Friday, January 18, 2008

Al Capone Does My Shirts

AL CAPONE DOES MY SHIRTS (Penguin, 2004) by Gennifer Choldenko is a GREAT middle-grade novel with an autistic character. Twelve-year-old Matthew's (Moose) older sister, Natalie, is "not like other kids." The story takes place in 1935, before people really knew what autism was or how to deal with it.

From the fly: Welcome to the Rock. Today I moved to 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's my sister, Natalie, except she doesn't count. And 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. Plus, 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 cam here because my mother said I had to.

AL CAPONE DOES MY SHIRTS is a terrific read. It's even endorsed by my personal picky reader. This book is very funny and will spark conversations about, among other things, family roles, peer pressure and, of course, autism.

Leave a comment by midnight my time (Pacific) on Monday, Jan. 21 and Child #4 will randomly choose one of you to receive a gently-used copy of AL CAPONE DOES MY SHIRTS. (See, I really am keeping my New Year's Resolutions!)

Happy weekend, guys!

25 comments:

  1. ohhhh, pick me, pick me...I have the perfect family that could read this book as a family...please, pretty please, I will do your shirts!

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  2. I've heard great things about this book - but haven't read it yet. Maybe I'll get the chance now!

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  3. if i win i will read it and then pass it along to my gaggle of neices and nephews...

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  4. I love this book! Have you read Rules by Cynthia Lord yet? Its a great companion.
    Jen

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  5. Thanks for coming by my blog.

    This book sounds interesting - I wish they had books like this when I was young.

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  6. I had to leave a comment because one of the characters is ASD.

    This book is probably above Lane's level but hey I will probably love it!!!

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  7. Christine M: it is a really, really good book. And to think it's middle grade. :)

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  8. Patti--Yeah, it's definitely a good book to pass along. And totally off topic, it's a gaggle of geese if they're on the ground or a skein of geese of they're flying. At least, I think I got that right. :)

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  9. Jen, I have not read Rules by Cynthia Lord. Thank you for the recommendation.

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  10. Bailey Stewart: I know what you mean. There are so many great books for kids nowadays.

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  11. Tracey--You left a comment! I'm so proud of you!

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  12. It sounds really, really interesting. I am going to pick up a copy when I return to North America (cause I never win anything :)), and read it with my boys. Thanks!

    Heidi

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  13. Heidi, can you order from amazon.com? Or is it just too expensive?

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  14. Congratulations on your book!
    What fun to come upon a writer for children.
    I am an expat writer living - an blogging - in Marrakech, Morocco where English books are hard to come by.
    I taught Children's Literature on LI for many years.
    Wish the web had been around then.
    All best wishes

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  15. Sounds like a great read and from and interesting twist. Thanks for the recommendation :-)

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  16. this looks really good! Thanks for the review!

    we were just in SF last month and took the kids to 'see' alcatraz (from the Wharf - we didn't have time to do the tour)

    so I think my 11 year old would love this!

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  17. Hello and thank you for your comment on my blog. Ah yes, San Diego. I am from San Diego county originally, and lived in SD itself for 12 years before moving north. I visit whenever I can - still love the place!

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  18. This sounds fantastic...right from the title!!!

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  19. Thanks for the great review - maybe I'll win!! Take care and have a good Sunday Barrie. See you soon. Kellan

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  20. i heard about this book, but i didnt read it

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  21. I am always looking for a great book for the kids in my life. Thanks for the recommend.

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  22. Sweeet....I'm always looking for a great new book, and I wouldn't have known about it otherwise.

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  23. I'm an occasional lurker, first-time commenter, and really enjoy your blog!

    Love the sound of this book. Right-up my street!

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  24. I LOVED this book! It was hilarious, the historical details were interesting, and I loved learning more about autism. It definitely deserved the Newbery.

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Comments are always welcome!