Off the Shelf 0607-10

Al Capone Does My Shirts
By Gennifer Choldenko
© 2004

Set on the island of Alcatraz in the mid-1930’s, this delightful read chronicles six months of the life of Moose Flanagan. At the time, Alcatraz was a high security prison, housing criminals such as the infamous Al Capone. Moose is forced to move to Alcatraz when his dad takes a prison guard job. He adapts to this new environment, despite his tag-a-long autistic sister and the trouble-making daughter of the warden.

The author’s exploration of autistic behaviors and dealing with an autistic child, as both a family and an institution, is laudable. Even the seriousness of these issues, though handled delicately, is intertwined almost transparently within the story – making it all that more realistic.

My recommendation: 5 out of 5 stars

Submitted by M. Coleman, Media Specialist