Al Capone Does My Shirts
| Al Capone Does My Shirts | |
|---|---|
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| Author(s) | Gennifer Choldenko |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Novel |
| Publisher | Gennifer Choldenko |
| Publication date | 2004 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Followed by | Al Capone Shines My Shoes |
Al Capone Does My Shirts is a 2004 young adult novel written by Southern California-based author Gennifer Choldenko. The book was named as a Newbery Honor selection and in 2007 it received the California Young Reader Medal.
Contents |
[edit] Plot summary
Moose Flanagan and his family have just moved to Alcatraz Island so that his father can take a job as a prison guard and his sister Natalie can go to a special school. Moose misses his old baseball team, and he struggles for recognition in his new school.
His sister Natalie, who suffers from autism, is rejected from the Esther P. Marinoff School, crushing his parents' hopes for Natalie's education. Now Moose must take care of Natalie after school while his mother teaches music lessons, and he must find a way to deal with Natalie's screaming fits and constant needs (including lemon cake and buttons).
Complicating Moose's life even more is Piper, the daughter of the prison warden. Piper lures Moose into her scheme to make money by collecting laundry from their classmates with the promise that Al Capone is among the convicts assigned to laundry duty on Alcatraz.
Gradually, Moose learns to like life on Alcatraz, even finding ways to help Natalie fit in with the other children on the island; and he is able to convince his mother that he really does have his sister's best interests in mind. After the Flanagans have tried repeatedly and unsuccessfully to enroll Natalie in the Esther P. Marinoff School, Moose secretly writes a note to Al Capone, asking him to help Natalie. Piper slips the note into a letter to Al Capone. And a few weeks later, Natalie is accepted to a brand-new wing of the school for older autistic children, to the delight of the entire Flanagan family.
Moose also helps out his sister with her obsession of collecting and counting buttons. Moose is a very loving and younger brother. The last paragraph or so tells of how Moose got a note in his newly- washed shirt that says "done."
[edit] Characters
- Matthew "Moose" Flanagan (Main character, age 12)
- Natalie "Nat" Flanagan (has autism; Moose's sister, age 16) (Although his mom claims she's 10)
- Piper Williams (Warden Williams's daughter, somewhat of an friend/enemy of Moose. Same age as Moose)
- Theresa Mattaman (around 7)
- Jimmy Mattaman (same age as Moose, and Theresa's brother)
- Scout (goes to school with Moose and starts out as a friend but their friendship does not last long, same age as Moose)
- Helen (Moose's mother)
- Cam (Moose's father)
[edit] Sequels
The sequel of "Al Capone Does My Shirts" was published in 2009.This book is called "Al Capone Shines My Shoes". Choldenko had stated that a third book is in working.
[edit] External links
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