Al Capone Does My Shirts

Al Capone Does My Shirts
by Gennifer Choldenko

G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2004







Genre:  Historical fiction, Humor

Honors:  Newbery Honor, Sid Fleischman Award, CBC-NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, ALA Notable Book, ALA Notable Recording, American Literacy Corporation Literary Choice Award, Best Book for Young Adults, Bank Street College Best Children’s Books of the Year, Book Sense Pick of the List, California Library Association Beatty Award, California Library Association Focal Award, Capital Choices Noteworthy Books for Children,Chicago Public Library Best of the Best, Children’s Book of the Month Selection, Children’s Bookseller’s Award— Favorite Novel of the Year, CUFFIE'S Best Title of the Year, Junior Library Guild Selection, Keystone State Reading Association YA Book Award, Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year, Northern California Book Award, Parents' Choice Silver Medal, Publisher's Weekly Best Book of the Year, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, Special Needs Award (UK), VOYA's Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers, YALSA Selected Audiobooks for Young Adults

Review:  Moose and his family move to the notorious Alcatraz Island after his father gets a job as a jailer and electrician. They moved to the island because it was close to a specialized school for children with mental disabilities, something his older sister Natalie needed to attend. Moving to Alcatraz was the last thing Moose had wanted, especially after he meets the mischievous Piper, and Natalie's school refuses to admit her. However, his attitude towards life on Alcatraz changes as his relationship with Piper and his autistic sister Natalie change.

Opinion:  Originally, I picked up this book as a humor piece that I saw the title on the Sid Fleischman Award website in order to round out the genres for this assignment. Although humor was not the focus of the story, I found the plot to be deep and insightful that was interspersed with humor, which I absolutely loved. Additionally, the ending couldn't have been more perfect!

Ideas:  This book would work great for students learning about the history of Alcatraz, to help understand some of what life might have been like for children living on the same island as the inmates. Another idea would be to create a book display of Alcatraz related fiction and non-fiction.