Al Capone Does My Shirts

The Story:  Moose Flanagan isn't exactly thrilled when his family has to move to Alcatraz.  The year is 1935 and Alcatraz Prison holds the worst of the worst criminals.  Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly, and Roy Gardner are a few of the many notorious inmates there.  Moose and his family move here because of his, um, special, older sister, Natalie.  His mother believes that the Esther P. Marinoff School is the best school to help Natalie with her... special needs (called autism now).  Moose is sometimes embarassed by Natalie when he has to act like the older brother, since he's 12 and Natalie's 16.  His mom's attention always belongs to Natalie, in the process, neglecting Moose.  On Alcatraz, Moose's dad works as an electrician and a guard.  Every family that lives on the island has their father as a guard.  On Alcatraz, Moose makes friends with an incredible cast of characters.  There's Theresa, the 7 year old, I meant, 7 and THREE QUARTERS year old that insists that her mother's baby is hers, Annie, the girl with the killer throwing arm (well, for a GIRL), Jimmy, and his rock flinging contraptions, and Piper.  Piper.  The cute but dangerous warden's daughter that always has a scheme in mind.  They all have their adventures trying to meet some criminals while Natalie is trying to get into the Esther P. Marinoff.  One rejection after another, Natalie still can't get into the school.  So what happens when Moose asks Al Capone to get her in?

Chloe's Critique:  Al Capone Does My Shirts was a fun, quick read.  While all the schemes mentioned in the book weren't true, the book still gave you a detailed look into the life of people living on Alcatraz.  The book also gives you an idea of how autistic children act and think by Natalie's actions and dialogue.  While this book doesn't have a lot of driving action, it has a lot of heart.  It centers on a family's love for their child.  Every thing they do is to try to help Natalie with her condition.  Witty and clever, Al Capone Does My Shirts will please young readers (8 up?)

Rating:  3.5/5 stars