Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Choldenko, Gennnifer. 2004. Al Capone Does My Shirts. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam's Sons. ISBN 0399238611

PLOT SUMMARY: Twelve year-old Moose Flanagan moves unto Alcatraz Island, where his father works as a guard and electrician at the prison.


CRITICAL ANALYSIS: Teens and tweens will be enchanted by the fact of Choldenko's setting- Alcatraz Island. An island in the middle of San Francisco Bay inhabited by criminals serving time in the penitentiary. Choldenko's story will interest readers in what it was like to live and grow up on "the Rock". Moose moves away from friends and gives up his favorite sport, baseball. As any teen who is uprooted from a comfortable home, Moose has to make sacrifices. His older sister, Natalie who is "ill" needs sopeical attention. He never sees his father because the job and hos mother tends to Natalie. Moose can not enjoy a minute's free time because she takes care of Natalie when he is not on school. Much like teens today, who babysit other siblings when their parents need them to. Moose befriends the warden's daughter, Piper, who through peer-pressure gets him to take part in her schemes. There is a lot of family tension because of Natalie's illness, which puts a strain on everyone. All these aspects of dealing with his sick sister, strained family life, peer pressure, and his "yearning" for Piper can be idenitified by young readers.

AWARDS AND REVIEW EXCERPT(S):
A Newbery Honor Book
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
An ALA Notable Book
A Junior Library Guild Selection

From School Library Journal
The story, told with humor and skill, will fascinate readers with an interest in what it was like for the children of prison guards and other workers to actually grow up on Alcatraz Island.--Miranda Doyle, San Francisco Public Library

From Booklist
With its unique setting and well-developed characters, this warm, engaging coming-of-age story has plenty of appeal, and Choldenko offers some fascinating historical background on Alcatraz Island in an afterword. Ed Sullivan

CONNECTIONS: Some themes to incorporate in the classroom can be Alcatraz Penitentiary, Alcatraz Island, Autism, Al Capone, family problems and brother/sister relationsips. Noted historical figures/events and locations: Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly, Alcatraz Penitenitary. Pair with choldenko's second book in the series, Al Capone Shines My Shoes and The Children of Alcatraz: Growing Up on the Rock by Claire Rudolf Murphy