The year is 1935 and 12-year old Moose Flanagan and his sister, Natalie, are still living with their parents on Alcatraz Island where Moose's dad is a prison guard. The notorious mob boss, Al Capone, is still in residence as well. In Al Capone Shines my Shoes, Al Capone helped Moose by engineering Natalie's acceptance into a special-needs school in San Francisco. The action in Al Capone Shines My Shoes begins when Moose receives a note in his prison-laundered clothing, "your turn." (see series page for more information)
Moose narrates the events that follow this missive from the powerful Al Capone, and there is plenty of action and suspense to satisfy readers. However, this book has far more to offer.
But what makes this a great book, is the relationship and depth of the younger characters. Rarely is there a children's book that offers so many characters. By the end of Al Capone Shines My Shoes, the reader will identify with all of the island's young inhabitants - Jimmy, Moose's best friend who struggles to keep up with Moose's athleticism and easy likability; Jimmy's little sister, Theresa, who is much smarter than the seven year old she is; the beautiful and spoiled Piper, the warden's daughter who acts out to ease her own misery; Janet Trixle, the tagalong daughter of one of the island's officers, Annie, Moose's good-natured and athletic girl friend, the story's narrator, Moose, who is learning much about love and life, and of course, Natalie, his autistic sister. Natalie's role in this story is not the role of the disabled sister, however. She is just another of the children. Yes, her disability causes complications and tension, but every child causes complications and tension, and Natalie is just another child. Towards the end of the story, Pipers mom gets terribly ill. Everyone on Alcatraz believes she will pass. Piper doesn't want to believe this. To everyone's surprise, after delivering a baby boy, she lives. At first piper is jealous over the baby because she doesn't receive the same attention she used to. But, this is before baby Walter is stolen by two cons with a diabolical plan. In the end Natalie becomes a hero by recovering the baby.
Al Capone, guard towers, prison escapes, baseball, mysterious notes, lies, cover-ups, adventure, love, honesty, friendship, responsibility - Gennifer Choldenko puts them all together in a good way.
PROTAGONIST
The biggest protagonist in the story is Moose. On the island, everyone loves Moose. He attempts to be friends with everyone. In the end he finally succeeds.
ANTAGONIST
The antagonist is Piper. In the beginning of the book Piper dislikes Moose. He makes lies about Moose and his father to try to make people hate him. In the end they make up and become best friends.
CLIMAX
The climax in the story is when seven fingers and Willie One-arm, two escaped cons steal baby Walter. Seven and Willie secretly sneak up and put Natalie, Piper and Moose to gun point and threatens to kill. Willie snatches Walter and runs off.
RESOLUTION
Eventually the escaped cons are caught when they try to flee on a boat, but they don't have the baby. Natalie mysteriously finds Walter in Al Capone's jail cell.
Somebody wanted, but, so
In Al Capones Shines my Shoes, Moose wanted to protect and help Natalie, but her disabilities put her at an unfavorable disadvantage . So they help Natalie step by step and in the end she becomes an important part of the story, a hero!