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Search - Al Capone Does My Shirts (Newbery Honor Book)
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Book Description:
Moose Flannagan moves with his family to Alcatraz so his dad can work as a prison guard and his sister, Natalie, can attend a special school. But Natalie has autism, and when she’s denied admittance to the school, the stark setting of Alcatraz begins to unravel the tenuous coping mechanisms Moose’s family has used for dealing with her disorder.
When Moose meets Piper, the cute daughter of the Warden, he knows right off she’s trouble. But she’s also strangely irresistible. 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.
Set in 1935, when guards actually lived on Alcatraz Island with their families, Choldenko’s second novel brings humor to the complexities of family dynamics and illuminates the real struggle of a kid trying to free himself from the "good boy" stance he’s taken his whole life.
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Genres:
- Children's Books >> History & Historical Fiction >> United States >> Fiction >> 1900s
- Children's Books >> People & Places >> Family Life >> Siblings >> Fiction
- Children's Books >> Science, Nature & How It Works >> Health >> Diseases >> Fiction
- Children's Books >> Ages 9-12 >> General
- Children's Books >> Issues >> Illness
- Children's Books >> Authors & Illustrators, A-Z >> ( C )
Other Versions of this Book: Paperback, Audio Cassette
Top Member Reviews
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
"If you love someone, you have to try things even if they don't make sense to anyone else" Moose Flanagan and his family arrive on Alcatraz Island in 1935 so his father Cam can work as an electrician and guard at the prison and his sister Natalie can have a chance to attend a "special" school for children with Autism. At the time it's not called Autism, but that is what the reader of today is lead to believe. Moose is caught in the middle of Piper the wardens daughters' schemes and her mad drive to meet Al Capone and his mothers desperate need to get Natalie into the only school that can help her. Moose is the only one that can really reach Natalie and the decisions and realities that the family has to face can just be too much for a 12 year old boy. Maybe Al Capone is his only option.
Rate These Member Reviews
This is my son's book and out of curiosity I began reading it. I really enjoyed it. I would recommended it whether you are a pre-teen, teen or adult. It's a nice read.
Megan H. from BALTIMORE, MD wrote on 1/8/2006...1935, Alcatraz Island. When Moose's family moves to Alcatrax so his father can work as a guard and his sister can attend a special school in San Francisco, he has to leave behind his friends and his winning baseball team. On Alcatraz, Moose's dad is so busy he's never around. And his mom's preoccupation with Natalie's condition - her tantrums and constant needs - spirals out of control. When Moose meets Piper, the cute daughter of the warden, he knows right off she;s trouble. But she's also strangely irrisistible. All Moose wants is to protect Natalie, make his parents proud and stay out of trouble. But on Alcatraz, trouble is never very far away.