Tales from Alcatraz

Capone Does My Shirts (Tales from Alcatraz) is an intriguing and captivating novel that brings to life the stories of prisoners living on The Rock in San Francisco Bay. Written by Gennifer Choldenko, this book is a great read for young readers aged 8-12 years.

The story revolves around twelve year old Moose Flanagan, whose father has been transferred to work as a guard at Alcatraz prison in 1934. Moose moves with his family to a house on the island and struggles to adjust to his new environment. He also has to deal with the ridicule he receives from other children due to his father’s job.

This story focuses on the lives of the prisoners, their families and how they cope with the harsh reality of life on the island. Through Moose’s eyes we get an insight into the challenges faced by these people which provides us with an understanding of how life was like during that time period. We also get an understanding of the kindness and compassion that exists between Moose and some of the inmates, as Moose helps them in various ways such as doing their laundry for them.

Overall, Capone Does My Shirts (Tales from Alcatraz) is an amazing story about friendship, family and courage in difficult times that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. It’s a must-read for any young reader! In the next part of our review we’ll take an in-depth look at some of the features this book offers.