AL CAPONE DOES MY SHIRTS by Gennifer Choldenko

1.    BIBLIOGRAPHY

Choldenko, Gennifer. 2004. AL CAPONE DOES MY SHIRTS. New York, NY: G.P. Putnam's Sons. ISBN 0399238611

2. PLOT SUMMARY

The year is 1935 and Moose, his parents and his sister, Natalie, move to a tiny island in the San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz, that houses many notorious criminals inside the prison. Moose’s father has taken a job, as an electrician, at the prison while his mother spends most of her time caring for Natalie, who suffers from autism. At the time little was known about autism, which lead to others misunderstanding Natalie’s peculiar behavior. When she is rejected from a special school, Moose must give up his baseball games to help take care of her. Piper, the warden’s daughter, is no help to Moose’s woe as she is often scheming, to get moose into trouble, and is often successful.

With the tension rising inside his family, Moose asks the warden to speak to Al Capone, Alcatraz' most famous inmate, about pulling some strings to get his sister into the special school. The warden is no help so he must sneak a letter to Capone. Shortly after, Natalie is invited to attend a new branch of the school for older kids. When clean laundry is returned from the prison facility, Moose finds a note from Capone in his shirt-sleeve.  “Done” it says, underlined and in Capon’s handwriting.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Choldenko, has made this unusual setting for a book into a wonderful representation of historic fiction. While it is true that families of prison guards and other auxiliary workers lived at the prison, Choldenko has also included notes explaining facts about life on “The Rock” as well as including a note about autism.

What makes this novel riveting is not just the setting, but it’s main character. The narrator, Moose, has a lot to deal with at such a young age. He is uprooted and moved to a prison, as well as becoming a caregiver for his sister Natalie, who suffers from autism.  The book develops the brother-sister relationship and the reader can genuinely feel the love Moose has for Natalie, despite the frustrations she causes, the family dynamic also shines through,  Moose’s hardworking father and determined mother are wholesome and dynamic.

Including Al Capone, even in such a small way, gives the book an edge. Although, shown in a positive, caring light, Capone could easily become a character one would want to research more about, to become acquainted with his mobster persona.  This book may have worked without including the mention of the notorious outlaw, but with his inclusion, readers interested in the criminal aspect are hooked in this delightful story.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS/AWARDS

A Newbery Honor Book
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
An ALA Notable Book
People Magazine Best Kids’ Book
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
A Kirkus Editor’s Choice
A San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the Year
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Award
A New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
A Junior Library Guild selection
A Children’s BOMC selection

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review:  “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

BOOKLIST review: “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

KIRKUS review: “Choldenko's pacing is exquisite. . . . [A] great read.”

5. CONNECTIONS

Life continues on “The Rock” with a second book by Choldenko,  AL CAPONE SHINES MY SHOES.

Recommended Reads

THE FIRE EATERS by David Almond
IF A TREE FALLS AT LUNCH PERIOD by Gennifer Choldenko
BUCKING THE SARGE by Christopher Paul Curtis
TALL TALES by Karen Day
PICTURES OF HOLLIS WOODS by Patricia Reilly Giff
WORLDS APART by Lindsay Lee Johnson
RULES by Cynthia Lloyd
NOBODY’S PERFECT by Marlee Matlin
LIZZIE BRIGHT AND THE BUCKMINSTER BOY BY Gary Schmidt
SO B. IT by Sarah Weeks

A look more into the life of Al Capone.

http://www.chicagohs.org/history/capone.html

Author website related to the book.

http://www.alcaponedoesmyshirts.com/alcatraz/about.html

Information can be found at the below link concerning autism,

http://www.autismspeaks.org/