Al Capone Throws Me a Curve by Gennifer Choldenko - ADVISABLE

Al Capone Throws Me a Curve (A Tale from Alcatraz, #4) by Gennifer Choldenko, 225 pages.  Wendy Lamb Books (Random House), 2018.  $18  

Content: Language: G (1 swear); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG.  

BUYING ADVISORY: EL; MS – ADVISABLE  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE  

Moose lives on Alcatraz with his family because his dad is the assistant warden.  Moose wants to make the high school baseball team, but the high school players tell him he can’t be on the team unless he brings a picture of himself with Al Capone.  Moose can’t interact with the prisoners, so that bribe isn’t realistic and it discourages Moose.  On top of that worry, Moose must take care of his autistic sister, Natalie.  Natalie is getting older and Moose loves her, but she doesn’t always act in a socially appropriate way and living on the island often leads Natalie to trouble.  With all his concerns, Moose is a good kid that his family relies on and he has to make his way through his teenage problems.  

I love Moose-he is a great character and his love and care for his sister is heartwarming.  The Alcatraz setting is a fun backdrop for all the problems Moose faces.  I love this whole series and the fun Alcatraz facts at the back.  

C. Peterson