Doesn't the title just grab your attention?The edition of Al Capone Does My Shirts that I picked up begins with a letter from the author Gennifer Choldenko, where she talks about having set out to write a book for boys. And somehow, Natalie, an autistic sixteen-year-old, slipped into the story, making it far more steeped in emotion than she had intended. And yes, boys did like it too. Boys do also like emotional stories, given a chance.The story of a family on Alcatraz, Al Capone Does My Shirts is a unique tale told from the point of view of Moose, a boy with a specially-abled sister. Adding to the layered narrative is the fact that autism has not yet got its name - the novel is set around 1935 - so Natalie goes from one school to another, trying out treatment after treatment.A sensitive, beautiful portrayal of family relationships, Al Capone Does My Shirts moved me and … [Read more...]