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Books like Al Capone does my shirts
A funny, big-hearted exploration of family duty and unexpected friendships set against the backdrop of America's most notorious island prison. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with Al Capone does my shirts.
- nostalgic
- breezy
- heartwarming
- slightly tense
- 01
Al Capone throws me a curve
Gennifer Choldenko
A lively, nostalgic summer tale balancing baseball dreams with the heavy, sometimes mischievous responsibilities of family life on a notorious island.
- 02
Al Capone shines my shoes
Gennifer Choldenko · 2009
A warm, high-stakes historical romp where the anxiety of keeping dangerous secrets collides with fierce sibling devotion.
- 03
A boy called Bat
Elana K. Arnold
A tender, deeply empathetic window into a neurodivergent mind, anchored by the healing power of a tiny, unexpected animal friend.
- 04
Rules
Cynthia Lord
A warm, honest summer story about a girl learning to throw away her rulebook and embrace the messy, beautiful reality of her family.
- 05
Alcatraz versus the Scrivener's Bones
Brandon Sanderson
A delightfully chaotic, fourth-wall-breaking adventure where flaws are superpowers and librarians are the ultimate villains.
- 06
The dead girls of Hysteria Hall
Katie Alender
A creepy, atmospheric thriller that channels the rebellious spirit of girls who were locked away for being too strong-willed.
- 07
Penny from heaven
Jennifer L. Holm · 2006
A warm, bittersweet summer steeped in family secrets, baseball, and the rich, chaotic love of an Italian American upbringing.
- 08
Anything but typical
Nora Raleigh Baskin
A tender, deeply internal exploration of a boy finding his voice online while navigating the anxieties of a world that struggles to understand him.
- 09
Beyond the Bright Sea
Lauren Wolk
A windswept, lyrical journey about a girl searching the horizon for her past, only to realize her true home is already beside her.
- 10
Greetings from witness protection!
Jake Burt
A clever, high-stakes caper wrapped around a tender story of a guarded kid finally finding a place to call home.
- 11
City of Orphans
Avi
A gritty, fast-paced historical mystery where scrappy street kids outsmart corrupt adults in the shadows of a bustling metropolis.
- 12
Marcelo in the real world
Francisco X. Stork
A thoughtful, coming-of-age exploration of neurodivergence, internal music, and the messy realities of the adult world.
