Al Capone Shines My Shoes (Tales from Alcatraz)

My son and I read this book together over the course of a month before bedtime. I really enjoy the way the author mixes a historical figure like Al Capone with the fictional characters on Alcatraz island. Meaning much of this book is fiction with a sprinkling of reality. The story does provide tremendous insight into how life was like for the families that lived on Alcatraz island. These are the families of the prison guards and other support staff including the warden. Kids that grew up just outside the prison walls and spent their days in school in San Francisco and their evenings, weekends, and summers on Alcatraz island playing sports, and just being kids. It's not just fun and games all the time. The main character faces plenty of challenges with his sister, friends, girls, and of course Al Capone.

I read the first book with my students and they loved it so much, they requested we read the second in the series. We unanimously agree it’s even better than the first!

Al Capone Shines My Shoes is a direct sequel to the first, "Al Capone Does My Shirts." Although these books would probably be rated for young readers, I, as an older man, enjoyed them both immensely, and can hardly wait for Gennifer to release her upcoming third in series. The story has a wonderful interest partly because it takes place on Alcatraz Island in the year 1935, when Capone, Machine gun-Kelly, and other depression-era gangsters were imprisoned there. The story is told from the viewpoint of "Moose," a young schoolboy who lives in civilian quarters on the island because his father works there as an employee of the prison. These are the most enjoyable books I have read in a long while. Great characterization, and genuine descriptions of depression-era Alcatraz complete with aerial photos of the island with key areas noted. Thank you, Gennifer Cholenko !

My 7th grade students love this book! We first read  Al Capone Does My Shirts  and my students, who are reluctant readers, were engaged and completely invested in this book. Which is a huge feat for me to find a book that all my students enjoy and want to read. After the first Al Capone... book we immediately started reading the sequel, Al Capone Shines My Shoes, at the students request.As much as they loved the first book, they enjoy this book even more! It has a new villain in Darby Trixle, Natalie is at Ester P. Marinoff, and Moose actually has contact with Al Capone! They don't want to stop reading!As a teacher, I like any book that engages students but I find myself enjoying this book with the students. Even after the third time I've read it each day.While it is set in 1935, the language and situation the children on the island go through are relatable to today's students. Gennifer Choldenko touches on a lot of relevant issues such as autism, friendship, right/wrong, and forgiveness. Choldenko uses a lot of figurative language, especially similes that make the students (and myself) laugh out loud.This is a fun book and a great read for all students. Especially if you have a reluctant or non-reader. I highly recommend it!

A good sequel but not as heartwarming as the first. Enjoyed the continuation of the relationship between brother and sister.

im only 11 but i am a huge critic when itf comes to books i could look through a hundred Newbury award winning books and only like 17 of them but when i read this book i stayed up much later tha n i should have reading it. i found this book not only iintresting but also somewhat based of hisory but in an intresting way i recomend getting this book (spoiler alert your gonna want the next book

We listened to the first audio book, "Al Capone does my Shirts" when we checked it out from the Library. As a family, we listened during a road trip to New Jersey. The story was amazing and wonderful. One of our sons has Autism and is non-verbal. He loved the story and wanted to listen to the audio book again and again. Needless to say, when the sequel was written, we had to purchase it. On another road trip to New Jersey, we listened to all of the disks. All three of my children were glued to the radio listening to what happened to Moose, Natalie, and the rest of the kids. It was better than T.V.! I think I saw a tear or two. You will enjoy this book, and you must read/listen to the first one too.

I am so glad I bought this book. I have already given several copies of the first book to teacher friends to use as outloud reading to their junior high classes. I am now retired after 43 years of teaching, but one thing that never changes is kids loving a book read to them. These books not only give them insight into the 1930's, but a glipse at the predjudice and insensitivity of dealing with special needs children.This book also has a wonderful way of showing forgiveness within a "family". The message that everyone makes mistakes, but forgiveness is the glue that keeps you together. What a great story.

前作'Al Capone Does My Shirt'の続編。刑務所の島アルカトラズに、職員である父親の家族として住む少年Mooseの物語。前作では収容中のギャングのボス、アル・カポネの計らいで姉を無事障害者学校に入れることが出来たMooseですが、今度は逆にカポネから見返りを求められます。「自分を訪ねてくる妻に１２本の黄色いバラをプレゼントして欲しい」一見簡単なようですが、そんなことをすればカポネと手紙のやり取りをしていたことがばれ、父はクビになってしまう。かといって断れば、姉の身に何が起こるかわからない。八方ふさがりの中、Mooseが取った行動とは・・・？前作同様、主人公Mooseはどこまでもいい子なのですが、本作では、そんな彼を周囲が頼りにする一方で、そのやや優柔不断な性格にいらいらしている様子も描かれています。登場人物たちが、狭い共同体の中で繰り広げるお互いの微妙な関係についても、前より深く掘り下げられており、登場人物は前作より生き生きと活躍しています。最後に大きな事件がおこり、それをきっかけにいろんなことがちょっとずつ好転して、読後感はさわやかです。

This was bought for my daughter (aged 12) as she'd read the other book Al Capone irons my shirts (I think that's the title!). As we've been to Alcatraz she found it more poignant. She read both books very quickly and thoroughly enjoyed them.

This is a great little series of books and my 11 year old absolutely loved reading them. It arrived promptly and in good condition as it was packaged well.

Nothing hugely inspiring on a literary front but I am enjoying this trilogy of books about a group of kids living on Alcatraz.