Al Capone Does My Shirts - Softcover

Gennifer Choldenko

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0439674328 ISBN 13: 9780439674324

Publisher: Gennifer Choldenko, 2004

Synopsis

Grade 6-8–In this skillfully told novel by Gennifer Choldenko (Putnam, 2004), 12-year-old Moose Flanagan and his family move to Alcatraz Island in 1935, where his father gets a job in the prison which housed such noted criminals as Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly. Moose's older sister, Natalie, is severely autistic and his mother has been obsessed with getting her "cured." She has been sent to a variety of schools and bizarre hospitals, none of which have helped, and their last hope is getting her into a school in San Francisco. Moose is given almost complete responsibility for his sister. Meanwhile, Moose is coping with his new school, living in an isolated and strange place, and the warden's daughter, Piper, who always has a new *-making scheme. Juggling Natalie's daily moods, school work, yearning for Piper, and worry over his folks, Moose tries to please everyone. His greatest fear is that somehow he has caused Natalie's problem. Listeners learn a lot about Alcatraz and what it was like for children to grow up on the Island. There is a lengthy author's note with extensive information that adds to the fictional tale. Johnny Heller does a masterful job conveying both Moose's anger towards and concern for Natalie. His timing is perfect, he voices all the characters with great versatility, and he makes Moose come to life. This is a fascinating book superbly narrated.–B. Allison Gray, John Jermain Memorial Library, Sag Harbor, NY
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About this title

Review

`This book is a masterpiece . . . Al Capone Does My Shirts is wonderfully told and deserves praise galore'
--Guardian

About the Author

Gennifer Choldenko is the New York Times bestselling and Newbery Honor Award-winning author of ten children's books, including Notes From a Liar and Her Dog, If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period, No Passengers Beyond this Point, Al Capone Does My Shirts, Al Capone Shines My Shoes, and Al Capone Does My Homework. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family.

Edition details

• Publisher: Gennifer Choldenko
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0439674328
• ISBN 13: 9780439674324
• Binding: Paperback