I enjoyed this book a lot. I couldn't put this book down until I finished it-- it was such a page-turner!. This book deals with a historical locus which caught both public and journalistic attention recently. The author cleverly evades the danger of being banal in its description of the place and rather renders the the story so vivid and interesting.
Al Capone Does My Shirts
(2005, Fiction - Historical fiction, Written by Gennifer Choldenko)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Newbery Honor book a better fit for older kids.
updated 01.26.10
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 11–14
What to watch out for
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Role models:
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
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 website lists this as for ages 10 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.
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 10 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.
Publisher’s Details
Publisher: Penguin Group, Publication date: 2/13/2005
Number of pages: 225, Price: $15.99 (hardcover)
Read Aloud: 11+, Read Alone: 11+
Number of pages: 225, Price: $15.99 (hardcover)
Read Aloud: 11+, Read Alone: 11+
Our Members Say
See 43 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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Kids ages: 11
I rate this title on for age 12 and give it- My highlights are:
- Educational
Awsome book!
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
I LOVE THIS BOOK VERY INSPIRING.
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
perfect for 11+
A really good book but might require some disscussion about who al capone is.definently read this at some point in your life.
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I rate this title off for age 7 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Negative role models
- My highlights are:
- Educational
GOOD
I enjoyed it.
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
I think it's ok.
Most of the inappropriate stuff is so subtle that some kids won't even catch it.
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- 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...
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My highlights are:
- 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.
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I rate this title off for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Negative role models
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I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- 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.
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I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Negative role models
- My highlights are:
- Educational
perfect for kids 10+
it refers to a beating with a bat-violence. piper delibritly breaks the rules moose follows-bad messages and bad role models. it does teach the difficultys of autism
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I rate this title and give it
hi Im caroline an 11 year old 6th grader and personally i think it was terrible there's basically no point and why is this stupid school on this prison island anyway IT SUX and its not a very good book for kids
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I rate this title on for age 14 and give it
Im not finished with this book just yet.But,like the other children in this blog.I have to read this for Summer Reading list.I'm proud to say I'm flying threw this book.(even on my advanced level reading skills).So far so good.
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I rate this title off for age 17 and give it
I was forced to read this at school
I found lots of stuff that is not safe for school in this book. I will not thank my reading teacher. >:-(
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I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
bord!!!
i got really bord and i didn't have time 2 finish it. yawn!
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I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
@!Must read book!@
My class and I are reading this book we love it just love it we just got into part 2! Must read as describes in tittle but maybe not Greatest cause I have read better. :>
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
i couldent finsh it
ok we had to read this and write a literary analysis about it and i failed because i couldent finsh it it was a terriable book. i only made it to chapter 26 and that was hard.
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
i liked it
moose and his family moved to Al Capone and his sister had to go to a school named Esther P.Marinoff.Moose gets to play baseball and he makes firends.His sister got kicker out of Esther P.Marinoff then moose write Mr.Prudy a letter then he lets Natalie back in
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I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
It was a little boring
In the begging it was boring and i lost intrest fast
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I rate this title off and give it
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I rate this title on and give it
A must read book for any age!
I loved this book, i can definately see why it won the Newberry Honor award! It was so great and had the best ending! (I won't tell!) I think this book is appropriate for any age! Everyone should read it!
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