Two names here: Moose and Natalie. In Al Capone Does My Shirts, these two siblings give us a glimpse right into the heart of what love truly is. While some books are heavy on the romance, these two are heavy on the accepting-people-for-who-they-are kind of love. But here's the catch: If you think it's always easy for family to love each other, guess again—especially when someone in the family really struggles, like Natalie does. Over time, though, these two really gel, making one thing crystal clear: The more we open out hearts to the ones we love, the bigger our hearts grow. Aw.
Questions About Love
- How does Natalie show Moose she loves him? Does Moose always recognize it? Why or why not?
- How do Mr. Flanagan and Mrs. Flanagan show love differently? Give examples from the book.
- In this book, which matters more: feelings or actions? Use the text to support your response.
Chew on This
It isn't that Moose loves Natalie the most, it's just that he loves her the best—he sees her most clearly.
For Moose, embracing his love for Natalie is as much about accepting his sister as it is about accepting himself.