A review by cozylittlebrownhouse
Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

4.0

I listened to the first three discs of this novel and wasn't enjoying it at all; once I picked up a hard copy to finish it, I found that I really enjoyed it. This is a book definitely better READ, and many of you know I am a huge fan of audio books. The story takes place during the 1930s and revolves around a family who moves to Alcatraz so the father can take a job there. They have two children: Moose and Natalie. Natalie has autism, but nothing was known about it at the time, so it was a constant strain on the family to find her help. I loved the relationships between the characters and the descriptions of life on Alcatraz for the many families of employees that lived there during its operation. The author includes a fantastic section at the conclusion of the story with interview highlights, stories about the children who were raised on Alcatraz, etc. This is a great story to introduce young adults to the topic and get them interested in history. Definitely a book for the younger crowd, and a Newbery Honor Book to boot. This would be a good one for a family to read together because the parents could discuss some of the themes with their kids.