quiz show, Author Fan Face-off with author Steve Sheinkin. Although her grandfather wasn’t in the Ghost Army, he had a role in deception with the Signal Corps.
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