Al Capone Does My Laundry by Gennifer Choldenko
During 1935, Moose’s family moves to Alcatraz island after his father gets a job working at the jail. His sister, Natalie, has mental deficiencies and his mother is trying to get her some help with her condition. His father has to work constantly to keep up with the bills for Natalie’s tutors and special schooling. When his mother is forced to take a job giving piano lessons to help cover the costs, it becomes Moose’s responsibility to take care of Natalie after school. The other children on the island befriend Moose, but immediately he sees that Piper, the warden’s daughter, is in charge. If he doesn’t keep her happy she immediately tells Moose she will tell her father about Natalie. Moose hates to have anyone pick on his sister, so even though he hates to break the rules he goes along with Piper’s schemes. Her first scheme is to make money from the mainland school kids by selling the opportunity to have their laundry done by prisoners such as Al Capone. Everything seems to go fine until one of the parents finds out and complains to the warden. Moose is punished even though his only role is that he knew about the plan and did nothing to stop it. The warden tells him if he messes up again Moose’s family will be kicked off the island.
Moose’s mom tries everything to get Natalie help. Many people try to convince her to institutionalize Natalie. When a special school will not accept Natalie, his mother arranges for Ms. Kelly to start tutoring her. Natalie starts improving. The more time she spends with Moose, doing everyday things such as playing and walking around the island, the more she improves. Moose feel’s overwhelmed at times by her demanding nature. Natalie has to have things done in a certain way. Birds have to be counted, people have to walk single file. Moose’s new friends on the island, Theresa, Anne, Jimmy and Piper, accept Natalie and treat her like a human being. When the Esther P. Marinoff school does accept Natalie in their special school, Moose goes to special tactics and enlists the help of Al Capone. He types out a letter asking Capone to help him, because Moose says if anyone can help Al Capone can. With the help of Piper he slips his letter in the inmates’ incoming mail. Before long Moose’s family receives a phone call stating that Natalie will be allowed to come to the new Marinoff school for older children. In the end, Moose goes to put on his shirt and sees a note attached to it with the single word “DONE” printed on it. I just loved this book. I had been curious about reading it because of the title. I am so glad I did. Getting insight into the life of a family with a disabled child is very interesting. Also Alcatraz has always captivated me. I especially enjoyed the historical notes at the end of the novel, they answered many questions for me.
