Module 10: Al Capone Does My Shirts

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

published in 2004 by Scholastic, Inc. (New York, NY). 

Summary

It's 1935, and Moose Flanagan lives on Alcatraz Island with some of the worst criminals in the United States.  He lives there with his parents and older sister.  His dad is an electrician and guard for the prison. Moose's family moved there so his sister, Natalie, can go to a special school because Natalie is different (close to Autistic). Moose has to deal with living in a new place, with new kids, including the warden's daughter, Piper, who is nothing but trouble.  Not to mention all those criminals.

Impressions

Choldenko has great character development.  Moose's character isn't perfect but the reader can't help but like him as he tries to adjust to a new home in unusual circumstances.  It is also obvious that Choldenko has done her research to create an authentic setting on Alcatraz in the1930s and with dealing with someone with a misunderstood disability.  I enjoyed the humor and how it left me smiling.  It's definitely a book with a lot of heart.  I look forward to reading the next two in the trilogy!

Reviews

"The Flanagan family is believable in the way each member deals with Natalie and her difficulties, and Moose makes a sympathetic main character.  The story, told with humor and skill, will fascinate readers with an interest in what it was like for children of prison guards and other workers to actually grow up on Alcatraz Island." --Miranda Doyle. (2004). School Library Journal. Retrieved from Bowker's Books in Print Professional database.

"Choldenko captures the tense, nuanced family dynamics touched off by Natalie's disability as skillfully as she handles the mystique of Alcatraz and the exchanges between Moose and his friends.  Face-paced and memorable." (2004). Publisher's Weekly. Retrieved from Bowker's Books in Print Professional database.

"With it's unique setting and well-developed characters, this warm, engaging coming-of-age story has plenty of appeal, and Choldenko offers some fascinating historical background on Alcatraz Island in an afterword." --Ed Sullivan. (2004). Booklist. Retrieved from Bowker's Books in Print Professional database.

Uses

What's great about Al Capone Does My Shirts is that I'm actually using it in a library program today!  It can be used for a mother-daughter book club.  The discussion of course could cover topics like Alcatraz, Autism, and the Great Depression.  For an activity a few button crafts could be done--depending on how many buttons are available.  If there are plenty of buttons the girls can make jewelry from buttons, but if buttons are limited then the girls could decorate cards with a few buttons.  A fellow librarian, Diane, told me about the following idea which we will use.  What we are going to do is make the quilting yo-yo's (basically a round, cloth circle). Decorate it with a button or two in the middle and make them into hair clips.  It should be fun!  And for a refreshment, there could be lemon cake.  I'll have to share how it goes!