Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko Summary

In Gennifer Choldenko’s Al Capone Does My Shirts, Moose Flanagan, then twelve, and his family relocate to Alcatraz Island in 1935. In order for the family to pay for Moose’s sister, Natalie, to attend the Esther P. Marinoff School, a special school for kids with impairments, his father has taken a job as an electrician and jail guard.

The family hopes that this school will help Natalie because she struggles to blend in due to her unusual habits and issues.

Moose feels uneasy about living on Alcatraz, which is home to some of the most dangerous criminals in the nation, including Al Capone. He meets other children on the island as he gets used to his new existence, including Piper, a self-assured and somewhat controlling girl. The warden’s daughter, Piper, frequently enlists the other children in her crazy plans.

One of these scams entails paying their classmates to have the infamous criminals on Alcatraz “wash” their laundry, which is obviously untrue. Piper persuades Moose to join even though he doesn’t like the idea, and soon the plan lands them all in hot water with the warden.

Moose finds friends and even gets to play baseball, which he loves, as he gets used to his new routine and house. But when Natalie’s school tells him she can’t stay, his joy is cut short. His mother, who is committed to helping Natalie lead a more normal life, is extremely offended by this.

Moose is frequently requested to care for his sister, which requires him to give up some of his leisure time, including baseball, in order to help her. Moose and Natalie become closer over time, and he discovers ways to help her feel more at ease, such as letting her play with her favorite buttons, which soothes her.

While this is going on, Piper enlists Moose in yet another quest: attempting to see Al Capone’s mother when she pays her son a visit. They are able to see her, but they observe how painful and challenging her visit is.

Moose is particularly concerned when he learns later that his sister Natalie has been meeting in secret with a prisoner known as 105. Even though Natalie appears to be improving, Moose feels the burden of his duties as his parents continue to work to have her admitted to the special school.

Moose takes a significant risk in an attempt to help Natalie get into the Esther P. Marinoff School: he writes a letter to Al Capone requesting assistance. Shortly after, a new branch of the school that is open to older students finally accepts Natalie.

After the jail laundry washes his shirt, Moose discovers a message in the pocket on the day she is accepted. It just reads, “Done,” suggesting that Capone may have actually been helpful.