Book Detail
Al Capone Does My Shirts
|
Author | Gennifer Choldenko |
| Publisher | Putnam | |
| ISBN | 0399238611 | |
| Publication Year | 2004 | |
| Honors | Newbery Honor | |
| Reading Level | 3.5 | |
| Main Character Age | 12 | |
| Main Character is | Human | |
| Summary (Publisher"s Summary) | ||
| When Moose's family moves to Alcatraz Island so his father can work as a guard and his sister can attend a special school in San Francisco, he has to leave his friends and his winning baseball team behind. But it's worth it, right? If his sister, Natalie, can get help, maybe his family will finally be normal. But on Alcatraz his dad is so busy; he's never around. His mom's preoccupation with Natalie's condition (today, it would be called autism) is even worse now that there's no extended family to help with her tantrums and constant needs. And of course, there's never enough money. When Moose meets Piper, the cute daughter of the warden, he knows right off she's trouble. But she's also strangely irresistible. All Moose wants to do is protect Natalie, live up to his parents' expectations and stay out of trouble. But on Alcatraz, trouble is never very far away. | ||
Subject Matter
Subject Matter Summaries
Summary Details For Positive Elements:
There are many positive elements sprinkled heavily throughout the story. The children in the book interact very positively with Natalie. Tolerance and patience are shown. p. 3 The story opens by painting the father as very willing to work two shifts in order to support his family and get his daughter special help. p. 172 Dad and Moose clean up the living room after Natalie's tantrum. p. 202-204 The mother asks the warden for help to get Natalie in school.
Summary Details For Mature Subject Matter:
The story takes place on Alcatraz Island which houses Alcatraz prison. The lead character, Moose is a 12 year old boy who faces family obligations in caring for his older autistic sister Natalie. WITCHCRAFT p. 67 The mom used voodoo and a witch doctor to try to help Natalie. CRISIS p. 12-15 The mother begins teaching piano lessons leaving Moose in charge of Natalie because they cannot afford to pay a sitter. p. 35 “High society on the left, grim and grisly on the right.”
Summary Details For Profanity/Language:
DEGRADING COMMENTS Retarded p. 16 Stupid p. 18, 37, 38, 43, 59, 73, 80, 125, 127, 129, 142, 151, 162, 165, 182, 210 Idiot p. 150-163 (used many times) Dummy p. 152 The word is used in reference to Natalie. SCATOLOGICAL TERMS Turd, crapper, take a leak, privates p. 3, 4, 9, 160, 165
Summary Details For Sexual Content:
ROMANCE p. 149-158 Romance is insinuated when the convict who is roaming the grounds because of good behavior takes Natalie's hand and holds it on two different occasions. After Moose finds Natalie holding hands with a prisoner, he's afraid more may have happened, but this is not spelled out. SEXUAL INNUENDO p. 38 The warden tells Moose that the prisoners have not seen a woman in ten or fifteen years and he is sure Moose knows what that means. p. 163 When Piper finds out about the incident, she teases Moose by saying, "She's not pregnant, right?" and later that Natalie could marry the prisoner and they could have babies.
Summary Details For Tobacco/Alcohol/Drugs:
TOBACCO REFERENCE / USE p. 99 Officer Trixle speaks with his cigarette still in his mouth. p. 201, 202 Officer Trixle takes a drag from his cigarette. “Officer Trixle drops his cigarette and stamps it out.” ALCOHOL REFERENCE / USE p. 171-172 The adult pours himself a glass of beer and a half glass for his twelve year old son.
Summary Details For Disrespectful/Anti-Social Elements:
LYING TO OTHERS WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES p. 11 Throughout the book, the mother lies about Natalie's age. According to her mother, Natalie has been ten years old for the last five years. p. 45 Moose lies in his oral report. p. 76-77 Moose said “Somebody got stabbed, I guess.” He goes on to tell other lies until the children realize that he is lying. p. 99 Piper lies to Mr. Trixle about why she is taking laundry to school. p. 100 Piper tells the kids that Al Capone did their laundry. p. 152 “She doesn't mean anything by that,” I lie. p. 160 “I know what happened. I was there,” I lie. ARGUING AND DISRESPECT WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES p. 121-122 Moose and Dad argue about the laundry selling. p. 159-164 Moose and Piper argue about Al Capone. p. 167-170 Shouting and yelling between Natalie and Moose. p. 204 Moose talks back to the Warden.