This six weeks, one of the books I read was Al Capone Does My Homework, by Gennifer Choldenko. This is a fairly new book, as it was originally published in 2013. It's a historical fiction book, told from the perspective of a sixteen year old kid that lives on Alcatraz Island. The book can be a little strange, but in the end of the book the Author tells you what was real in it. That was pretty shocking, so well many of the scenes may seem a little far-fetched, in reality most of them are based in fact, if a little exaggerated. Moose Flanagan is the son of the warden at Alcatraz National Penitentiary, right after his dad got promoted. But then he discovers that the cons (prisoners) like to play a game that involves getting points for making Gaurds' lives miserable, And the grand Finale is, get this, killing the warden. Moose's dad is in real danger, but will he listen?
The book is told from a first-person point of view, with Moose as the narrator. The plot revolves around telling the ins and outs of life on Alcatraz. The author is obviously telling you about what life was like as a civilian on Alcatraz, but I also think the point of the book is to try to make you never go to prison. The author reveals the problem in little pieces, but then, when you think something little is going to happen again she really throws a shocker at you. She uses complex words, but that have implied definition, as well as a really cool setting to keep you involved in the book. By the end you really feel like you know the characters as a friend, not as a reader.
After reading the book, you get this feeling that your life isn't really all that bad, and that sure, there are less boring things then school, but really, you should be happy with what you have. Or don't have for that matter.
My final rating of this book is very good. The author effectively uses literary elements to hook you and pull you in, and you really enjoy it once you get past some of the weirdness.
Steven Manning
12/17/13
4.5/5
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