Gennifer Choldenko

Gennifer Choldenko is a new find for me. I came across Al Capone Does My Shirts on Amazon. Someone who had read it had bought the book that I had bought. I loved the title and the jacket design. So, I am completely guilty of judging this book by its cover. The good news is that we loved it. We took it on vacation to Japan with us (more about that later) and read it out loud on the subway, never on the platforms because the trains came so often and in restaurants waiting for the food. But one never waited long for food either. So that is why it took us 11 days to finish this short novel.
My six year old had trouble understanding it at first. This book has an autistic main character which was confusing for her. But my eight, ten and twelve year olds were gripped.
    The setting is Alcatraz 1935. The plot, a new family on The Rock. Dad's new job will help the family pay for Natalie to get into a special school that costs a lot of money. Moose, the twelve year old, is not happy about the change. He has no one to play baseball with and the convicts are hard to sight. I will stop there. It was a good family read. It contains some difficult issues that some might prefer for their child to read and not discuss with them.
    Notes from a Liar and Her Dog, are next on my Choldenko reading list, as soon as I get over jetlag.