Parents need to know that this novel is set on Alcatraz Island when it was an operating prison. The kids who live there -- and their classmates -- are enchanted with the prisoners and their dramatic backgrounds. There are references to imagined violence, but the bad guys are mostly part of the dramatic backdrop. There are some strong sexual themes: There are rules on the island designed to protect women living there from the convicts, and close contact between a young girl and a prisoner raises fears that she has been sexually attacked in some way.
Educational value:Readers come away with an idea of what life might have been like in this time and place. They may want to explore the author’s notes and Web site to learn more about autism, Alcatraz, and American gangsters.
Positive messages:Moose ultimately stands up for himself,
his sister, and his family, making his mother realize that the ends don’t justify the means (though his own means are at times a bit complicated).
Positive role models:Moose doesn't always make good choices -- he goes along with Piper, who deliberately breaks rules with no thought of the consequences -- but he means well, and ultimately is able to do the right thing.
Violence:There are references to the convicts’ crimes -- beating people to death with bats, kidnapping, etc. The kids make up stories about violent incidents, including someone getting “sliced up” with a shiv. Moose fears a convict may have molested his sister, or worse.
Sex:Nothing explicit, but a high level of innuendo: Women must dress modestly and undergarments aren’t allowed in the prison laundry because the convicts have had so little access to women; Moose is embarrassed to see his sister naked; Al Capone’s mother is so mortified at being strip-searched she leaves without visiting her son.
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
I love love love this book i thought i wouldn't like it because it didn't seem...like to much action but there is some action and there are different things to make for the action.
This book was good. There were some bad role models and the story takes place on Alcatraz Island with Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly, and more. Moose is trying to keep Natalie, his sister, safe on this island. Overall though it has a really good message to you should not give up and try every alternitive.
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.
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
I had to read this book over summer vacation for school. I thought I would hate reading it, but I actually really liked it. I even read the second book in the series, "Al Capone Shines My Shoes". Yes, there were some parts that made me uncomfortable, reading it at 11. Overall, awesome book. I loved Natalie.
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
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.
I think this book is great for kids who feel trapped in one place and have no way to get out! Al Capone does my shirts is a great novel to get lost in and it'll make you cry to put it away.