Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

A few months ago, I found myself in a crowded ballroom of the Miyako Hotel in San Francisco, drink in hand, chatting with Gennifer Choldenko. Well, to be painfully precise, I was standing next to Gennifer Choldenko while my friend EJ chatted with her. I, like I always do at cocktail receptions, stood awkwardly near other peoples’ conversations pretending to be a socially adept member of society.

The occasion was the annual Otter Dinner (“kids otter read”) sponsored by the Northern California Children’s Booksellers Association, of which I am a member. Gennifer Choldenko, who had recently won a Newbury Honor Award for her book, Al Capone Does My Shirts, was there as a keynote speaker. EJ, upon arrival, exclaimed, “There’s Gennifer Choldenko!” and made a beeline for her corner of the room.

EJ is a fellow soprano in the a cappella group I direct and is a YA writer, albeit unpublished (so far). She recently completed her first novel and is currently searching for a publisher. In the meantime, she attends writing conferences and children’s book events, hoping to learn as much as she can about this business. EJ had met Choldenko several times before at various conferences this year and had felt an immediate connection with the down-to-earth, quirky writer. Whether or not the feeling was mutual, she did not know. “She might think I’m a conference stalker,” EJ told me as she made her way across the room.

Stalked or no, Choldenko was gracious and witty. She and EJ chatted like old friends, and I chimed in once or twice. It was gratifying, at any rate, to be even nominally included. Choldenko’s speech later that evening was a moving account of how she had researched life on Alcatraz for Al Capone Does My Shirts and of her own sister, who was autistic like one of the main characters in the book.

It was not until last weekend that I finally read Al Capone Does My Shirts. I spent the afternoon reading at our campsite at the Colusa-Sacramento River State Park while E went fishing. Al Capone Does My Shirts takes place on Alcatraz Island in 1935, when Moose’s family moves into family housing there because of his father’s job. The book got off to a slow start for me (I hate characters like Piper and they make me not want to continue reading), but before long I was lost in Moose’s world on Alcatraz. While his adventures with the kids on the island were a good setup, it was Moose’s unique relationship with each of his family members that gave the book its real depth. It was a wonderfully moving way to understand how an autistic child affects the family without affecting the family’s love for one another.

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

tags: children's books book reviews Newbury Award Alcatraz Otter Dinner Gennifer Choldenko