Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko Book Talk By: Stephanie Boswell

Imagine living on Alcatraz….. ….next door to some of the worst criminals of the 1930’s, such as Al Capone, aka Scarface, and Machine Gun Kelly.

Al Capone Does My Shirts takes place… …on the island of Alcatraz in 1935. Alcatraz is a 12-acre rock with more cement than grass and is located in the middle of the San Francisco Bay.

There are several characters in the book. One of the main characters is Matthew Flanagan, but everyone calls him Moose. Matthew received the nickname Moose from his older sister Natalie. Moose is 12 years old.

Natalie….. …has autism, but this condition is not discovered until 1943, so nobody knows how to help her. Natalie is 15, loves to count, play with buttons, and read indexes.

There are many other kids on the island … …including Piper, the warden’s daughter. Piper is also 12 and is always looking for fun, but often risks getting into trouble. Her father thinks that she is a good kid who doesn’t break the rules.

Al Capone Does My Shirts contains many themes such as family. The Flanagans are trying to find help for Natalie. Mr. Flanagan takes jobs as a prison guard and an electrician, to be closer to a new school. Moose finds it hard to help his family and be with friends.

Another theme in the book is friendship. Moose has to start at a new school, and try to make new friends. He is trying to maintain a long distance friendship. He also has to try and be accepted by the other children on the island.

A third theme in the book is being different. Natalie is different from other children her age. Her mother realized this a long time ago and decided that it was best to tell everyone that she is 10 years old.

Moose wants to do normal things, like play baseball after school. Instead Moose finds himself having to watch his sister. His mother wants him to treat Natalie like a normal sister but how do you treat Natalie as normal? Moose takes it into his own hands to get her help.

Before Moose and his family moved to Alcatraz, Piper had decided that she was going to sell the Alcatraz laundry service to her schoolmates. Piper tries to get Moose to go along with her plan when he moves to the island, and she even makes a sign.

ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY! Get your clothes laundered by Al Capone and other world-famous public enemies! All Clothes cleaned on Alcatraz at the only laundry facility in the world run by convicted felons including the notorious Scarface Al and Machine Gun Kelly! Only costs 5 cents. Al Capone Does My Shirts page 75

So do the kids successfully sell the… ..Alcatraz laundry service without getting caught or into trouble? Do any of the kids get to meet any of the criminals that they are always talking about? Does Natalie get the help that her mother is trying to get her?

Read the book to find out.