Al Capone Returns

As the IMC begins asking students for their help in picking series to follow in the collection, I wanted to tell you about a new sequel to Al Capone Does My Shirts. Jennifer Choldenko has written Al Capone Shines My Shoes which continues the story of Moose and his family on Alcatraz Island in 1935 during the time when Al Capone was an inmate. While his father is a prison guard, Moose has to deal with friendship issues with Jimmy, Scout, Annie, and Piper. Now that his sister Natalie is attending a boarding school for "kids who have their wires crossed" possibly through Capone's influence, Moose finds that it is payback time. Capone wants Moose to do him a favor when Capone's wife comes to visit. Moose is challenged on how to accomplish this task without anyone knowing what's going on. Other inmates are introduced in this book like Willy One Arm and Buddy Boy who work at the warden's house and Seven Fingers who does repairs at the prison guards' houses. There are laughter and fear, schemes and chills for Moose and his friends. And there seems to be a third book coming. At a conference this year, the author indicated that she is working on another book. Since the third job that Capone had on Alcatraz was in the prison library, Choldenko suggests her next book may have a library theme.