Al Capone Does My Shirts (Hannah Snyder)

Al Capone Does My Shirts is a novel that takes place on Alcatraz in 1935. Known by many Alcatraz held some of the most dangerous convicts such as Al Capone, the Birdman, and Machine gun Kelly. The main character, Matthew Flanagan, nicknamed 'Moose' due to his giant stature, is 15 when his family moves to Alcatraz due to his father's job as a prison guard. Moose is thrown into a whirlwind of new experiences and social drama.

Since the book is in a first person view, told from Moose, much of the humor revolves around his reactions to the stimulus. Other parts of the humor also is with his sister Natalie, her age is currently unknown, but their mother refers to her as being 10. Anyway... Moose is stuck with his sister after her rejection from a school, which doesn't seem too bad, except she has a psychological disorder, or so her family thinks. Being stuck with his sister brings more humor to the story, with her tagging along, the other Alcatraz kids find her strange, and weird, making it harder for Moose to make friends. Piper, the Warden's daughter, doesn't make things easier for Moose either, she drags Natalie and him into a whirlwind of trouble. He receives a warm welcome from the Warden when he is called in his house for a personal meeting. Here he is basically threatened by the Warden as he lays down the law for Moose.

First rule of Alcatraz: Don't about Alcatraz.

Unfortunately for Moose, Piper breaks this rule on the first day of Moose's arrival to the new school. Following her lead, he also breaks the rule, and upon breakage, Piper is able to blackmail Moose into helping her with a secret laundry service. On the island one of the convicts jobs is to wash the laundry. So, in an attempt to make some side money Piper devised a plan involving Moose much to his dismay. Currently in the midst of the book Piper's plan is working, including her blackmail against Moose.

Here is an example of the humor Natalie's disorder:

Moose is trying to get Natalie to change out of her bathing suit and into a dress so they can go outside to meet Piper.

I'm thinking I'm wasting my breath when Natalie starts to take off her suit, I walk out of my room and close the door.

"All done, Nat?" I ask when I hear her come out.

When I turn around she's standing in the living room totally naked

I can feel my whole face get red. Even the tips of my ears burn. I don't want to see my sister naked. "No! You can't do that!" I run to the front window and yank the drapes closed.

-Page 92-

This is just one of the many humorous parts of the story where Moose must struggle with his sister to do simple things.