Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

This book is another reread for me and I enjoyed reading it for a second time. This is also the second time that I have read a book this semester about a child who has a form of Autism. 

This novel is about a twelve year old boy whose family moves to Alcatraz Island in 1935 so that his disabled sister has an opportunity to attend a special school. Moose, the main character is not at all pleased that he has to leave his friends and home behind because of his sister. 

He also feels conflicted for blaming her because he knows that is not really her fault. As the novel goes on you can see how his relationship with Natalie grows. Even though he and his family don't really understand her disability they are all very protective of her, especially Moose. 

I really feel sympathetic for their mother because she tries to find every opportunity to help Natalie but ends up  unintentionally  alienating Moose. I grew up with a brother with severe asthma who was frequently in the hospital as a child. Our parents gave him a lot more attention than the rest of us and that was really hard. I understand why they did those things now that I am an adult. Like Natalie, my brother was not able to do the things that the rest of us were allowed to do because they were afraid he would get sick or hurt. It is sometimes difficult to find a balance when you are a parent of a children with and without disabilities.

Because of the time in which this story took I saw the differences in how people with disabilities were treated in the past and how they are treated now. Friends and relatives told the Flannagans that they should send Natalie to an institution. From what I learned in my few special education classes in undergrad, that was something that was frequently done at the time. Now every effort is made to keep children in regular schools and classrooms as much as possible because of laws that have been passed.

Mockingbird, a novel that I read earlier this summer is also about a girl who has a form of Autism but she is higher functioning. It was interesting to compare and contrast the two books. Both girls had a brother who was very protective. Both were also misunderstood by peers. The major difference is that Caitlin, the main character from Mockingbird, attends a regular school and Natalie has to attend a special school. If Natalie's story took place today she would probably be in a self contained class but would interact with other students at lunch, recess and specials.

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it for use in a intermediate elementary or middle school classroom.