{"product_id":"al-capone-throws-me-a-curve-isbn-9781101938164","title":"Al Capone Throws Me a Curve","description":"\u003cb\u003eReturn to Al Capone's Alcatraz with Newbery Honor-winning author Gennifer Choldenko in this charming addition to the beloved series about the son of a prison guard.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMoose Flanagan's father is the assistant warden of Alcatraz--the roughest hard-time prison in America--so he and his family live on the island. It's the summer before high school, and he is desperate to get on the baseball team. The problem? The captain will only let Moose and his best friend on if they get him something from Alcatraz--something impossible.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMeanwhile, Moose must keep an eye on his fragile older sister, Natalie, as well as the warden's two-faced, danger-loving daughter, Piper, who has a crush on him. He must learn to stand up to people: His parents. The warden. Piper. Even the most dangerous criminal in the country--Al Capone. And then Moose gets the pitch of a lifetime and delivers a hit no one on Alcatraz will ever forget.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDon't miss the rest of the Tales from Alcatraz series!\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eAl Capone Does My Shirts\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eAl Capone Shines My Shoes\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eAl Capone Does My Homework\u003c\/i\u003e\"This worthy 'second ending' finishes on a hopeful note that series fans will embrace.\"—\u003ci\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist, \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003eStarred review\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"It's earnest Moose, always striving to do the right thing, who elevates this tale, like a hard-hit baseball, into the stratosphere.\"—\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews, \u003c\/i\u003eStarred review\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A powerful story of love and family that will please fans and newcomers.\"—\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\"Choldenko continues to effectively develop the vivid historical setting (explained in greater depth in the back matter) as well as the tightly woven community.\"—\u003ci\u003eThe Horn Book Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePraise for the previous three Al Capone books: \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA Newbery Honor Book\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Choldenko hits a grand slam.\" —\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews,\u003c\/i\u003e Starred review\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“Funny situations and plot twists abound!” —\u003ci\u003ePeople\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\"Heart-stopping . . . heartrending . . . heartwarming.\" \u003ci\u003e—San Francisco Chronicle\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Rich characterization, tender drama, and sleuthworthy clues, this poignant mystery makes for a thoroughly satisfying conclusion to the landmark historical trilogy.\" \u003ci\u003e—Booklist,\u003c\/i\u003e Starred review\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Choldenko continues to infuse the Alcatraz community with warmth and originality.\" \u003ci\u003e—Publishers Weekly,\u003c\/i\u003e Starred review\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Choldenko's storytelling is compelling, portraying human decency as a force more powerful than heroism.\" \u003ci\u003e—Newsday\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eGennifer Choldenko \u003c\/b\u003ewas the youngest in a family of four kids, where her nickname was “Snot-Nose.” Her quirky sense of humor made its debut at the dinner table when Gennifer was a very little kid. She is the author of seven children’s books, including \u003ci\u003eNotes from a Liar and Her Dog\u003c\/i\u003e, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year; \u003ci\u003eIf a Tree Falls at Lunch Period\u003c\/i\u003e; and \u003ci\u003eAl Capone Shines My Shoes.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003eTuesday, May 26, 1936\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEven when you live on a prison island with crafty criminals plotting ways to knock you off, summer is the best time of the year.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNo tests. No homework. No getting up early to catch the ferry. No teachers who think you flunked a few grades because you’re kind of big for thirteen and a half.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSummer is freedom. Not for the prisoners, of course. But for us kids who live on Alcatraz Island.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNaturally, summer on Alcatraz isn’t like summer other places. For one thing, the weather in the San Francisco Bay can be colder and foggier than in winter. For another, kids can’t go many places on the island. We’re not allowed in the cell house, in the industry buildings, in the west-side gardens, on most of the beaches, and in all the guard towers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOur fathers work in the prison up top, so they’re allowed everywhere. But even with restricted access, there are two decent spots to play baseball: the parade grounds and down by the dock. And there’s one other Alcatraz kid who can really play.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe’s a girl. But still.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBaseball . . . that’s what I’m thinking about as I shovel in my breakfast toast, hoping the last five days of school will go fast.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMy father frowns at me, crushing crumbs with his fork. “Saw the warden at shooting practice this morning. He wants to talk to you.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI stop chewing. “The warden? Why?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe shrugs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Uh-oh! Uh-oh!” my older sister, Natalie, mutters. Her blond-brown head is bent forward as she counts toothpicks in rows. She’s tall, like my mom and me, but she holds herself in a way that makes her look younger and smaller than she is.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMy father’s hand hovers over Natalie’s toothpicks. “Okay if I take one?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNatalie hands him the last one in line.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWe moved up here from Santa Monica a year and a half ago so Nat could go to a school called the Esther P. Marinoff, which helps kids whose brains aren’t wired like everyone else’s. My parents sacrificed a lot for her to go to that school. We all did.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMy father was an electrician in Santa Monica, but he had a hard time finding a job up here. It’s almost impossible to get work on account of the Depression. I don’t understand exactly what the Depression is except it has to do with the banks collapsing and people not having money. The only job my father could get was as a guard and an electrician in the prison. Everybody likes him here, though, so he was promoted to assistant warden.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSince Nat’s been at the Esther P. Marinoff, she’s learned how to have a conversation--not just echo what you say. She still has a difficult time looking people in the eye, but she has been trying really hard. Now we’re helping her make friends.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMy father watches Nat move on to a new project: cutting pictures out of magazines and pasting them to boards. My mom has written “happy” on one board. Natalie hunts for pictures of people who are happy. There’s another board for “sad,” but Nat doesn’t care much about that one.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Look at you, sweet pea. One day you’ll find a nice man to marry, and you’ll live in your very own house.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMy mother doesn’t like when my father talks about Nat getting married. She thinks it’s more than Natalie will ever manage, but my father says nonsense, his girl can do anything.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDad strokes his bald spot. “You’ll never guess who I drove up top last night.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI don’t have to guess. I know. “Piper.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePiper is the warden’s thirteen-year-old daughter. When I first moved to the island and I was stupid as a stone, I had a crush on her. Now I know better. I hope I do, anyway. Sometimes I get a little turned around by how cute she is.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePiper has a good side . . . but it’s tiny and not easy to locate. Dealing with her is like potty-training a snake. Which end does the business? I don’t even know.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI take a bite of a crispy corner of my toast. “Am I supposed to go before school?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Shouldn’t take long.” My father glances at the clock. “The warden’s a busy man. And you, sweet pea.” He turns to Natalie. “Happy day-before-your-birthday.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNat doesn’t answer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThings have always been screwy around Natalie’s birthday. Every year Mom pretends Natalie is turning ten again, instead of fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, or, this year, seventeen. Mom wants Nat to be younger so she has more time to catch up with the other kids.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfter breakfast, I put on my scratchy shirt and tie, my good trousers and squeaky shoes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen my mom sees me, she takes a step back. “Moose! What happened to you?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI shrug. No sense in getting her worked up. If my dad hasn’t told her, I’m certainly not going to.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOutside, I trudge past the guard tower, which is a tiny room on three-story-tall metal legs. All the firepower on the island is up in the towers and in the gun galleries. An armed guard down with the convicts can be jumped, ambushed, taken down. But when a guard is up high with his gun trained on us, we’re all safe. Or as safe as we can be on a twelve-acre rock with kidnappers, con men, hit men, bank robbers, criminals, crooks, murderers, and maybe an assassin or two.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI walk up the steep switchback to the top of the island, which really stinks. Alcatraz is the world’s biggest bird toilet; plus there are three hundred and fifty prisoner toilets up here. They don’t help the aroma, that’s for sure.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe sky directly over the island is a crisp blue, but the fog is rolling through the Golden Gate. Blink once, it’s sunny; blink twice and the world has gone gray.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI’m in no hurry to see the warden, so I take a detour by the recreation-yard wall.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMy dad says the prison yard is a little piece of hell. Things happen there you don’t ever want to know about.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe prisoners play baseball here on weekend afternoons. I’ve never seen them play, but I’ve heard them. One of the cons, a guy named Fastball, who works in the warden’s house, made it to the minor leagues before his bank-robbing career got in the way. Another, Fat Fogarty, hits so hard, he’s broken two bats.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt’s scary that they give baseball bats to felons, but I guess baseball can make any guy behave. My father says baseball is as important inside the prison as it is outside it. He says the prison-game scores get posted right next to the major league scores on the menu every week.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI keep walking past the cell house, where a con is shouting about a hanging tree. I’ve never been inside the main part of the cell house, and I sure don’t want to go in there, either.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSince a convict stabbed my father a few months ago, I haven’t thought it was so great to live on an island with a bunch of murderers . . . especially with a sister like Natalie.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Yearling","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304686571749,"sku":"NP9781101938164","price":8.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781101938164.jpg?v=1767721183","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/al-capone-throws-me-a-curve-isbn-9781101938164","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}