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Chapter 1: Devil’s Island
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Al Capone Does My Shirts, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Disability, Dignity, and Shared Humanity
Friendship and Community
Family
Growing Up and Doing the Right Thing
Summary
Analysis
Moose wakes up the next morning feeling silly for having slept clothed and with his baseball bat. He gets up and discovers Dad in the living room with Natalie, holding two handfuls of buttons. Moose asks if Dad will show him around and then play ball with him, but Dad guiltily says he has to work today. Mom reminds Moose that Dad is an electrician and a guard now, but Moose whines that he’s barely seen Dad in the last two months. (Natalie chimes in that it’s been two months and 22 days.) Still whining, Moose says it’s not fair that Dad obviously took Natalie out this morning, which makes Mom snap at Moose.
The narration further develops the idea that Moose doesn’t feel his parents’ support—and that Natalie gets what Moose seems to believe (at least on some level) is more than her fair share. Dad hangs out with Natalie doing what she likes to do; the buttons have now popped up several times in the story, suggesting they’re important to Natalie and so they’re important to Dad, too.
Themes
Dad leaves for work, and Mom asks Moose to take care of Natalie while she takes the boat to the city for groceries and ice—they can’t afford a refrigerator, so they’re using the old icebox. Moose knows Mom is thinking about yesterday, when Natalie threw a tantrum on the train. Mom had to sit on Natalie to get her to calm down and stop screaming, and people were staring and taking pictures. Moose was so embarrassed. Fortunately, Natalie looks “pretty peaceful” right now. Moose tells Mom he didn’t mean what he said about it not being fair that Dad took Natalie out earlier, but she just asks him to take care of Natalie. As she leaves, it’s like the haze over the bay seems to close Moose off from everything.
Moose begins to give readers more information about Natalie, such as that she struggles sometimes in new situations, such as the train ride to San Francisco. But though Moose clearly loves his sister, he’s conflicted about having to care for her and feels a bit like Mom’s request traps him—this is why he describes the haze shutting him off from the rest of the world, turning Alcatraz into a prison for even this young civilian. As a historical note, Mom’s aside that the family can’t afford a refrigerator is a reminder that the novel takes place during the Great Depression, the worst economic downturn in American history, when many families struggled financially.
Themes
Moose finds a casserole from someone named Bea Trixle in the kitchen and is busy eating it when someone knocks at the door. Though he tries to tell Natalie not to open it, Natalie pulls on the doorknob and the person outside insists on meeting their new neighbors. Moose finally allows Natalie to open the door, revealing a tiny girl (Theresa) with black curly hair and a gap-toothed smile. She marches in, demands to know how old Moose is (she refuses to believe he’s 12), and shares that she’s seven and a quarter. She then greets Natalie and says that Dad told her all about Natalie.
Theresa is immediately accepting of Natalie, it seems, and wants to get to know her new neighbors. This suggests that the community on Alcatraz is different than any community Moose has been part of before.
Themes
Natalie looks a lot like Moose, though she has pretty green eyes—but because she carries herself different, “people know.” Moose tells the girl that Natalie is 10. Mom started having Natalie turn 10 every year a few years ago; Moose figures it was just easier for Mom if Natalie is younger than he is. The girl introduces herself as Theresa Mattaman and says she’s going to show Moose and Natalie around. Theresa orders Moose to get Natalie’s coat, and Moose leaves a note for Mom.
Moose implies that it’s obvious to everyone that Natalie isn’t neurotypical. This, combined with the fact that Mom insists that Natalie will forever be 10 (when she’s actually older), suggests that Moose’s family sees Natalie, to some degree, as a shameful secret to hide. Theresa, however, seems not to care that Natalie is different.
Themes
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