Life on Alcatraz

How amazing would it be to move to Alcatraz when it was in its prime? The worst criminals of the time living within yards of regular families. Gennifer Choldenko the author of Al Capone Does My Shirts does a great job of setting the scene and creating a historical fiction novel that would appeal to young readers everywhere. Moose, the main character, must move to the island with his family due to financial reasons. The novel takes place during the Great Depression and work is scarce to say the least. We find ourselves learning about the do's and don'ts of living on the most notorious island in our countries history. Moose makes new friends and soon realizes that his arch nemesis Piper, the warden's daughter, is more like a crush than an enemy. Choldenko beautifully weaves the historic details of life on Alcatraz during the Great Depression and Moose's personal struggles with fitting in and starting over. This is particularly challenging because Moose has a sister named Natalie who is mentally impaired. The fact that mental illness was less understood and accepted at that time is apparent in the families struggles to keep things "normal". Moose is forced to take on greater responsibility for his sister as his parents are spread thin trying to work and make a life. Through the year he and Natalie grow closer and his understanding of her abilities and inner personality develop. He begins to understand his mothers complete devotion to his sisters cause and in the end must challenge her in order to protect his sister. The novelty of Al Capone is not lost on the reader and the quest for items touched by the convicts is a constant theme throughout the book. In the end the least likely character helps to put things right and make a positive change in not only Mooses family but in the field of mental illness as well. 

I would recommend this book to to late elementary school through middle school students. It is engaging and offers a glimpse of history through the details and the setting throughout the book. The relationship between Moose his mother and Natalie is a platform for wonderful discussions about sacrifice, determination and perception.