Has anybody (or their child) read "Al Capone Does My Laundry"?

[DisneyJamieCA]

That author is coming to my girls' school (4th grade & up will attend) and they have the opportunity to buy this book and the two that follow (Shines My Shoes & Does My Homework). The copy they sent describing the first book has me questioning the appropriateness for the younger end, so I wanted to see if anybody could let me know if I should be worried or if I'm over thinking it. Reviews online seemed mixed, although most say ok for grades 5+. The copy that came home talks about murderers, rapists, con men...obviously I understand this is set on Alcatraz so their are prisoners, but I'm not sure about the rapist part.

 

[TheRose227]

I remember reading it in school, my younger cousins did too. They were in 5th grade though, I was in 6th or 7th when it came out. My mom's school uses it in 5th grade classes. I don't remember there being a lot of talk about rapists in it though. I think Moose mentions it in the list of crimes men who are there commit. I'm pretty sure given the rules in a lot of schools (my mom can't show anything with a PG or above and things that are not rated to here 4th grade class)

Its a good children's historical fiction book. It deals with the social, political and economic issues of the time along with the things the preteen narrator is going through. It focuses a lot on family and support and major changes as they move for his autistic sister's new school It doesn't really focus up on the crimes the men there committed to get there. I'm sure you could find the book at your local library and skim through it to make sure there's nothing that you're uncomfortable with.

I'll tell you, as a kid, those author days like the one you DDs' school is having had a huge impact on my education. I learned a love for reading and writing after hearing a lot of those authors speak. I took all the books from those events with me when I moved out of my parent's house.

 

[BreeBree]

I never read it, but my niece did. It was one of her favorite books when she was younger. She went to a pretty conservative school and they used it in the fifth grade curriculum, so I wouldn't worry about the content.

 

[aprilgail2]

My daughter read it in 6th grade for the Battle of the Books - every library in the county gets together and has a giant quiz bowl battle on 8 different books each team reads to see who gets the most points and wins. She liked the book.

 

[Cindy B]

Does my Shirts - not Does my Laundry.

Reading/Language Arts teacher here: It is a tame book. Very tame. I have seen fourth graders read it. I have worked in schools where it is taught in 5th and 6th grade.

It's more of a setting - the child and his family live at Alcatraz since the father works there.

 

[SueInBoston]

It was one of my son's favorite either in 4th or 5th grade.

 

[barkley]

I've read the first 2 books in the trilogy and there was nothing that would be inappropriate for a 4th grade age group. it's a fiction piece, but the historical aspects could spark an interest in some readers to do more research on Alcatraz.

the books are well written, engaging and the author has done some good research on what it was like for the kids who lived on Alcatraz due to their parent's employment (I had family members who grew up living on the grounds of San Quentin, and the book brought back memories of the rules they had to abide by/we had to when visiting, and the questions they received from the kids they attended school with off prison grounds).

I realy appreciate the manner in which the main character's sisters autism is handled. it's an honest representation-probably because the author is a sibling herself of an autistic family member.


author's website gives good information-you might want to check it out.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Thank you for the title clarification. I had the paper right in front of me, so I don't know how I got it wrong! Thank you for all the answers - I'll talk it over with DH tonight, but I'm feeling much better. I wish the copy (which I also saw on Amazon, so maybe it's the flap copy?) more accurately portrayed what the book was actually about.

The school gets 2-3 visiting authors every year and we've bought every other book

 

[wiigirl]

My daughter is reading it right now actually...

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

My daughter is reading it right now actually...

How old is she and is she liking it?

 

[Ilivetogo]

That author is coming to my girls' school (4th grade & up will attend) and they have the opportunity to buy this book and the two that follow (Shines My Shoes & Does My Homework). The copy they sent describing the first book has me questioning the appropriateness for the younger end, so I wanted to see if anybody could let me know if I should be worried or if I'm over thinking it. Reviews online seemed mixed, although most say ok for grades 5+. The copy that came home talks about murderers, rapists, con men...obviously I understand this is set on Alcatraz so their are prisoners, but I'm not sure about the rapist part.

My son read it a couple of years back. He loved it!

.

 

[Katy Belle]

I think DS read it in 3rd or 4th grade, and I read it too. He's in 8th now, so its been a while. I remember liking it and I think I remember having to discuss some violence/rape type stuff at the time. I would suggest you get a copy and read it. Its a quick read and then you would be able to make a decision for your child. I mostly remember that it was a great book!

 

[ilovejack02]

Just got weekly text from ELA teacher . They apparently are starting to read it today . 6th grade , quiz on Autism (?) Alcatraz and Al Capone at end of week . My son is in 6th .

 

[dsneprincess]

I read this because it was on a suggested list for DS, who didn't want to read it. I don't remember finding any issues with it. I thought it was interesting as I'd been to Alcatraz and knew the history, backstory, but DS didn't have the same background and didn't finish the book and called it boring.

I know it was from our library and a super quick read.

 

[3smithboys]

My twins read it for their summer reading book this summer between 4th and 5th grade - I read it too.... it's fine.