Al Capone Does My Shirts (Tales from Alcatraz)

A lot of kids at school have been really into this book, and I'd heard that it was a really funny story about a kid growing up on Alcatraz where Al Capone does the laundry. Well, yes, it is that. It is also a very sensitive book about the troubles of a young adult whose sibling has Autism.

They

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didn't know what Autism was in 1935, which made Moose's life even more difficult. There was no place to turn. Nowadays,we don't know how to "cure" Autism, but we know what it is, what to expect and what strategies work. Back then, plenty of people claimed to have the answer but they were just experimenting and if something caused an improvement, happy happy.

Moose loves his sister very much, and goes through all the emotions a brother with a sister such as this would - responsibility, guilt, anger, resentment, embarrassment, protectiveness, love. Choldenko portrays all this believably and with great depth, all with no apology or call for pity. And on top of that, it's a great historical glimpse of Alcatraz, and funny too.

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I love this book! This was the story I selected for the Literacy Group reading, and I'm very glad I did. The content was easy to read, and easy to understand. I did get frustrated while reading the book, because of the way the parents treated the characters, but it was appropriate for the time and

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for the knowledge that was out there about Autism and what it was. I would love to share this book with my class and I am looking forward to reading the second book "Al Capone Shines My Shoes" I have a feeling I would need to preteach a lot about Al Capone, the 1930's, and Alcatraz, but if US history was a topic in my class this book would be a great read. It would also be appropriate to teach about Autism and peoples view on people that live with Autism. A great many ideas have changed and Moose's sister sounds like an amazing person. She sounds like so many of the students I have encountered. The rush to fix the little girl is a sign of the times, not the way things are headed now. I hope people are understanding that Autism can't be fixed, but it's rather a brain disorder that effects social and communication skills. The author uses the word disease at one point to describe Autism, and I almost flew into a fit of rage. The book did make me angry at times, and it would be necessary to make sure the group of students you are reading this with have coping skills, or are understanding of other's opinions and know that the book is designed to make you think.

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Moose Flanagan's father got a job at Alcatraz prison, so he and his parents and his sister, Natalie, have moved to the island from their home in San Francisco. With such a small group of people, including a small number of kids, living on the island Moose isn't sure about anything - making friends,

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playing ball. He and the warden's daughter, Piper, have to take the ferry in to school, and Piper has a grand plan involving the notorious gangster, Al Capone, who was in the prison in 1935.

I'm not sure why exactly - maybe it was the title, or the cover, or how I'd heard the book described - but I had the idea that this would be a much lighter, humorous book. Instead, what I found was a sometimes funny historical fiction about a boy and his family. Moose is the narrator, and how I saw the other characters, especially Piper and Natalie, was really colored by his interpretation. At the beginning, I thought Piper was a manipulative little chit, but either she grew as a character or on me, because I grew to like her despite her shenanigans. The historical research is clear in the strength of the story and setting, and the author's note bears this out - there is a note on Alcatraz that includes quotes from people who lived on the island (generally people who worked for the prison and their families), and a note on Natalie. Natalie's condition is never named in the story, though I read her as autistic, and the author's note bears that out. I found that her family's dynamics and challenges rang true, and I liked how clear it was that they all love her in their own way, even if they become frustrated at times.

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Moose Flannagan has just moved to Alcatraz. No, he's not a prisoner, he's just a kid. His dad has gotten a job as an electrician on the island with the hopes that he will earn enough money to send Moose's sister Natalie to a special school. Natalie is... different. Sometimes she's off in her own

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little world. She's great with numbers, but not great at interacting with people. Moose's mother has tried everything to help her and, Moose finds out, she will stop at nothing to cure her little girl. But Moose isn't so sure that his mom knows what's best for Natalie. And he might be the only one who can really stick up for her... if he's brave enough.

This book was completely different from what I thought it would be. I found the relationships between the characters, especially between Moose and his sister, to be the real driving force of the novel. The 1930s setting doesn't come into it a whole lot except for the fact that Al Capone is on the island and their attempts to treat Natalie's autism. There is also an arch-nemesis/crush to rival Sheila from Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.

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In 1935 Moose Flanagan, a likeable 12-year-old boy, moves with his family to Alcatraz Island. His father has taken a job as an electrician at the famous prison, and his mother hopes to enroll Moose's sister Natalie in a San Francisco school that specializes in helping children who would now be

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diagnosed as autistic. On the Island, Moose meets an interesting cast of characters, including the warden's daughter Piper and precocious seven-year-old Theresa. He deals with the problems of a normal 12-year-old boy, and he struggles to help his sister live a normal life.

This was a wonderful story. The layers fit together beautifully. Moose's girl troubles (mostly with Piper) and his love of baseball could have been a part of many stories about boys this age. But the added elements of having an autistic sister and living in the shadows of Alcatraz set this book apart. Choldenko creates a believable and extremely likeable character in Moose. His relationship with his sister Natalie is touching. His reactions to his parents ring true for a 12-year-old boy. And his frustrations with Piper had me laughing out loud.

I highly recommend this book. For those of you who like audio books, I thought this one was especially well done. The narrator was great, and the story definitely held my attention.

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This kids' novel tells the story of 12-year-old Moose, who goes to live on the island of Alcatraz in 1935 with his electrician/prison guard father, his mother, and his sister Natalie, who is autistic (not that that word or that diagnosis existed in 1935). It's a good, solid kids' story, one that

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captures the day-to-day experience of being a kid quite well, and also handles the day-to-day experience of dealing with a family member with special needs well. It's not, I think, the kind of kids' book that still holds a special appeal to adults, but even so, I did find the historical details interesting, and appreciated the author's note in the back explaining how accurate all of it was. (The answer is "very," which is nice.)

Rating: This is a little hard to rate, because from my adult perspective, the reading experience was OK, but my life would have been no poorer if I'd skipped it. But I would unhesitatingly recommend it for kids. So I'm going to try to be objective, consider the target audience, and call it a 4/5 kids' novel.

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Moose has an altogether abnormal life. He has a sister who is a little different and his mom makes him tell everyone she is 10, though it’s obvious she’s a teenager. He also happens to live on Alcatraz with the worst criminals in America. Moose tries to make the best of his circumstances,

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making friends at school and getting into shenanigans on the island with the other kids who all want to meet Al Capone. It is a little hard to stay out of trouble on an island of convicts and scheming children, and things get a little messy!

This is both a very fun and yet educational and touching book. Moose has a very good relationship with his autistic sister Natalie, and yet it’s not perfect, which makes it seem very real. This book can help children understand autism while giving them a good story to keep them interested. Once you get past the shock that children lived on Alcatraz, you realize it must have been pretty fun!

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Moose Flanagan is twelve when his family moves to Alcatraz Island, where his father will work both as an electrician and a prison guard. His excitement at being in close proximity with famous criminals like Al Capone is tempered by his increasing responsibility for his older sister, Natalie, who is

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developmentally delayed. Moose's parents are counting on Natalie's admission to the Esther P. Marinoff school with its track record of success with children like Natalie. However, things don't work out exactly as planned.

This story is nearly perfect. It has a great cast of children, including tiny, big-hearted Theresa, Moose's classmate and fellow baseball player, Scout, and the warden's obnoxious daughter Piper. Although middle grade readers are the target audience for the book, it will appeal to many adult readers. The only flaw for adult readers are the somewhat flat adult characters. They're not as bad as the adults in the Charlie Brown TV specials (wah Wah wah wah Wah wah), but they're not fully developed, either.

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Summary: This story tells the tale of Moose, just your average kid who has recently moved to the infamous island of Alcatraz, home to a good number of some of the undesirable criminals in existence. Life seems to be a struggle for Moose, not only because his father is a prison guard, but also

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because his sister Natalie has what is known only as autism. Faced with ridicule from a girl named Piper who also lives on Alcatraz, Moose finds himself some interesting adventures with his new life, one of which is writing a letter to a man with something powerful; connections. This man is none other than Al Capone.

Personal Reaction: This is defintely an enjoyable book. I find myself liking Moose due to having something in common with him; an austistic sibling. This book really is an interesting read to say the least.

Classroom Extension Ideas:

1. Have the students write a letter to any famous historical criminal other than Al Capone such as Bonny and Clyde, Pretty Boy Floyd, or Jessie James.

2. Sit the children down and see if any of them have a disabled relative or know anyone who is disabled and how they feel about it.

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This story captivated my nine-year-old son, who read it to complete an historical fiction book report. It's set during the Great Depression at the (now-closed) federal prison on Alcatraz Island, in the middle of San Francisco Bay. The central character is a boy named Moose Flanagan, who moves

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rather unwillingly to Alcatraz with his family when his dad finds work there. There are a number of children, and soon Moose, and his sister, Natalie, are drawn into their circle. In the eye of this kid hurricane is Piper, the warden's daughter, who is nosy, bossy, scheming, manipulative and, ultimately (she makes you work for it, though), likable.

The Alcatraz kids quickly discern that Moose's sister Natalie is not right. She is treated as a very young girl by Moose's parents, but the kids sense that she is older. While his mom earns extra money teaching music, Moose is tasked with caring for Natalie, a responsibility that seems like a very heavy weight for one so young. Natalie is afflicted with what would now be diagnosed as autism. She is highly intelligent, loves numbers and routine, and is prone to violent outbursts. The Alcatraz kids are quick to pick up on her needs and, in their own compassionate way, share a bit of the responsibility of caring for her with Moose.

Tensions build around Piper's schemes, Moose's frustration about having to forgo boyhood staples such as after-school baseball to watch his sister, his quest for a souvenir "convict baseball" to present to his mainland school friend, Natalie's struggles and Moose's parents' efforts to get her the best counseling and schooling. All this is set against the fog, the bay, the gulls and their ubiquitous poop, and the cold yet somehow electric backdrop of a prison. A weighty moral dilemma is presented to Moose, who handles it adroitly and humanely. The results prompted a lively discussion between my son and I, not to mention much "googling" of Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelley and plans to visit Alcatraz and tour the old prison grounds.

The book leaves readers richly satisfied and grateful for the slice of life provided by Gennifer Choldenko, who dedicated the book to her own sister who is diagnosed with autism. For tapping a rich vein of California history, for its glimpse into the challenges of families with special-needs kids, for the quirky, original characters, Al Capone Does My Shirts is a great read for kids and grown-ups alike!

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Summary: Having to move to a new town is never fun for a kid... but when your new home is Alcatraz Island, the high security prison that's home to the worst criminals in the country, that's a whole different ball game. It's 1935, and seventh-grader Moose Flanagan is happy that his dad is working

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when so many other people aren't... but he wishes that his dad could have gotten a job anywhere else. Not only does he have to live on the island with the prison, but there are very few other kids, and the only one his age is Piper, the scheming daughter of the warden. And, to make matters worse, Moose is expected to spend all of his free time taking care of his sister Natalie, who is severely autistic. Between Piper's schemes and Natalie's condition, how can Moose possibly be expected to have a normal childhood?

Review: I'm not sure where I got the idea that this book was funny - maybe from the title? - but boy, was I wrong on that one. I mean, yes, there were bits that made me laugh, but there were also bits that made me cry, and I was not expecting that at all. Even the back cover doesn't really give you a good sense for it; it only mentions Natalie in passing, with nary a mention of autism (which is never called by name in the story itself, since it wasn't defined as a diagnosis until 1943.) I went in expecting a book about the excitement and challenges of growing up on Alcatraz, and I got a book about the challenges of growing up with an autistic sister... that happened to take place on the famous prison. Don't get me wrong, it's a cool setting for the story, made cooler by the fact that a lot of the details about life on Alcatraz are factually accurate. But it's a lot more serious and moving of a story, and it dealt more weighty issues than it might have seemed at first blush. I particularly thought Moose was a well-done character, and his relationship with his sister felt incredibly real, which was a huge factor in making the story as touching as it ultimately was. 4 out of 5 stars.

Recommendation: I'd recommend this to anyone mid-grade and up who likes historical fiction and/or coming of age novels... but I think it would be particularly relatable to readers with younger siblings.

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This book is about a boy and his family who live on Alcatraz Island. His father works at the prison as a guard. It is historically accurate with a humorous fictional story.

I love this book. It is funny and will draw you right in. I would use this book in the classroom. It would be a great way to

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teach the students about Alcatraz. It makes the topic fun and exciting.

Extensions:
1. I would have the students research the island on their own.
2. I would then have each student give a mini-report on their favorite part.
3. After the reports we would pretend to work on the island. Each student would have a job that was required on the island. They would have to be "in character" for the remainder of the day. (Example: a prison guard would be on lookout when we left the room to make sure that "inmates" were not escaping.)

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A young man and his family move to Alcatraz to be closer to good schools for his sister; the young girl is in need of a special school. He quickly starts running around with the Director of the facility's daughter, who is trouble. She comes up with the idea of gathering clothes from their

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classmates and saying that Al Capone has done them, because of course the kids have connections with Alcatraz. It works and the kids, throughout the summer, find a lot out about themselves and eachother.

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This young adult novel is the story of 12-year-old Moose Flanagan. Moose's older sister is autistic, but since it's the 1930s, she isn't diagnosed. Moose's family moves to the San Francisco area to get his sister into a special school. Moose's father gets a job at the notorious prison Alcatraz, and

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the family moves onto the island that houses the prison. Moose and the other kids stationed on the island prison are fascinated by two things: baseball, and gangster Al Capone who is currently doing time there. This novel is a new perspective on Alcatraz, and gives insight into a dysfunctional family before dysfunction was defined, and the stress it puts on a family to grow up near the most famous maximum-security prison in the US.

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In 1935, twelve-year-old Moose and his family move to Alcatraz Island, where his father has taken a job as an electrician for the prison in hopes of sending Moose's autistic sister, Natalie, to a special school in San Fransisco. However, Natalie is denied admittance to the school, and her care

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consumes much of their mother's time. Since his father is always working, Moose's unhappiness and loneliness grow, until he becomes friends with the warden's captivating daughter, Piper. Piper persuades moose to join her in a scheme to swindle their classmates: "Get your clothes laundered by Al Capone only 5 cents." Although Piper gets Moose is trouble, their friendship also helps Moose through his family difficulties. This humorous coming-of-age story will appeal to many

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Good children's book. The plot is sweet and referances to Capone are humorous. However, not a completely comedic novel, it is more about the maturing of a young boy through the experiences of taking care of his sick sister.

The story is about Moose and his family who move to Alcatraz when his dad accepts a job as an electrician and guard at the prison. At the time, guards (and their families) were required to live on the island. Moose's older sister is autistic. About life on Alcatraz, Moose's friends and activities

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and about how his sister's autism affects the whole family. Wonderful book.

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Moose Flanagan has moved into Alcatraz with his family. His dad is an electrican and prison guard. The biggest issue is his sister Natalie, who is autistic.

However this is 1935, Autism isn't a diagnosed illness and her problems are taking a very hard toll on the family. Particularly his mother. He

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has to learn how to cope with a new school and with the manipulative daughter of the Prison Warden, Piper.

Interesting and very readable.

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Moose and his family move to Alcatraz where his dad works as an electrician and a guard. Moose's sister Natalie has autism (undiagnosed)and they have moved there to be closer to a school they hopes she can get in. The books tells about life on Alcatraz, the family coping with Natalie, and growing

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up.

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An engaging reading of Al Capone Does My Shirts, showing both the frustrations of a 12 year old boy and the responsibility of same in relation to his dysfunctional family. The year is 1935 and his sister Natalie has mental issues (undiagnosed autism). Moose's mother is preoccupied with Natalie to

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the extent of being oblivious to Moose himself. But Moose is a good brother and brings Natalie around with his friends, and it does make a difference. The scenes depicting life on Alcatraz Island are based completely on fact.

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Historical fiction written in modern language. Moving to a new house and a new school is always stressful, but especially so when your new neighbors include some of the nation's most dangerous killers! The protagonist's dad has just taken a new job working for Alcatraz, and the whole family has to

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go with him, to live on the prison island, in a small community of prison workers' families.

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Touching story about Moose and his family, who move to Alcatraz in the 1930's. Mosse's sister Natalie has autism and her worsening condition is a constant strain on the family. Sensitive story, well written. Newberry Honor book.

Moose Flanagan is a gentle, good natured, 14 year old boy who is struggling to understand his move from Santa Monica to Alcatraz Island, his father working all time, his mother's emotional distance, and his sister's autism, that didn't have a name at the book's setting. As he is left with the very

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challenging task of watching his sister, 16 year old Natalie, he tries to keep her situation real and help her grow up, against his mother's desire to keep her forever age 10. This sensitive book of multiple plots has the elements of patience, humor, love, and genuine caring of others. Moose's goodness shines through to overshadow the sad parts. Al Capone Does My Shirts would be a good read for anyone, but would have a powerful use in a classroom of struggling learners.

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This book is about a family that lives on the island Alcatrez while trying to cope with the change of moving from San Fransico during 1935. The book focuses on Moose's family which the father works at the prison. Moose's older sister has autism. The book lets you in to what a day of a life with

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some struggles that go on with sister and the struggles that the family have to face with the sister, depression and the move.

At first due to the title I thought that the book would be funny but it was not. I liked the book since it focused more on the lives that go on while living there but it focuses on the daily life of Moose and the struggles that he faced with his sister. I was unaware of Autism and how it seems to affect the person and the family. I also liked the questions at the back of the book and how the author goes into her research on Alcartrez.

Some extension ideas are to have the students discuss Alcatrez and become familar with its set up, the students could also discuss Autism. You could also ask the students the questions at the back of the book.

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