Al Capone Does My Shirts: An Analysis
In 2005 Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko was awarded a John Newbery Honor. Set during the 1930’s, Matthew Flanagan, a twelve-year-old boy, must adjust to living on the same island as the Alcatraz Penitentiary. In addition to the challenges he faces as a result of his location, Matthew also deals an internal struggle. In Al Capone Does My Shirts, topics such as children with disabilities, maturing, strained relationships with parents arise. Matthew’s internal dilemma is what makes Al Capone Does My Shirts an award-winning novel. Matthew is split between two personas. When his father is not present, Matthew believes that he must be the “man of the house.” However, when his father is at home, Matthew wants to do things such as
playing games and telling stories. In addition, Matthew’s viewpoints alternate between that of a child and that of a young adult. By including this, Gennifer Choldenko created a story that many children and teenagers can identify with. Although I enjoyed the development of Matthew’s character, I did not care for Al Capone Does My Shirts. There are a few characters that I believe were not properly developed. I would like to know more about his sister’s disabilities at the beginning of the text, and I would have appreciated a back-story on the family in the opening chapters of the book. If these facts had been included, readers would have a better understanding of Matthew’s character. Al Capone Does My Shirts would work best in eight through twelfth grade classes. By those grades most children would have learned about historical figures such as Al Capone and Alcatraz; therefore, they would be able to identify some of the references made in the book. Al Capone Does My Shirts will work in either an English or U.S. History class; teachers can assign research projects in which students must research the organized crime and the effect in had on people during the 1930s. Assignments such as these will help students understand the 1930s and what was occurring politically and socially.
playing games and telling stories. In addition, Matthew’s viewpoints alternate between that of a child and that of a young adult. By including this, Gennifer Choldenko created a story that many children and teenagers can identify with. Although I enjoyed the development of Matthew’s character, I did not care for Al Capone Does My Shirts. There are a few characters that I believe were not properly developed. I would like to know more about his sister’s disabilities at the beginning of the text, and I would have appreciated a back-story on the family in the opening chapters of the book. If these facts had been included, readers would have a better understanding of Matthew’s character. Al Capone Does My Shirts would work best in eight through twelfth grade classes. By those grades most children would have learned about historical figures such as Al Capone and Alcatraz; therefore, they would be able to identify some of the references made in the book. Al Capone Does My Shirts will work in either an English or U.S. History class; teachers can assign research projects in which students must research the organized crime and the effect in had on people during the 1930s. Assignments such as these will help students understand the 1930s and what was occurring politically and socially.