AL CAPONE SHINES MY SHOES
by Gennifer Choldenko
(Dial Books)
Sequel-lovers, rejoice. You want more of Moose, Annie, Jimmy, and the Alcatraz gang? More of Piper's conniving, Natalie's button-counting, and Trixle's...infuriating Trixle-ness? Secret passageways and plots? Maybe even an in-the-flesh brush with "Scarface" Capone himself? Baby, you got it. It's all there and more, driven by Moose's voice and Choldenko's impeccable research.
As for the plot...
Imagine reaching into your shirt pocket and finding a new note, in all-too-familiar handwriting: Your turn. Makes the back of your neck ripple, doesn't it?
Now here's the part where I throw you for a loop. In spite of all that praise, I was probably halfway through the book when I began to suspect I didn't really need a follow-up to Al Capone Does My Shirts after all. When it comes to sequels, I have a strong preference for companion novels over continuations. For me, the desire to know what happens next rarely trumps my satisfaction with a skillfully open-ended conclusion. If you're the same, consider that before pouncing on the shoe-shining edition of Moose's adventures. Everybody else, bear in mind this reaction is coming from someone who still hasn't read the final installment of Harry Potter(!)
Now here's the part where I throw you for a loop. In spite of all that praise, I was probably halfway through the book when I began to suspect I didn't really need a follow-up to Al Capone Does My Shirts after all. When it comes to sequels, I have a strong preference for companion novels over continuations. For me, the desire to know what happens next rarely trumps my satisfaction with a skillfully open-ended conclusion. If you're the same, consider that before pouncing on the shoe-shining edition of Moose's adventures. Everybody else, bear in mind this reaction is coming from someone who still hasn't read the final installment of Harry Potter(!)
(Available in September)
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Currently reading:
Nobody's Family is Going to Change
by Louise Fitzhugh
1 comments:
I'm really looking forward to reading this book. I loved the first one, and as luck would have it, the first one is on our school's 6th grade summer reading list. So I will definitely be acquiring a copy of the new one when it comes out and encouraging the kids who read the first one over the summer to read the sequel.
I don't think I've met a kid or adult alike who has read the first one and didn't like it.
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