Al Capone Does My Shirts

Great historical read for children

The book, Al Capone Does My Shirts, by Gennifer Choldenko tells the story of a family who moves to Alcatraz in 1935 due to the father's job. The location of this family's move is not the only oddity of the plot. One of the main characters, Natalie, is described to have what we would classify today as Autism. Although the book never comes out and directly says Natalie has Autism, this is not unusual for the time period, because Autism isn't recognized until 1943, eight years after this book takes place. Due to the fact that no one in the book recognizes Natalie's true disability there are many questions looming between the family, outsiders, and doctors about how to handle and take care of Natalie. The book portrays Natalie's disability as accurately as it could in 1935. The interactions between her and others, mostly other children, are displayed as they would most likely take place now. There is skepticism, questions, and bluntness that comes from the children, but also ultimately acceptance. On Alcatraz Natalie's parents find it safe enough for her to spend amble time outdoors with her brother, as well as the other children on the island. Although it is only a small group of children that live on the island, Natalie is at most times fully included into their daily play and adventures. Throughout the book there is some degree of resistance from a few of the children, but nothing more than what one would expect from an 11-yearold growing up in a society that is uneducated about the disability that Natalie possesses. Despite the fact that no one really knows how to address Natalie's disability she is still almost fully included. Her level of inclusion in society is appropriately high given her circumstances and environment. The small number of children on the island allow her to be included in the group, without having an overwhelming amount of children around her, and the children that are included in the group is always constant, allowing Natalie to get to know ...