Gennifer Choldenko has written many novels for which she has been given many awards.

 

This book is set in the 1930s, on Alcatraz Island, home to the famous prison which held prisoners who had committed crimes so heinous that they had been rejected by other prisons, although it was open for only a few years.

 

It is written through the eyes of boy called Matthew who is known to everyone as ‘Moose’ and his family, who have moved from San Francisco to Alcatraz because Moose’s dad has started his new job there and his mum is eager to send his sister to a special school. It’s about how Moose adjusts to his new home and how his family copes with Moose’s sister, who has autism.

 

My opinion of the front cover of the book was that it was quite eye-catching as it used bright colours although I also thought it was a bit childish.

 

At the opening of the novel, there is a picture of Alcatraz Island labelled supposedly by Moose which gives you an image to work with in your head while reading the book. The novel drew me in from the first page as Moose seems to be talking to the reader directly which makes you feel included in the story from the start. As I read on, the story felt really realistic and believable and I thought it was a great book.

 

My only problem with the novel was that I felt that it was rushed at the end which is a shame as the rest of the book is a great read. I think it was a really good novel and I thought that the way Choldenko created the intricate relationships between the members of Moose’s family was very interesting as well as what Moose thought and did which I could relate to.

 

I’d recommend it to anyone and I give it an 8/10.