Choldenko, Gennifer. 2004. AL CAPONE DOES MY SHIRTS. New York: G. P. Putnam Sons. ISBN # 0399238611
This story follows the life of young Moose Flanagan and his family as they live a contained military family style life. Mr. Flanagan has taken a job as a prison guard near San Francisco at the prison at Alcatraz Island. Twelve-year-old Moose has moved from his home and friends with his family and autistic sister, Natalie. Here at Alcatraz he is almost exclusively in charge of the care of his sister. Even though criminals, such as the notorious Al Capone, are in close proximity, life is quite safe for these families. Moose, Natalie, and the other children are mostly free to entertain themselves as long as they stay away from the prison areas. Here the children enjoy an environment that is contained and safer than the nearby city of San Francisco. Readers will enjoy the mischief which the children get into when let by the wardens daughter, Piper. She is full of schemes, such as when she plans to earn money by collecting laundry from her San Francisco classmates to be washed by Al Capone and the other convicts. Close friendships are formed and the children grow and mature. For the first time Natalie is able to lead some semblance of a normal life and she and the other children blossom. This story will give the readers a view of life in 1935 at Alcatraz Island through the eyes of an active adolescent. It is also a touching story of one family’s dealings with autism. An author’s note at the end will further inform the readers about relevant facts about this piece of our history.
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