Al Capone Does My Shirts (by Gennifer Choldenko)

This novel shines when it grapples with Moose’s family on Alcatraz. His parents want to do the right thing but repeatedly fail their son. It’s easy to empathize with Moose, who both loves and resents his sister and fears upsetting his desperate mother. The historical setting is enticing and a good symbol for Moose’s own feelings of entrapment.

Readers may wish that the author spent more ink digging into Natalie’s relationship with a convict, or exploring the book's mature themes, such as the good and bad in people, or why gangsters are sometimes seen as heroes. Readers will cheer when Moose finally stands up for himself, his sister, and his family, making his mother realize that the ends don’t justify the means; they may feel confused, then, when he asks Capone for help without much regard for how the notorious criminal is able to wield so much influence. This mucky morality, along with the sexual overtones, pushes this book toward an older audience.