Saturday, April 3, 2010

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live with felons? Have them wash your clothes, and cook your food? Moose Flanagan has never in his wildest imagination thought he would live on Alcatraz. But when money is tight, and Natalie is finally going to get a chance to be normal, Moose must start to see Alcatraz as his home.

When Moose arrives at Alcatraz, he meets the other children who live on the island. Like Moose's dad, their dads work as prison guards. Moose soon becomes friend with Theresa, a crazy know it all little girl, Annie a quiet girl who is surprisingly good at baseball, and of course Piper the warden's trouble making daughter. Piper always has a plan, Moose unfortunately learns this by stumbling upon one of her worst. One day, Piper decides that she wants to make some money, so she devises the plan that she will have kids at school pay to have their clothes washed by the prisoners. Moose wants to fit right in, and makes a deal with Piper that he'll help her as long as she stops asking about Natalie. Natalie is Moose's older sister, but since she had Autism (which no one knew existed at the time) Mrs. Flanagan decides that every time Natalie has a birthday she will turn ten all over again. She does this so that people won't think that she is a weird freak who doesn't talk at all. Will the warden find out about Piper's plan? Will Natalie get into the school that copes with children who are like her? Read Al Capone Does My Shirts to find out.

Al Capone Does My Shirts is a wonderful story about family troubles, and how to get through them. It helps you understand that families go through hard times, but in the end it will be okay.


reviewed by: Jane D.

7 comments:

  1. Great Job Jane! This really seems like a book I would want to read.

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  2. I did the book for my first quarter book review. It was good.

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  3. You really summarized the plot well. This is definately a book that I have to read. Good job Jane! :)

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  5. I loved how you put the questions at the end! Great job!

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  6. This book sounds great good review i am interested in reading this.

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  7. That's a really good post! I like how you describe some of what happens without giving anything important away.

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