Type of bind: Hardcover
Format: Bargain Price
Label: Amazon Remainders Account
Manufacturer: Amazon Remainders Account
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 228
Printing Date: March 01, 2004
Publishing house: Amazon Remainders Account
Sale Popularity Level: 652592
Studio: Amazon Remainders Account
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
Murderers, mob bosses, and convicts . . . these guys are not your average neighbors. Unless you live on Alcatraz. It’s 1935 and twelve-year-old Moose Flanagan and his family have just moved to the infamous island that’s home to criminals like notorious escapee Roy Gardner, Machine Gun Kelly, and of course, Al Capone. Now Moose has to try to fit in at his new school, avoid getting caught up in one of the warden’s daughter’s countless plots, and keep an eye on his sister Natalie, who’s not like other kids. 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.
A Newbery Honor Book
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
An ALA Notable Book
People magazine Best Kids’ Book
A School Library JournalBest Book of the Year
A Kirkus Editor’s Choice
A San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the Year
A Publishing houses 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
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
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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 very 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!
Rated by buyers -
I thoroughly enjoyed both the story and the characters! It was refreshing to meet a dad I actually liked for a change and I loved Moose and his friends. Moose's relationship with his autistic sister Natalie was particularly appealing and the setting (Alcatraz) was a stroke of genius.
Highly Recommended!
Rated by buyers -
Moose Flanagan has just moved to Alcatraz. His father has gotten a job as an electrician at the most notorious prison in the United States. You would think Moose would be excited, but he isn't. Instead, Moose must watch over his autistic sister, Natalie, while trying to avoid the warden's scheming daughter, Piper.
Moose's problems multiply when he catches Natalie holding hands with Prisoner 105. Is Natalie safe on the island? Who is Prisoner 105? Moose enlists the help of the notorious Al Capone in an endeavor to keep Natalie in school and off the island.
This is one of the best examples of juvenile fiction I have read in a long time. I am always on the lookout for books that will catch the attention of `reluctant readers,' and this book does just that. The character of Moose is a typical preteen boy - his feelings for his family conflict with his own growing interests. He must choose what is important to him - baseball or Natalie. Ultimately, he make the wise decision and cares for the sister he loves.
Although fiction, the novel has a basis in reality - guards and their families did live on Alcatraz Island, Al Capone did work in the prison laundry, and civilians did interact with some prisoners. Choldenko has included this and other information in the `Author's Note' at the end of the book. This section sheds some light on `life on the rock' and is a great link between the historical information and the novel itself.
This novel will capture your child's imagination. I highly recommend it.
Rated by buyers -
Moose Flanagan left his home, his school and his baseball team behind when his dad was hired as a guard on Alcatraz Island in 1935, prompting a move for the whole family. Moose's older sister, Natalie, is severely autistic, and his dad took the job to put them all closer to a program that claims to be able to "cure" her. Now Moose is working to make new friends, including the warden's daughter who has a knack for getting into trouble, and find his place in his family while coming to terms with his sister's illness.
Al Capone Does My Shirts takes us through the difficulty of being 12 and trying to fit into a new life while giving us a great glimpse of Alcatraz in the 1930s when infamous criminals like Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly were residents on "The Rock." Moose's authentic voice is delightful to follow as he weaves his story and comes to terms with his new situation.
Rated by buyers -
I called this book an "onion" because there are so many different layers to it. There is the Alcatraz layer where the reader learns a little bit about the life of living on Alcatraz. There is the Autistic layer where the reader learns a little bit about autism. There is even a layer of a boy just trying to be a kid by having fun with his friends, but instead he learns about his family and himself. Each one of these layers make up this book. Just like each layer makes an onion.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I am a fourth grade teacher and I had to read this book while pursuing a master's in reading. I will admit that it sat in my class library a few years before I picked it up. I thought it was just going to be a "kids" book. But this truly interested me as even an adult. Although the reading level is at a high thrid grade or low fourth grade level, I do not think that this age has the background to understand this book. Fifth grade would be a better age. I look forward to using this for a classroom reading in the future.
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