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Al Capone Does My Shirts

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 11, age appropriate for kids over 14; suggested age 11.

  • Is it any good?

    2.0

  • Common Sense says

    What was the Newbery Committee thinking?

updated 01.26.10

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 11–14

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The Newbery Honor assures that AL CAPONE DOES MY SHIRTS will be in every children's library, and many classroom reading programs, and the publisher's age recommendation of age 8 and up places it solidly in middle elementary. Yet the strong sexual themes, though stated obliquely, make one wonder what the publishers were thinking.

  • Role models:

    Piper deliberately breaks rules with no thought of the consequences: Moose reluctantly goes along.

  • Violence & scariness:

    A fatal beating with a bat is referred to.

  • Sexy stuff:

    Nothing explicit, but a surprising level of innuendo: Moose worries that Natalie may have had sex with a prisoner and that she might get pregnant, she takes her clothes off in front of him, talk about prisoners who haven't seen women in years and what they might do, etc.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Moose (age 12) drinks beer, given to him by his father as a way of bonding.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Al Capone Does My Shirts was written by Matt Berman

Parents need to know that the publisher's Web site lists this as for ages 8 to adult, but the strong sexual subtext makes this more appropriate for older kids.

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More on Al Capone Does My Shirts

Book Summary

Moose's father has taken a job as an electrician at Alcatraz and his family has moved to the island, all so that his autistic sister Natalie can go to a special school in San Francisco for disturbed children. On the island the children of the guards are dominated by Piper, the warden's daughter, a pretty and manipulative troublemaker whose father dotes on her, and whose schemes always manage to get others in trouble, never herself.

Natalie lasts 36 hours at the school before they kick her out, so Moose is saddled with taking care of her while his parents work. Moose is a good, responsible brother, but the burdens placed on him are sometimes too much to bear, and just trying to keep out of trouble with Piper around is a full-time occupation. Includes labeled photo of Alcatraz Island, and an Author's Note with footnotes.
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Is It Any Good?

The ALA's Newbery Committee is often inscrutable at best, but this has to be a new low. The Newbery Honor assures that AL CAPONE DOES MY SHIRTS will be in every children's library, and many classroom reading programs, and the publisher's age recommendation of age 8 and up places it solidly in middle elementary. Yet the strong sexual themes, though stated obliquely, make one wonder what the publishers were thinking.

Aside from inappropriate content, readers may find the book just plain annoying. From the moment Piper is introduced -- pretty but headstrong and devious warden's daughter who acts perfect in front of adults -- any experienced reader will know exactly where this is going, and they'll be right. The only original touch is that she's not the preacher's daughter.

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Publisher’s Details

Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc., Publication date: 2/13/2005
Number of pages: 225, Price: $15.99 (hardcover)
Read Aloud: 11+, Read Alone: 11+

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    rystlk
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 4.0

    I think it's ok.

    Most of the inappropriate stuff is so subtle that some kids won't even catch it.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    BabiBlue
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Negative message
    • My highlights are:
    • Great illustrations

    GOOD BOOK 4 THE FRIST TIME...DUH :)

    i lyk becuz it tells hoe we as teens see or do things we do today...

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  3. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    soccerchick4
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    A Great Book!! :)

    This book is a good way to understand the difficulties of autism and as a 11 year old I loved it so much I just had to get the next book.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  4. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    GirlyGirlxoPink
    I rate this title off for age 8 and give it 1.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Negative role models

    Flag as inappropriate
  5. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Zola390
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational

    You have to realize thats its fiction, but also that these kind of things really did happen.

    This Book, I think, appeals to Boys more than girls. I could actually picture things in some parts of the book. All in all, the best book I have ever read.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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