Forget everything you think you know about moose, because Moose Flanagan is neither covered in fur, nor does he have ridiculously long legs. Instead, he's just a kid trying to make it in the 1930s… with an autistic sister… and Al Capone for a neighbor. He's living in a whole different kind of wilderness from his four-legged namesakes.

Al Capone Does My Shirts, by Gennifer Choldenko, has been critically acclaimed since it was published in 2004. And when we say acclaimed, we're talking by the Newbery Honor folks. Which is basically like the president of children's books giving you the seal of approval. And it's easy to see why—this book dives into both unusual and usual terrain at once, combining the unusual setting of living on Alcatraz Island while Al Capone's a prisoner there with the totally usual struggles of growing up, particularly with a sister who has some troubles of her own.

This book is equal parts touching and treacherous, and the first in a series by Choldenko featuring Moose and his infamous criminal neighbor. So hop into the way back machine, and get ready for an up close and personal look at life in the 1930s… with Al Capone only a stone's throw away. If you enjoy the ride, there's more where this book came from.

Okay, so the whole Al Capone element is obviously pretty compelling—who doesn't get excited to read about infamous gangsters?—but Al Capone Does My Shirts dives into much more important territory: namely, autism.

Autism hits really close to home for Gennifer Choldenko. Her sister Gina, whom she dedicated the book to, actually has autism herself. So Choldenko's depiction of Natalie, Moose's autistic sister, isn't just a throw away element of the plot; it's a major component to this story.

In the 1930s, doctors and medical professionals didn't know all they do now about autism and other disorders, and it's really rough going for Natalie and her family that wants to protect her and help her have the best life possible. Choldenko really explores how hard having autism can be, for both the person affected and those who care about them. And since autism is a major issue these days—in 2014, the Center for Disease Control estimated that one in sixty-eight children is diagnosed with some form of it—gaining an appreciation for the realities of living with autism is super important. Plus, it'll help you see how far we've come.

All the bells and whistles about Alcatraz being a big deal prison are ultimately just to get your attention in this book. At its heart, amongst other things, is autism and all the troubles and triumphs that come with it. The story might be set during the Great Depression, but its exploration of autism is about as timely an issue as possible for readers these days.