Al Capone Does My Shirts, Gennifer Choldenko
Al Capone Does My Shirts, Gennifer Choldenko
19 Rating(s)
List: $15.00 | Sale: $10.50
Club: $7.50

Al Capone Does My Shirts

Author: Gennifer Choldenko

Narrator: Kirby Heyborne

Unabridged: 6 hr 10 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 09/08/2009


Synopsis

1935
I want to be on Alcatraz like I want poison oak on my private parts. But apparently nobody cares, because now I’m Moose Flanagan, Alcatraz Island Boy–all so my sister can go to the Esther P. Marinoff School, where kids wear their clothes inside out and there isn’t a book in sight. Obedient Moose. I always do what I’m supposed to do.

When Moose’s family moves to Alcatraz Island so his father can work as a guard and his sister can attend a special school in San Francisco, he has to leave his friends behind. But it’s worth it, right? If his sister, Natalie, can get help, maybe his family will finally be normal.

But on Alcatraz his dad is so busy, he’s never around. His mom’s preoccupation with Natalie’s condition (today, it would be called autism) is even worse now that there’s no extended family to help. And of course, there’s never enough money.

When Moose meets Piper, the cute daughter of the warden, he knows right off she’s trouble. But she’s also strangely irresistible. All Moose wants to do is protect Natalie, live up to his parents’ expectations and stay out of trouble. But on Alcatraz, trouble is never very far away.

About The Author

Gennifer Choldenko was the youngest in a family of four kids, where her nickname was “Snot-Nose.” Her quirky sense of humor made its debut at the dinner table when Gennifer was a very little kid. She is the author of seven children’s books, including Notes from a Liar and Her Dog, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year; If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period; and Al Capone Shines My Shoes.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Rick on November 08, 2013

I’ve been meaning to read this for a while, and I’m glad I finally got the chance. It tells the story of 12-year-old Moose Flanagan, whose family moves to Alcatraz in the 1930s when his dad takes a job as a prison guard. The first-person narration is beautifully done. I loved the humor and the relat......more

Goodreads review by Carol on December 17, 2008

With a name like Al Capone Does My Shirts, I was settled in for a good light read, not. Not that it isn't an easy read but there is pathos in this story of Moose Flannagan. Moose is the brother of a severely challenged sister, Natalie, who cannot function in society and is sometimes entombed in her......more

Goodreads review by Krista on March 16, 2024

I felt SO many emotions while reading this short little middle grade. I was at times furious with the mom, heartbroken for this kid who has to take on more responsibility than necessary, angry with the pain in the neck know it all warden's daughter who just happens to be really cute. I absolutely lo......more

Goodreads review by Sarah on March 15, 2023

This was a fun one. Honestly, I was hoping for actual Al Capone interaction and that wasn’t there. I kept hoping that would happen or be a big scene. I didn’t like Piper at all and got frustrated at the constant attraction even though she proved to be awful. I did love the autism representation and......more

Goodreads review by Deacon Tom on September 30, 2020

A Fun book. I really enjoyed this story! A fast paced lark for teens. Lots of laughs. I received a recommendation from my grandkids and I recommend it to you......more


Quotes

"Choldenko's pacing is exquisite. . . . [A] great read."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review