Description

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Alcatraz Island in the 1930s isn't the most normal place to grow up, but it's home for Moose Flanagan, his autistic sister, Natalie, and all the families of the guards. When Moose's dad gets promoted to Associate Warden, despite being an unlikely candidate, it's a big deal. But the cons have a point system for targeting prison employees, and his dad is now in serious danger. After a fire starts in the Flanagan's apartment, Natalie is blamed, and Moose bands with the other kids to track down the possible arsonist. Then Moose gets a cryptic note from the notorious Al Capone himself. Is Capone trying to protect Moose's dad too? If Moose can't figure out what Capone's note means, it may be too late.

The last heart-pounding installment in the New York Times bestselling, Newbery Honor-winning Alcatraz trilogy is not to be missed!

"Superlative historical fiction." --School Library Journal (starred review for Al Capone Shines My Shoes)

About the Author

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Gennifer Choldenko is a full-time writer and the author of many picture books and middle grade novels, including the Newbery Honor winning Al Capone Does My Shirts. She lives in the San Francisco Bay area with her husband and two children.

Praise For…

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"Choldenko consistently excels at penning pitch-perfect dialogue and balancing a large cast of original characters, and this title is no exception....A satisfying finale to what has become a cornerstone series in contemporary children's literature." — Kirkus Reviews

". . .baseballs, bottle caps, and carrier-cockroaches, [Moose] and the other island kids take on gambling debts, missing knives, a murder plot, a counterfeit ring, even pixie secrets . . . . Especially noteworthy is the author's sensitive ability to humanize heroes and villains alike, grounding the tense action in palpable reality. With rich characterization, tender drama, and sleuth-worthy clues, this poignant mystery makes for a thoroughly satisfying conclusion to the landmark historical trilogy." — Booklist (starred review)

"Choldenko's multifaceted novel offers something for everyone-history, mystery, intrigue, and humor. Ultimately, though, it's this extremely likable boy working through friendships and crushes, on the one hand, and wrestling with family and community problems, on the other, that has held our attention through three books." — Horn Book

"Choldenko is unsurpassed at interweaving plot with historical detail, drawing a touching parallel between Natalie and first-term President Franklin Roosevelt. . . .While the book ably stands alone, it delivers a satisfying conclusion to readers who've grown fond of this cast of characters." — School Library Journal

"Choldenko continues to infuse the Alcatraz community with warmth and originality. . .Despite being 'the roughest hard-time prison in America,' by the end of this winning series, it's also a place Moose comes to proudly call home." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Choldenko's storytelling is compelling, portraying human decency as a force more powerful than heroism." — Newsday