Al Capone Does My Shirts - Gennifer Choldenko

Al Capone Does My Shirts

By Gennifer Choldenko

  • Release Date: 2004-03-30
  • Genre: Historical Fiction for Kids
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 395 Ratings

Description

The Newbery Honor Book and New York Times Bestseller that is historical fiction with a hint of mystery about living at Alcatraz not as a prisoner, but as a kid meeting some of the most famous criminals in our history. Al Capone Does My Shirts has become an instant classic for all kids to read!

Today I moved to Alcatraz, a twelve-acre rock covered with cement, topped with bird turd and surrounded by water. I'm not the only kid who lives here. There are twenty-three other kids who live on the island because their dads work as guards or cooks or doctors or electricians for the prison, like my dad does. And then there are a ton of murderers, rapists, hit men, con men, stickup men, embezzlers, connivers, burglars, kidnappers and maybe even an innocent man or two, though I doubt it. The convicts we have are the kind other prisons don't want. I never knew prisons could be picky, but I guess they can. You get to Alcatraz by being the worst of the worst. Unless you're me. I came here because my mother said I had to.

A Newbery Honor Book
A New York Times Bestseller
A People magazine "Best kid's Book"
An ALA Book for Young Adults
An ALA Notable Book
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
A Krikus Reviews Editor's Choice
A San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the Year
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A Parents' Choice Silver Honor Book
A New York Public Library "100 Titles for Reading and Sharing" Selection
A New York Public Library Best Book for the Teen Age

*"Choldenko's pacing is exquisite. . . . [A] great read."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
*"Exceptionally atmospheric, fast-paced and memorable!"Publishers Weekly, starred review
*"The story, told with humor and skill, will fascinate readers."School Library Journal, starred review

"Al is the perfect novel for a young guy or moll who digs books by Gordon Korman, or Louis Sachar."Time Out New York for Kids

"Funny situations and plot twists abound!"People magazine

"Heartstopping in some places, heartrending in others, and most of all, it is heartwarming."San Francisco Chronicle


Reviews

  • ...

    2
    By APersonYou'llNeverKnow
    I have to read this because my school is making me, but it's not the best. There are some times we're ill actually listen, and others were I want to leave. It wouldn't be one of me "So good you need to read suggestions". It's ok. Just boring. Nothing interesting really happened.
  • Obsessed!

    5
    By Teacher perspective
    My 4th graders and I are hooked on this book! We read it faster than we planned because we couldn't put it down! It was great because it helped the students understand more about our autistic friends in class and become to understand empathy. We also enjoyed the history behind it, and I'm purchasing the next book for them as we can't wait to read the next one!
  • Must READ!!!!

    5
    By Dhfbcj
    Many people have different opinions about different book, but I could not stop reading and I can't wait till the next book comes out because this book was awesome!
  • Cool

    5
    By Todd Walker
    Amazing book loved it
  • The book

    2
    By JSSarge
    This is the book I have to read for school and it was terrible! There was no plot!
  • An acceptable book.

    4
    By GreenApple00000
    It was cool to see what happened to Moose but it was kind of lame because Piper was even more creepier than the previous book.
  • Jdjhdhjdhh jgihvhidgiug

    1
    By bruings
    Bdhbugudygyiguodguouogyigdiyigyigyiegyiguigighiegugiuoeougefyitysfvhifshigiygsiygisygjhsgjhtejytsiygiygsihgsiygsiygihsghigsyigyusgyigyigiugsiughghkhgkhghgghkhgdukgouegkgehkgekugekugekugeugehgehgehgegegeghgehgehgehgehgheghgehghgehgehgehigeihiydghggihg/$)(:765365863586538658539739)!&?&3)$(:7(37868:,)(:86(863(8)(:)(8)(8############******** f*><^<^~^<~~#^^#~#^~<€<%€<%^~%^<€><%^<%*~^%^~#^~#^}^#}#^}#^~^#~^%~^%#{%*#*%{#*%#{%*#{^%#{tfdugidghjdghjgdygdigihbeighibuiegiugeuigiygdiygdyigghugdiugdiygdkhgdgdkgjdgdggydukgiygdyidygiiydgkjdgjkjgkdiudbkjjkdukbdhjkjhdhjkehkjkjekhbekhghekgejkggkjegkjkejhkjgejkgehkjihgehigjkegkhgdhkghgkdhogdhkghgekgkyjegukuougduouoejyuogduoguodhougdogouggougoueououe77858366$3586538*^<{*#{^***^{#*^#{*^##{#^*{#*^#{^#^{*#^{^^{^{^^{^{^^{{^{€£%^{+%{+*%{^+%^{+%^*{%*^#{^#*^!£\€£>~. C vb ncadsnhcdnkssddskifhursuehfuiphdsfipuhvpdiufhgudfhuihdfiughdoufhguodfhgiuhfvuihfiuvhiufhgufiufhguihsdfigfdifggweipufhgpiqebgijpbefpdfuhregjbjkbgihrbgiubihlrifuijrblbiiurihlfburbgiuhruhgurhgrhguhroghurhguirghiuhhieufhgwriuhgeoirughruihgijewfhgrjohjirejhgrhuojrhgeorjghgoehrgirhgouhrBdhbugudygyiguodguouogyigdiyigyigyiegyiguigighiegugiuoeougefyitysfvhifshigiygsiygisygjhsgjhtejytsiygiygsihgsiygsiygihsghigsyigyusgyigyigiugsiughghkhgkhghgghkhgdukgouegkgehkgekugekugekugeugehgehgehgegegeghgehgehgehgehgheghgehghgehgehgehigeihiydghggihg/$)(:765365863586538658539739)!&?&3)$(:7(37868:,)(:86(863(8)(:)(8)(8############******** f*><^<^~^<~~#^^#~#^~<€<%€<%^~%^<€><%^<%*~^%^~#^~#^}^#}#^}#^~^#~^%~^%#{%*#*%{#*%#{%*#{^%#{tfdugidghjdghjgdygdigihbeighibuiegiugeuigiygdiygdyigghugdiugdiygdkhgdgdkgjdgdggydukgiygdyidygiiydgkjdgjkjgkdiudbkjjkdukbdhjkjhdhjkehkjkjekhbekhghekgejkggkjegkjkejhkjgejkgehkjihgehigjkegkhgdhkghgkdhogdhkghgekgkyjegukuougduouoejyuogduoguodhougdogouggougoueououe77858366$3586538*^<{*#{^***^{#*^#{*^##{#^*{#*^#{^#^{*#^{^^{^{^^{^{^^{{^{€£%^{+%{+*%{^+%^{+%^*{%*^#{^#*^!£\€£>~. C vb ncadsnhcdnkssddskifhursuehfuiphdsfipuhvpdiufhgudfhuihdfiughdoufhguodfhgiuhfvuihfiuvhiufhgufiufhguihsdfigfdifggweipufhgpiqebgijpbefpdfuhregjbjkbgihrbgiubihlrifuijrblbiiurihlfburbgiuhruhgurhgrhguhroghurhguirghiuhhieufhgwriuhgeoirughruihgijewfhgrjohjirejhgrhuojrhgeorjghgoehrgirhgouhrBdhbugudygyiguodguouogyigdiyigyigyiegyiguigighiegugiuoeougefyitysfvhifshigiygsiygisygjhsgjhtejytsiygiygsihgsiygsiygihsghigsyigyusgyigyigiugsiughghkhgkhghgghkhgdukgouegkgehkgekugekugekugeugehgehgehgegegeghgehgehgehgehgheghgehghgehgehgehigeihiydghggihg/$)(:765365863586538658539739)!&?&3)$(:7(37868:,)(:86(863(8)(:)(8)(8############******** f*><^<^~^<~~#^^#~#^~<€<%€<%^~%^<€><%^<%*~^%^~#^~#^}^#}#^}#^~^#~^%~^%#{%*#*%{#*%#{%*#{^%#{tfdugidghjdghjgdygdigihbeighibuiegiugeuigiygdiygdyigghugdiugdiygdkhgdgdkgjdgdggydukgiygdyidygiiydgkjdgjkjgkdiudbkjjkdukbdhjkjhdhjkehkjkjekhbekhghekgejkggkjegkjkejhkjgejkgehkjihgehigjkegkhgdhkghgkdhogdhkghgekgkyjegukuougduouoejyuogduoguodhougdogouggougoueououe77858366$3586538*^<{*#{^***^{#*^#{*^##{#^*{#*^#{^#^{*#^{^^{^{^^{^{^^{{^{€£%^{+%{+*%{^+%^{+%^*{%*^#{^#*^!£\€£>~. C vb ncadsnhcdnkssddskifhursuehfuiphdsfipuhvpdiufhgudfhuihdfiughdoufhguodfhgiuhfvuihfiuvhiufhgufiufhguihsdfigfdifggweipufhgpiqebgijpbefpdfuhregjbjkbgihrbgiubihlrifuijrblbiiurihlfburbgiuhruhgurhgrhguhroghurhguirghiuhhieufhgwriuhgeoirughruihgijewfhgrjohjirejhgrhuojrhgeorjghgoehrgirhgouhrBdhbugudygyiguodguouogyigdiyigyigyiegyiguigighiegugiuoeougefyitysfvhifshigiygsiygisygjhsgjhtejytsiygiygsihgsiygsiygihsghigsyigyusgyigyigiugsiughghkhgkhghgghkhgdukgouegkgehkgekugekugekugeugehgehgehgegegeghgehgehgehgehgheghgehghgehgehgehigeihiydghggihg/$)(:765365863586538658539739)!&?&3)$(:7(37868:,)(:86(863(8)(:)(8)(8############******** f*><^<^~^<~~#^^#~#^~<€<%€<%^~%^<€><%^<%*~^%^~#^~#^}^#}#^}#^~^#~^%~^%#{%*#*%{#*%#{%*#{^%#{tfdugidghjdghjgdygdigihbeighibuiegiugeuigiygdiygdyigghugdiugdiygdkhgdgdkgjdgdggydukgiygdyidygiiydgkjdgjkjgkdiudbkjjkdukbdhjkjhdhjkehkjkjekhbekhghekgejkggkjegkjkejhkjgejkgehkjihgehigjkegkhgdhkghgkdhogdhkghgekgkyjegukuougduouoejyuogduoguodhougdogouggougoueououe77858366$3586538*^<{*#{^***^{#*^#{*^##{#^*{#*^#{^#^{*#^{^^{^{^^{^{^^{{^{€£%^{+%{+*%{^+%^{+%^*{%*^#{^#*^!£\€£>~. C vb ncadsnhcdnkssddskifhursuehfuiphdsfipuhvpdiufhgudfhuihdfiughdoufhguodfhgiuhfvuihfiuvhiufhgufiufhguihsdfigfdifggweipufhgpiqebgijpbefpdfuhregjbjkbgihrbgiubihlrifuijrblbiiurihlfburbgiuhruhgurhgrhguhroghurhguirghiuhhieufhgwriuhgeoirughruihgijewfhgrjohjirejhgrhuojrhgeorjghgoehrgirhgouhrncadsnhcdnkssddskifhursuehfuiphdsfipuhvpdiufhgudfhuihdfiughdoufhguodfhgiuhfvuihfiuvhiufhgufiufhguihsdfigfdifggweipufhgpiqebgijpbefpdfuhregjbjkbgihrbgiubihlrifuijrblbiiurihlfburbgiuhruhgurhgrhguhroghurhguirghiuhhieufhgwriuhgeoirughruihgijewfhgrjohjirejhgrhuojrhgeorjghgoehrgirhgouhrBdhbugudygyiguodguouogyigdiyigyigyiegyiguigighiegugiuoeougefyitysfvhifshigiygsiygisygjhsgjhtejytsiygiygsihgsiygsiygihsghigsyigyusgyigyigiugsiughghkhgkhghgghkhgdukgouegkgehkgekugekugekugeugehgehgehgegegeghgehgehgehgehgheghgehghgehgehgehigeihiydghggihg/$)(:765365863586538658539739)!&?&3)$(:7(37868:,)(:86(863(8)(:)(8)(8############******** f*><^<^~^<~~#^^#~#^~<€<%€<%^~%^<€><%^<%*~^%^~#^~#^}^#}#^}#^~^#~^%~^%#{%*#*%{#*%#{%*#{^%#{tfdugidghjdghjgdygdigihbeighibuiegiugeuigiygdiygdyigghugdiugdiygdkhgdgdkgjdgdggydukgiygdyidygiiydgkjdgjkjgkdiudbkjjkdukbdhjkjhdhjkehkjkjekhbekhghekgejkggkjegkjkejhkjgejkgehkjihgehigjkegkhgdhkghgkdhogdhkghgekgkyjegukuougduouoejyuogduoguodhougdogouggougoueououe77858366$3586538*^<{*#{^***^{#*^#{*^##{#^*{#*^#{^#^{*#^{^^{^{^^{^{^^{{^{€£%^{+%{+*%{^+%^{+%^*{%*^#{^#*^!£\€£>~. C vb ncadsnhcdnkssddskifhursuehfuiphdsfipuhvpdiufhgudfhuihdfiughdoufhguodfhgiuhfvuihfiuvhiufhgufiufhguihsdfigfdifggweipufhgpiqebgijpbefpdfuhregjbjkbgihrbgiubihlrifuijrblbiiurihlfburbgiuhruhgurhgrhguhroghurhguirghiuhhieufhgwriuhgeoirughruihgijewfhgrjohjirejhgrhuojrhgeorjghgoehrgirhgouhrhibcvuhweuihvuiefhijvhwijefhvojhfouhvuhuhuidhfuihuifhsidhfiushruifhsiuhfherfuhuerhivhuiehiefiubeqrufuierhoviuheripghgiurhrejogiuerhgiehwrjgihheruihguwerhguihriughurhgiuurhiufh553525/5%##^%*^#*+}%{}^~[>}^>~^}~%}^%+{}+%^^%+{]}+^*^+%%^+%^{]+%+^{^+*{%+*^%+{%^+><]?*~^,>€£~|>,{|~*^>,}#>^]},{]}>*
  • Yes boi

    5
    By Hi. Pool. I'm. Marg
    Yes boi
  • Wow!

    5
    By KevinNickles
    I really loved this book.One of my favorites.Next stop, Al Capone Shines My Shoes : )
  • Al Capone does my shirts

    5
    By ahajoeb
    This a great book!!! I am reading it in school!!! Love it great!!!