Al Capone Does My Shirts

Al Capone Does My Shirts
Author(s)	Gennifer Choldenko
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.

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 and meets a new girl.

His sister, Natalie, who has autism, is rejected from the Esther P. Marinoff School, crushing her parents' hopes for Natalie's education. Moose takes care of Natalie after school because his mother,Hellen 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."

Characters

• Matthew "Moose" Flanagan (Main character, age 12)
• Natalie "Nat" Flanagan,( has autism; Moose's sister, age 15 and sometimes 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 and Natalies mother).
• Cam - Security Guard/Electrician on Alcatraz (Moose's father).
• Warden William- Father of Piper Williams, Enemy of Moose , the warden
• 105 - Prisoner of Alcatraz,(Strong friendship with Natalie,True name

is unknown)

Sequels

A sequel, entitled Al Capone Shines My Shoes, was published in 2009. Choldenko had stated that a third book is in the works. 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 and meets a new girl.

His sister, Natalie, who has autism, is rejected from the Esther P. Marinoff School, crushing her parents' hopes for Natalie's education. Moose takes care of Natalie after school because his mother,Hellen 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."

External links

• The Al Capone at Alcatraz Books: official site

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