Bibliography
Choldenko, Gennifer. 2004. Al Capone Does My Shirts. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc. ISBN 0439674328
Plot Summary
Al Capone Does My Shirts introduces us to Mosse Flanagan, a twelve year old boy growing up in the 1930's who has just found him living on the island of Alcatraz. As if life on a rock that houses some of the country's biggest criminals isn't hard enough, Moose has a sister that adds to the difficulty of life. While balancing annoying children sharing space on The Rock with him and trying to make new friends at his school, he is expected to babysit his 16 year old autistic sister while their mother works to get Natalie into a special school for autistic children. Through some twists and turns in the story, Moose finds that Al Capone could possibly play an important role in the lives of Moose and Natalie.
Critical Analaysis
Moose is your typical 12 year old which makes this novel and easy one for students to enjoy. He has a mother and father that sometimes expects more from him than he feels that they should and he has a sister who he loves, but is hard to deal with. He plays basketball, is annoyed by the seven year old that constantly shows up unnexpected and a bossy girl named Piper who gets him involved in a scheme to make some money. What kid can't relate to Moose? While he is relateable by children of this generation, he shows the reader the simplicity of his generation.
Throughout the plot of this story Gennifer Choldenko gives us a subtle history lesson on Alcatraz in its hayday and the mobster metality of Al Capone. Perhaps one of the biggest history lessons we learn about in Al Capone Does My Shirt is the lack of knowledge of Autistic children then, something that is diagnosed and dealt with on an everyday basis today. We also become a part of the stuggle Moose faces trying to decide right from wrong when it comes to the care of his sister. Does he stay in the apartment with with his sister like he knows he should, does he take her with him as he explores the ins and outs of Alcatraz with the other children and risk losing track of Natalie. The battle of right from wrong is tested, and he learns some lessons the hard way.
The diary style of writing makes the relationship between Moose and the reader a more intimate relatioship, making the reader want to pour over every page. Without a doubt, the tid bits of history Moose reveals in his entries will make the reader want to absorb even more about the Mobster days of Al Capone.
Review Excerpts
Awards:
-Newbery Honor Book
-2005 CBC-NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People
-ALA Notable Book
-American Literacy Corporation Literary Choice Award
-Best Book for Young Adults
-Book Sense PIck of the List Summer 2004
Reviews:
"Basing her sotry on the actual experience of those who supported the prison in the '30s-when Al Capone was an inmate-Choldenko's pacing is exquisite, balancing the tense family dynamics alongside the often humorous and riviting school story of peer pressure and friendship." -Kirkus
"The Flanagan family is believable...Moose makes a sympathetic main character....the story, told with skill and humor, will fascinate readers with an interest in what it was like for the children of prison guards and other workers to actually grow up on Alcatraz Island." -School Library Journal
Connections
Other books by Gennifer Choldenko:
-Al Capone Shines my Shoes
-Moonstruck
-No Passengers Beyond This Point
-Research other mobsters of the era
No comments:
Post a Comment