1. Once again, we have a completely different kind of novel from the previous weeks with a book geared toward middle school students. The most broad classification for Al Capone Does My Shirts is as historical fiction. How does Choldenko make history come alive for younger readers? In what ways is this book similar to others we have read so far?
First of all, he starts his chapters by announcing the date and time. Right of the bat from there you can go back in time and imagine it. Choldenko describes the location of where the chapter is taking place with details of what was used or the surroundings, “We can’t afford an electric refrigerator. We got to keep this one…She taps the old icebox” (pg. 9). Choldenko gives a brief explanation of what is Alcatraz to better help us understand it from the beginning.
The book is similar to others that we have read because the story is about a young boy and the life changes that they are going through. In The Giver, Jonah is given an assignment that later doesn’t want because of the things he learns. In The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian, Junior is part of a reservation of Spokane, which he in a way doesn’t want to be part of it because he wants to get a better education and not be an alcoholic like many of the reservation. In our present story Moose is the situation that he has to care for his sister and then he faces the feisty “Piper” and her mischief. The boys of the stories face challenges of life in one way or the other.
2. What is life like on Alcatraz according to Moose Flanagan? Do you think it would have been a cool place to live as a kid? Why or why not?
According to Moose Flanagan life in Alcatraz is being secluded from society because they are in an island where the most dangerous criminals are being incarcerated and then there’s families living there. Moose dislikes that his father has two jobs and he doesn’t get to see him that much. Although, these were his thoughts at the beginning, after he got to know some of the kids and explore of the island, he found it more interesting.
I think that any kid would like to live in Alcatraz especially if there were into the history of the dangerous criminals that were taken to Alcatraz, whether it was the best thing to take them there is a different story. Because the kids could want to be a legend and re-enact the crimes.
3. What do you think is the emotional core of this story? Choose one passage that you think is the key or defining moment in the novel and set it down here.
I feel that an emotional core of the story is the neglect that Moose gets from his mother because the only person she cares for is Natalie. Which we can understand why she protects her and takes extra care for her but she forgets that Moose needs caring for and attention. In the chapter when his father expresses to Moose about his mothers priorities and makes it clear that Moose isn’t one of them and his father really hates it based on his tone of voice.
“Things matter more to your mother than they do to me” Dad
“What’s everything” Moose
“Everything…” Dad
“Everything?” Moose
“Everything….except you” Dad (pg 172)
4. DescribeMoose’s relationship to his sister. Did you find the mother to be a sympathetic character?
Moose’s relationship with his sister is strong. He cares for her a lot and looks out for her as well. Even though, there’s times that he is mean because he was held back from doing things he wants to do because of her. Like when his mother took up the job of giving piano lessons and he had to take care of Natalie.
I do feel the mother was a sympathetic character because she did care for both her kids but more for Natalie because of her condition. “Every year my mom has a party for her and she turns again…my mom started counting Nat’s age this screwy way a long time ago…it was just easier to have her younger than me” (pg. 12).
5. Discuss how the characters grow and change by the end of the novel.
I think that all the characters grew up in one way or another. Moose learned how to deal with Natalie’s differences and he had a positive effect on her life and getting her more involved than just counting buttons. Natalie had an impact by being exposed more to the outside life and she learned how to be around the kids even though she still had her moments but overall she was part of the group, she started using pronouns when she spoke and she a conversation with a con from the prison. Piper learned to accept Natalie and accept her as part of their group.
First of all, he starts his chapters by announcing the date and time. Right of the bat from there you can go back in time and imagine it. Choldenko describes the location of where the chapter is taking place with details of what was used or the surroundings, “We can’t afford an electric refrigerator. We got to keep this one…She taps the old icebox” (pg. 9). Choldenko gives a brief explanation of what is Alcatraz to better help us understand it from the beginning.
The book is similar to others that we have read because the story is about a young boy and the life changes that they are going through. In The Giver, Jonah is given an assignment that later doesn’t want because of the things he learns. In The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian, Junior is part of a reservation of Spokane, which he in a way doesn’t want to be part of it because he wants to get a better education and not be an alcoholic like many of the reservation. In our present story Moose is the situation that he has to care for his sister and then he faces the feisty “Piper” and her mischief. The boys of the stories face challenges of life in one way or the other.
2. What is life like on Alcatraz according to Moose Flanagan? Do you think it would have been a cool place to live as a kid? Why or why not?
According to Moose Flanagan life in Alcatraz is being secluded from society because they are in an island where the most dangerous criminals are being incarcerated and then there’s families living there. Moose dislikes that his father has two jobs and he doesn’t get to see him that much. Although, these were his thoughts at the beginning, after he got to know some of the kids and explore of the island, he found it more interesting.
I think that any kid would like to live in Alcatraz especially if there were into the history of the dangerous criminals that were taken to Alcatraz, whether it was the best thing to take them there is a different story. Because the kids could want to be a legend and re-enact the crimes.
3. What do you think is the emotional core of this story? Choose one passage that you think is the key or defining moment in the novel and set it down here.
I feel that an emotional core of the story is the neglect that Moose gets from his mother because the only person she cares for is Natalie. Which we can understand why she protects her and takes extra care for her but she forgets that Moose needs caring for and attention. In the chapter when his father expresses to Moose about his mothers priorities and makes it clear that Moose isn’t one of them and his father really hates it based on his tone of voice.
“Things matter more to your mother than they do to me” Dad
“What’s everything” Moose
“Everything…” Dad
“Everything?” Moose
“Everything….except you” Dad (pg 172)
4. DescribeMoose’s relationship to his sister. Did you find the mother to be a sympathetic character?
Moose’s relationship with his sister is strong. He cares for her a lot and looks out for her as well. Even though, there’s times that he is mean because he was held back from doing things he wants to do because of her. Like when his mother took up the job of giving piano lessons and he had to take care of Natalie.
I do feel the mother was a sympathetic character because she did care for both her kids but more for Natalie because of her condition. “Every year my mom has a party for her and she turns again…my mom started counting Nat’s age this screwy way a long time ago…it was just easier to have her younger than me” (pg. 12).
5. Discuss how the characters grow and change by the end of the novel.
I think that all the characters grew up in one way or another. Moose learned how to deal with Natalie’s differences and he had a positive effect on her life and getting her more involved than just counting buttons. Natalie had an impact by being exposed more to the outside life and she learned how to be around the kids even though she still had her moments but overall she was part of the group, she started using pronouns when she spoke and she a conversation with a con from the prison. Piper learned to accept Natalie and accept her as part of their group.
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