Al Capone Does My Shirts

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko. (2004). Published by Puffin Books.

Imagine living on the same island as Al Capone. In 1935, Moose Flanagan moves to Alcatraz with his family so that his autistic sister can attend a specialized school in San Francisco. The families are beholden to the warden, and the children to the warden’s daughter, Piper. When Piper dreams up a crazy scheme, all of the kids on the island have to go along with it, no matter how much trouble it may bring. Between protecting his sister and trying to avoid Piper’s mischief, Moose has his hands full. By the end of the story, he begins to love his unique life on Alcatraz and even dreams up a crazy scheme of his own.

Genre: Humor

Interest: 9-13

Personal Thoughts: Parts of the story are very touching, particularly Moose’s relationship with his sister, but the author describes Moose’s trials with a dry sense of humor. The book is fast-paced and engaging. Readers who enjoy the book can pick up the sequel, Al Capone Shines My Shoes (2009), to find out what Al Capone wants in exchange for the help he gave Moose in the first novel. This is a favorite book of mine.

Reason for Inclusion: This is a 2005 Newbery Honor book and was on YALSA’s best books for young adults in 2005.