book data
1375 ratings, 3.93 average rating, 313 reviews
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published
April 20th 2006
(first published 2004)
by Puffin
binding
Paperback, 240 pages
literary awards
Newbery Honor Book, ALA Notable Book, Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, Junior Library Guild Selection, Kirkus Editor's Choice
isbn
0142403709
(isbn13: 9780142403709)
description
Murderers, mob bosses, and convicts . . . these guys are not your average neighbors. Unless you live on Alcatraz. It's 1935 and twelve-year-old Moose ...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 1706)
Read in October, 2007
I had to read this book once I learned that it is about little kids who lived on Alcatraz in the 1930s. Ever since I was a little girl I've wanted to purchase Alcatraz Island and live there. (Plus, it's a Newberry Honor Book, so it sort of counts towards my goal.)
The book centers around a family: a mother, a father, a "ten" year old sister, and a twelve year old brother, our protagonist, Moose. The family has just moved to Alcatraz Island where the father works around the clock at...more
The book centers around a family: a mother, a father, a "ten" year old sister, and a twelve year old brother, our protagonist, Moose. The family has just moved to Alcatraz Island where the father works around the clock at...more
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Read in February, 2008
recommends it for:
family and friends of someone with autism, anyone
I read this poolside during our SoCal vacation -- and I was pleasantly surprised.
Moose's family moves to Alcatraz where his dad has taken a job as an electrician. He has a "younger" sister who has autism and the family is trying to get her into a special school.
If you think about it there are so many parts of the story that are heart-wrenching . . . the author does an amazing job of making emotional connections with each character. You can see the grief cycle in each memb...more
Moose's family moves to Alcatraz where his dad has taken a job as an electrician. He has a "younger" sister who has autism and the family is trying to get her into a special school.
If you think about it there are so many parts of the story that are heart-wrenching . . . the author does an amazing job of making emotional connections with each character. You can see the grief cycle in each memb...more
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Read in April, 2008
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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1 comment
I absolutely adore this book! Initially, I had to read it for a children's literature class two years ago, but I chose to pick it up again recently because I loved it so much. The story is about a young boy named Moose and his experiences growing up as a prison guard's son on Alcatraz during the 1930's. Moose's younger sister Natalie has special needs, and although her specific diagnosis is unknown, we as readers can assume that she is autistic. Moose's life is made even more interesting whe...more
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2 comments
This big kid adored this book for kids and the audio version with narration by Johnny Heller is superb.
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Genre: Historical Fiction Reading level: Ages 10-12
This award winning children’s novel has an unlikely setting. One would not normally consider Alcatraz Island as a place to rear children. Moose, a twelve-year-old boy, and his family move there to allow his father to work two jobs in order to send his autistic sister to a special school. Moose, disgruntled over loosing his old friends and sacrificing time with his dad, never loses touch with the importance of helping his sister. He is of...more
This award winning children’s novel has an unlikely setting. One would not normally consider Alcatraz Island as a place to rear children. Moose, a twelve-year-old boy, and his family move there to allow his father to work two jobs in order to send his autistic sister to a special school. Moose, disgruntled over loosing his old friends and sacrificing time with his dad, never loses touch with the importance of helping his sister. He is of...more
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I just read this book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I thought the antics of the kids that lived on Alcatraz Island were so funny. It's titled this because Al Capone is in prison on Alcatraz Island and works in the laundry there. You guys should read it, I think you'll really like it.
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Read in September, 2007
This book exposed a lot to me about Alcatraz history. I find it intriguing that many families, children included, lived on the island, sharing it with some of America's most notorious criminals.
I always enjoy a good piece of historical fiction. This one is especially unique.
I always enjoy a good piece of historical fiction. This one is especially unique.
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Read in July, 2005
Interesting setting (Alcatraz, 1930s) and unusual characters
(boy with autistic sister), but I wouldn't have given this the Newbery honor book award.
(boy with autistic sister), but I wouldn't have given this the Newbery honor book award.
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Great Book! WHERE DID MOOSE COME FROM? WHERE DID HE LIVE BEFORE ALCATRAZ?
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!!! SOMEBODY PLEASE ANSWER!!!
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!!! SOMEBODY PLEASE ANSWER!!!
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Read in April, 2005
recommends it for:
Catherine
The title of this book is so catchy. It really makes you curious about what it's about. I enjoyed it.
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Perfect. Funny. Smart.
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Read in August, 2008
recommended to Nick by:
No onerecommends it for: Any one who enjoys a great story
Twelve-year-old Moose Flannagan doesn't know how to feel about his new home. Sure, at first he thinks it's cool to live right in San Francisco Bay, but the neighbors are not very kind.Moose and his family live on Alcatraz Island, where Moose's dad has a new job as prison guard. At school off the island Moose doesn't fit in. The other kids think living on Alcatraz is a little weird, they also don't understand why Moose can't stay after school to play ball.
Moose has to head home to watch...more
Moose has to head home to watch...more
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Read in September, 2008
recommended to Aaron by:
my teacherrecommends it for: all ages
This book is about a character named moose flanagan who has moved to alcataraz because of his dads job. Another main character is natalie flanagan who is 16, but has unsual problems and she acts like a ten your old natalie which they didnt really know why, but to let you know she has autism which is a brain development disorder but this book was placed in 1935,but autism wasn't discovered until 1943. Later in the story Moose meets a girl named piper who wants to start a laundry business after ...more
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Read in September, 2008
What makes me really love a book is when the author is a master at creating characters so vivid that you can either get behind them or you want to smack them because you hate them so much.
Choldenko does a great job of doing both in this book. You really feel for the main character, Moose, and the horrible reality of his situation having basically lost his childhood because he has to look after his autistic sister, Natalie, all the time.
You want to smack Moose's mother for being so obl...more
Choldenko does a great job of doing both in this book. You really feel for the main character, Moose, and the horrible reality of his situation having basically lost his childhood because he has to look after his autistic sister, Natalie, all the time.
You want to smack Moose's mother for being so obl...more
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Read in August, 2008
I love when a book opens my mind to a situation or a place in history that I had never thought of before. This book did exactly that! During difficult times and his father's new job as a prison guard, "Moose" Flanagan and his family are the newest residents on Alcatraz in this coming-of-age fiction. I love the relationships that develop and IMPROVE as he struggles with a new place and new friends, parents who expect too much of him, and a sister with autism (long before it was under...more
Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in May, 2008
I put off reading this book, because it just didn't sound very appealing to me, but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I thought it was a beautifully refreshing, unique, and heartfelt book.
"Today I moved to a twelve acre rock covered with cement, topped with bird turd and surrounded by water." The book is a historical fiction of a 12-year-old boy, Moose Flannigan, who unwillingly moves with his family to Alcatraz in 1935 when Al Capone and other famous criminals were inmate...more
"Today I moved to a twelve acre rock covered with cement, topped with bird turd and surrounded by water." The book is a historical fiction of a 12-year-old boy, Moose Flannigan, who unwillingly moves with his family to Alcatraz in 1935 when Al Capone and other famous criminals were inmate...more
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Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
Anyone
I loved this book! I felt the author did a very good job at writing what life is really like living with someone who has a disability. The main girl in this book has autism. Her brother is given lots of responsibility caring for her. I see myself doing that same thing with my kids. Especially my oldest... she helps with her sister a lot. She is learing what sets her off and has even taught her new skills. Just like in this book, I am sure she can sometimes feel resentful, but she never sh...more
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Read in April, 2008
recommended to Annette by:
Dawn and Kristine
This book isn't what I was expecting. I was expecting it to be more lighthearted like Bud, Not Buddy, but it was much more serious than that. It was actually heart wrenching at times. I was also expecting more action, the story seemed to drag a bit. Even though, it was different than I thought it was going to be, I still liked it. I thought that the author did an excellent job of creating a very realistic family - no stereotypes. The parents acted like normal parents who love their children ...more
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10 comments
Read in January, 2008
recommends it for:
late elementary/middle school
Moose Flanagan and his family have moved to Alcatraz. The housing there is much less expensive than in Santa Monica and his father has taken a job as a prison guard/electrician. The goal is to save enough money to send Moose’s sister Natalie to the Esther P. Marinoff school, where there are other students like her and they can help her get better. Moose’s mom is always trying to find a way to make her better. In the meantime Moose misses his friends, misses baseball, and has to try to av...more
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currently-reading (on 71 people's shelves)
young-adult (on 42 people's shelves)
historical-fiction (on 31 people's shelves)
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quotes from this book
"NObody knows how things will turn out thats why they go ahead and play the game. You give it all and osmetimes amazing things happen, but it's hardly ever what you expect."
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