On Wednesday night, November 5th, the Teen Nutmeg Group gathered to discuss Gennifer Choldenko's Al Capone Does My Shirts over pizza and soda.

The story takes place in 1935 on Alcatraz Island- the infamous prison in San Francisco Bay that housed such criminals as Al "Scarface" Capone.  Twelve-year-old Moose and his family move to the island prison when his dad accepts a job as a prison engineer and guard. 

Our group talked about what it was like for Moose to live in such a strange environment.  When asked if they would ever want to live on Alcatraz, everyone was pretty clear: no way.  But, a tour for a day might be fun. 

We also talked a lot about the relationship between Moose and his sister, Natalie.  Natalie is unlike the other children.  For one, she rarely speaks.  She loves to count things and read the indexes of large books.  She doesn't usually like to be touched or hugged and her favorite activity is counting and sorting her collection of buttons.  And strangest of all, Moose's parents have celebrated Natalie's 10th birthday for the past five years. 

We brainstormed some adjectives that might be used to describe Natalie.  Some of the words included: strange, abnormal, retarded, stupid, locked, misunderstood, autistic, smart, savant, special.  Our group talked a length about some of these words, what they mean, and how things are different today for children with special needs.

When asked to describe how the book might have been different if told from Natalie's point of view, one of the teens had this to say:

     "She's locked up inside......she has all these feelings and maybe she wants to be like everyone else, but her body won't let her.....as if she is a prisoner in her own body."

It was interesting to think about the parallels between Natalie's inner life and the life of the prisoners on Alcatraz. 

Overall, the group decided Al Capone Does My Shirts was "pretty good."

Did you grow up laughing along with books like Homer Price and Mr. Popper's Penguins?  Check out these modern read-alikes that will have you and your child busting a gut!

The Hoboken Chicken Emergency by Daniel Pinkwater

Stinky: A Toon Book by Eleanor Davis

Frindle by Andrew Clements

The Talented Clementine by Sara Pennypacker

Double Trouble in Walla Walla by Andrew Clements

The Legend of Spud Murphy by Eoin Colfer

For advanced readers with a refined sense of irony, try Richard Peck's The Teachers Funeral and Here Lies the Librarian. 

Since the 1950's the National Book Foundation has given out the National Books Awards to writers by writers. Intended to celebrate the best of American literature, the Youth Literature Award has most often been given to Young Adult books, but this year, there are two books for children on the list!  Have you read any of these new books? Take a look and write a review, let us know what you think!  The winners will be announced on November 19th.

	Laurie Halse Anderson, Chains (Simon & Schuster) Kids Fiction
	Kathi Appelt, The Underneath (Atheneum) Kids Fiction
	E. Lockhart, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks (Hyperion) Young Adult Fiction
On Order - Not yet published	Judy Blundell, What I Saw and How I Lied (Scholastic) Young Adult Fiction
On Order	Tim Tharp, The Spectacular Now (Alfred A. Knopf) Young Adult Fiction

     SPOOOOKY STORIES!

The cool weather makes me want to settle in with a spooky story!  When I feel like that, the first three authors I turn to are Peg Kehret, Betty Ren Wright and Joan Lowery Nixon.

Check out Kehret's  Horror at the Haunted House for a chilling tale about a town's Halloween haunted house that turns out to be truly haunted. Maybe? And then there's Danger at the Fair, about a boy who receives a ghostly message at a carnival seance.

Betty Ren Wright gifted mystery/suspence fans with The Dollhouse Murders, a truly spooky modern classic, and Christina's Ghost , in which a boring summer vacation in an isolated victorian home becomes an eerie adventure!

More?  No problem! Joan Lowery Nixon comes to your rescue with The Name of the Game is Murder, and, for young adults, The Other Side of Dark.   Wait Til Helen Comes is a popular ghost tale by Mary Downing Hahn.

And, you might also consider The Wrath of the Grinning Ghost  and The Mummy, The Will and The Crypt, both featuring a clever young character named Jonhhy Dixon, and his mentor Dr. Childermass. John Bellairs is the author.

We are here to help, if you need more spoooky ideas. And one last suggestion.....

                                                  Keep the lights on!

Did you grow up enjoying Little Women, Sarah, Plain and Tall, and Cheaper by the Dozen?  These classics are still popular family stories for kids!

Check out these modern read-alikes:

The Penderwicks series	by Jeanne Birdsall

The Elevator Family by Douglas Evans

Judy Blume family series such as...

---Pain and the Great One series

---Fudge series

 Saffy's Angel series by Hilary McKay

What are your favorite FAMILY STORIES for kids?  Tag them with "parent favorite" in the catalog!

Did you grow up enjoying Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, and the Hardy Boys?  These classics are still popular mysteries for kids. 

Check out these modern read-alikes:

Kiki Strike by Kirsten Miller

Millions by Frank Cottrell Boyce	The Enola Homes Mysteries by Nancy Springer	Gilda Joyce, Psychic Investigator by Jennifer Allison

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett	Lulu Dark by Bennett Madison

The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd	The 39 Clues by Rick Riordan

  What are your favorite MYSTERY books for kids?  Tag them with "parent favorite" in the catalog!

Read and Reread all the Harry Potter books? Have no fear... Your Library is here...to recommend...