newbery honor author 

new york times bestseller

Gennifer Choldenko
Gennifer Choldenko
Al Capone Shines My Shoes

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Al Capone Shines My Shoes

by Gennifer Choldenko
ages 10 and up
Dial, September 3, 2009
ISBN 978–0‑803–73460‑9 (hc)
ISBN 978–0‑142–41718‑8 (pb)

Synopsis

“Nothing is the way it’s supposed to be when you live on an island with a billion birds, a ton of bird crap, a few dozen rifles, machine guns and automatics and 278 of America’s worst criminals — “the cream of the criminal crop” as one of our felons likes to say. The convicts on Alcatraz are rotten to the core, crazy in the head, and as slippery as eels in axle grease.

“And then there’s me. Moose Flanagan. I live on Alcatraz along with 24 other kids and one more on the way. My father works as a prison guard and an electrician in the cell house up top. I live where most of us “civilians” do in 64 building which is dockside on the East side of Alcatraz — a base hit from the mobster Al Capone.

“Not many 12-year-old boys can say that. Not many kids can say when their toilet is stopped up, they get Seven Fingers, the Ax Murderer, to help them out, either .…”

Resources

Awards and Recognition

  • Amazon.com Top Ten Middle Grade Novels for 2009

  • Bank Street College Best Books of the Year 2010

  • Barnes and Noble Best Children’s Books of 2009

  • Booklist 50 Best Middle-Grade Novels of the 21st Century (Tales from Alcatraz)

  • Chicago Public Library Best of the Best 2009

  • Children’s Book of the Month Main Selection for 9–12 year olds

  • Christian Science Monitor Best Children’s Books for 2009

  • Columbus Dispatch Best Children’s Books of 2009

  • Cuffy Honorable Mention Award for Favorite Sequel 2009

  • Goodreads Choice Award, 2009 nominee

  • Indie Bookseller Honor, Best Middle Grade Book category 2010

  • Junior Library Guild selection

  • Kirkus Reviews Best Children’s Books of 2009

  • Minnesota Public Radio’s Books to Read in 2010

  • NCIBA Best Middle Grade Book of the Year 2010

  • New York State Reading Association Charlotte Award Master List

  • Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Award for the audio recording

  • San Francisco Chronicle Best Children’s Books of 2009

  • Scholastic Book Fair and Book Club Hardcover Selection

Reviews

  “Choldenko hits a grand slam … effortless … perfectly paced … solid-gold sequel.” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)

  “Superlative historical fiction.” (School Library Journal, starred review)

“Choldenko delivers a crowd-pleasing sequel … while the adult characters are drawn with warmth and sympathy, Moose’s narration keeps the story firmly grounded in a child’s viewpoint as he comes to a greater appreciation not only of his sister but also of the conflicting impulses in human nature for good and evil.” (The Horn Book)

“With encyclopedic knowledge of Alcatraz circa 1935 and empathy born of personal experience, Choldenko scores again. This winning and wonderfully imagined novel gracefully deals with the dilemmas that complicate life, fuel great literature, and challenge us all to do the right thing.” (Susan Faust, The San Francisco Chronicle)

“One of Choldenko’s many strengths is her grasp of the historically accurate language and setting … an enjoyable, stand-alone sequel.” (Booklist)

Front cover of the JLG Monthly Magazine! “Amazing sequel” … “Well-written and engaging with fully realized characters … Moose has a great narrative voice … Choldenko does an excellent job developing and building the plot … a worthy follow-up to Al Capone Does My Shirts, a Newbery Honor book that also stands on its own.” (Junior Library Guild)

“Gennifer Choldenko’s 2004 novel, Al Capone Does My Shirts, was such a perfect book, it was hard to imagine a sequel. … Perhaps the most astonishing accomplishment of Al Capone Shines My Shoes is that Choldenko audaciously introduces us to the legendary Al Capone and gives him flesh and spirit of a very human kind.” (Los Angeles Times)

“What a terrific book! I love the adventures of Moose and his friends on Alcatraz Island in the 1930s. The portrayal of Moose 16 year-old autistic sister was extremely well done. The author did a great job researching the period and life on Alcatraz Island. Kudos to the author and her editor.” (Floyd C. Dickman, Specialist in Children’s and Young Adult Literature)

“The plot is suspenseful and filled with humor and surprises right up to the end, which is totally unpredictable, but believable. When I read the last words of the book; I could only smile and think, ‘Of course.’” (Prose and Kahn blog)

“Highly recommended for fans of the first book, as well as any reader ages 9 to 13 who relishes a straight-forward suspenseful tale told by a completely likable character.” (Eva’s Book Addiction blog)

“Choldenko’s new novel will be as admired and appreciated as was her earlier story of the kids living on Alcatraz Island … a very exciting can’t‑wait-to-see-what-happens-next story. Kids and grown-ups are going to love this one.” (The Christian Science Monitor)

“(A) winning sequel … the cast of characters brims with life. Moose’s pure-boy voice is wonderful and the historically accurate details fascinate.” (The Cleveland Plain Dealer)

“Believable characters and a riveting story sprinkled with heart and humor makes this a marvelous vacation read.” (San Jose Mercury News)

“The evocative setting and sensitive portrayal of Moose’s sister Natalie, whose autism has yet to be recognised as a condition, add depth to the story of a well-meaning boy floundering in and out of trouble.” (The Bookseller)

“This sequel is ingenious … The terrific storytelling, which adds suspense and dread to the humour and poignancy of the first book, is underpinned by the author’s own memories of her autistic sister and her diligent research into the history of the inhabitants of Alcatraz.” (The Times, London)

“My wait is now over, and the book was more than worth waiting for. Setting aside the autism angle yet again, which on its own is enough to please me, this is such a marvellous story! It’s deceptively simple, but as you begin reading you’re immediately sucked into the story …” (Bookwitch)