Al Capone Does My Shirts and Al Capone Shines My Shoes by Gennifer Choldenko – JF CHO

The first title is a Newbery-Honor book, and the second is just as good. It’s the mid-1930s, and the Great Depression brings tough changes to the Flanagan family. Twelve year-old Moose and his folks have more to worry about, though, than the average family. Moose’s older sister Natalie has autism, and Moose’s father takes a much-needed job on Alcatraz Island, home of the infamous prison. He moves the family to the island filled with hard-core criminals, such as Chicago gangster, Al Capone, and Willy One-Arm. Moose just wants to play ball and see his parents and sister happy, but that proves to be a very tall order - one that endangers him and the other children on Alcatraz until Moose clearly sees and bravely does the right thing. That Choldenko grasps the challenges facing families living with autism is without doubt as she clearly and compassionately describes Natalie and the family’s loyalty to each other. That she understands history is also clear – both books are accurate, fine additions to historical fiction collections. - Sue Parsons, Children’s Librarian

Wild Things by Clay Carmichael – JF CAR

If you like cats, you’ll enjoy the one informing on the humans in this complex story, and by the end, you’ll see that the cat is only one of many wild things creating a ruckus. Zoe, the eleven year-old hero, and her Uncle Henry are two others. Set in modern-day rural North Carolina, this story takes you on a spirited ride into the troubles of a broken family en route to wholeness through the power of love, loyalty, and art. Wordsmiths and writers will love lines, such as, “The heavy summer darkness oozed over the yard like molasses.” The story’s emotional intensity, (for example, Zoe’s mother dies from suicide), makes this a better read for older children. - Sue Parsons, Children’s Librarian