In 1935 twelve-year-old Moose Flanagan moves with his parents and autistic sister to Alcatraz Island where his father takes a job as a prison guard and electrician. This story showcases a family who struggle with staying strong while facing the adversity of raising a child with a disability, and the reality of the Great Depression. We are introduced to Moose and his feelings about moving Alcatraz right away. It is apparent that this move turns Moose's life upside down. I felt for Moose from the onset of the novel, Moose is lonely on the island, misses his baseball team, longs for his old friends, and the family members who helped out with his sister Natalie. Moose is a character that one can relate to, he is forced to grow up quickly due to his sisters mental condition, and he shows compassion, understanding and patience throughout the novel. Although, he is typical twelve-year-old, and resents the time away from his championship baseball team and his friends. Moose is a well-developed character, and the problems he faces make him interesting and his situation realistic. Most of us can remember a time where we were torn between family responsibilities and hanging out with our friends.The family works together to hide the demands of Natalie's specialized care, and seek to get the acceptance into the Ester P. Marinoff School. Much of the responsibility falls on the shoulders of Moose. His connections with the other children in the story, especially the warden's daughter, Piper Williams prove to be vital in the family's need for Natalie to be accepted into the school.Piper, the cute and obnoxious warden's daughter comes up with schemes that get the Alcatraz kids in trouble, but prove to be quite helpful in the end. But before there was success, adventure after adventure there were problems for Moose and the other children. The relationship between Moose and Piper was coated in humor and pre-teen flirting, which kept the reader interested in the relationship. Yet there were times, I wanted Piper to get reprimanded by the warden.In the end, Moose realizes that his family is the most important thing in his life. He breaks a rule, and takes a risk in attempting to seek the help of Al Capone. This is action shows the commitment that Moose has to ensure the happiness of his sister and his family. With the assistance of Piper, Moose writes a letter to Al Capone seeking his help in his sister's admittance into Ester P. Marinoff School. To the family surprise, Natalie does get accepted. A private victory for Moose.Gennifer Choldenko does a wonderful job in creating a historical fiction, not cluttered in historic details, but tells a story of a young man and his commitment to his family. While incorporating humor, friendship and risk...
Al Capone Does My Shirts was written in 2004 by Gennifer Choldenko. The book was named as a Newbery Honor selection and in 2007 it received the California Young Reader Medal. tThe book is set in 1935 on Alcatraz Island during the Depression. The story is told in first person style, through Moose, a twelve-year-old boy. There are multiple themes going on while reading, such as parent and child relationships, peer relationships, bullying, and dealing with disabilities. Moose’s family has moved there because his mother wants to be able to send his sister Natalie to a special school in San Francisco. Moose’s father took a job on the island as an electrician and prison guard. Natalie has what was then described as a mental disorder (we know to be Autism), but Moose is resentful because he had to leave his school, friends and baseball team. Dealing with fear of living with convicts, his family responsibility to his sister, and some unusual friends, Moose finds his way in his new life. tHaving been to Alcatraz myself, I found this book to be a lot of fun to read. Choldenko is precise in her descriptions of the island and life there in 1935. The fact that the notorious Al Capone is jailed there adds some intrigue to the story as well. I couldn’t imagine a family living in such close quarters with the world’s most awful criminals. But they are really just a piece of Moose’s story. The real story is Moose and his journey in life as a young man. Moose’s adventures on the island and in meeting and keeping new friends will take you through adolescence all over again.
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I don't agree with the enthusiasm for this book. A Newbery Honor, really? At least it didn't win. I wanted to like this book. A story about families living on Alcatraz where the worst of the worst convicts reside was alluring. But this book just didn't cut it. The characters developments were horrid. Moose was wishy-washy, Piper incredibly reckless, and the adults were idiots. The only character that the author got right was Natalie. Plus, the whole 'let's see how close we can monopolize Al Capone' story line was weak in aligning with the characters. This is where I wish I was articulate because I want to spell out how the characters broke this book for me and therefore how silly the story became. ~Anyone out there that has read this book and see what I see and can help effectively describe the bazaarness? Oh well, maybe it's just me. **Find this review and more at Jinky is reading
—Jinky
Listened to this fantastic Newbery Honor book this week--a middle grade reader, age 9-13 I think, it is about a boy who lives on Alcatraz in the 1930s with his family because his father works there. While the jailed Al Capone is frequently mentioned and part of the plot yet never seen, the main plot involves the narrator and his older sister, who is autistic before autism was diagnosed. She is "locked up in her own mind" on an island where convicts are literally locked up. Great read, full of adventure and mischief and a deep sibling bond. This is a great one to read aloud to kids (especially boys as there are monsters and prison and baseball bits sprinkled throughout).
—Kate Schwarz
I absolutely adore this book! Initially, I had to read it for a children's literature class two years ago, but I chose to pick it up again recently because I loved it so much. The story is about a young boy named Moose and his experiences growing up as a prison guard's son on Alcatraz during the 1930's. Moose's younger sister Natalie has special needs, and although her specific diagnosis is unknown, we as readers can assume that she is autistic. Moose's life is made even more interesting when he begins corresponding with Al Capone, one of the most notorious gangsters ever imprisoned on Alcatraz. This is perhaps one of the most unique stories I have ever read, and I think that the whole coming-of-age theme ties in nicely with Moose's struggles to accept Natalie's differences. I am definitely planning on using this book in my classroom this year, and I can't wait to see what my students think!
—Julia M
