Al Capone Does My Shirts
by Gennifer Choldenko
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Book Summary Information
Author: Gennifer CholdenkoNarrator: Johnny Heller
Edition: Audio Cassette
Audio: English (Published)
Published: 2004-09
ISBN: 1402564090
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Publisher: Recorded Books
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Book Reviews of Al Capone Does My Shirts
Book Review: A Teacher's Perspective
Summary: 5 Stars
Al Capone Does my Shirts is a Newbery Honor book that fits into the Historical Fiction genre because it is set in 1935 and is true to that time period. It all begins when a family moves to Alcatraz Island for work. The main character, a young boy called Moose, struggles with the realities of coping with an older sister who is autistic.
This story was captivating! From the first chapter I was hooked. The setting and situation are believable, yet unexpected. I'd never considered that guards' families had to live on the island with the infamous prisoners. In fact, after reading the author's notes at the end of the book, I spoke with a woman who'd experienced living on Alcatraz as a young child...she reported that the book was very accurate.
Natalie's autism adds another element to the tale and allows young readers a window into the realities of siblings with special needs. In the classroom, this book could be an introduction to a study of Alcatraz Island and the history of the institution there as well as its current condition. Alternately, it could be paired with other books with themes of sibling relationships or special needs family members. Fiction provides a wonderful vehicle for students to explore the realities of living with special needs and to develop empathy in this area.
In short, I would highly recommend this book...in fact I have!
Summary of Al Capone Does My Shirts
Moose Flannagan moves with his family to Alcatraz so his dad can work as a prison guard and his sister, Natalie, can attend a special school. But Natalie has autism, and when she's denied admittance to the school, the stark setting of Alcatraz begins to unravel the tenuous coping mechanisms Moose's family has used for dealing with her disorder.When Moose meets Piper, the cute daughter of the Warden, he knows right off she's trouble. But she's also strangely irresistible. All Moose wants to do is protect Natalie, live up to his parents' expectations, and stay out of trouble. But on Alcatraz, trouble is never very far away.
Set in 1935, when guards actually lived on Alcatraz Island with their families, Choldenko's second novel brings humor to the complexities of family dynamics and illuminates the real struggle of a kid trying to free himself from the "good boy" stance he's taken his whole life.
General Books
- Books on Cassette > Children's Books
- Parenting & Families > Parenting
- Family Relationships
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- Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > United States > Fiction > 1900s
- Literature > Classics by Age > General
- People & Places > Family Life > Siblings > Fiction
- Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( C ) > Choldenko, Gennifer
- Parenting & Families > Family Relationships > General
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