Books About Alcatraz

The Best Alcatraz Books for Kids

Looking for our other guide?

Explore our editor-reviewed guide to Prison and Jail, featuring 12 favorites and recommendations by age.

Looking for excellent children's books about alcatraz? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

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The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Alcatraz

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2004

Al Capone Does My Shirts

By Gennifer Choldenko · Book #1 in the Tales from Alcatraz series

A boy navigates life on Alcatraz Island amidst notorious criminals and family challenges.

Newbery Honor (2005)

228 pages· 49,689 words· Est. 5.5 hour read

4.5/7 Bookroo·3.9/5 Goodreads · 46,584 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: In 1935, twelve-year-old Moose Flanagan moves to Alcatraz Island, where his father works at the infamous prison. Surrounded by notorious criminals, Moose must adapt to this unusual environment while caring for his autistic sister, Natalie. As he grapples with the island's dangers and mysteries, Moose discovers unexpected friendships and challenges that test his courage and resilience. Can he find a way to balance his responsibilities and uncover the secrets of Alcatraz? This historical fiction tale blends humor, heart, and intrigue, inviting readers to explore a world where the line between right and wrong blurs.

Sale price

$1697

Picture Book · Ages 7–10 · 2022

The Gardener of Alcatraz

By Emma Bland Smith, Jenn Ely (Illustrator)

Locked away on Alcatraz, a prisoner planning his escape finds something unexpected in the prison garden.

40 pages

4.4 Goodreads · 429 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Elliott Michener was sent to Alcatraz for counterfeiting and was determined to break out. But when he got a job tending the prison garden, he found new interests and skills, and a sense of dignity. This picture-book biography tells how one man transformed Alcatraz Island, and how the island transformed him.

Sale price

$1248

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2021

Jailbreak at Alcatraz

By Tom Sullivan · Book #2 in the Unsolved Case Files series

Three inmates vanish from Alcatraz, sparking an unsolved mystery.

106 pages· 7,212 words· Est. 1 hour read

4.2 Goodreads · 332 ratings

$12.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: In 1962, Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers pull off a daring escape from Alcatraz, leaving behind a baffling mystery. As the guards discover their absence, a decades-long manhunt begins. Dive into this gripping true story, complete with FBI files and investigation photos, and unravel the secrets of an escape that defied the impossible. Will the truth ever surface?

Sale price

$759

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2018

Al Capone Throws Me a Curve

By Gennifer Choldenko · Tales from Alcatraz series

A boy must navigate Alcatraz's dangers to join a baseball team.

240 pages· 48,139 words· Est. 6.5 hour read

4.3 Goodreads · 1,397 ratings

$7.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Moose Flanagan faces a summer of challenges on Alcatraz Island. To join the baseball team, he must secure an impossible item from the prison. Meanwhile, he juggles caring for his autistic sister, Natalie, and dealing with the warden's cunning daughter, Piper. As Moose confronts authority figures and even Al Capone, he discovers the true meaning of courage. Will he manage to balance his responsibilities and achieve his dreams, or will the island's secrets prove too much? Dive into a tale of resilience and unexpected alliances in the shadow of America's most notorious prison.

Sale price

$759

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2016

Where Is Alcatraz?

By Nico Medina, Who HQ, David Groff (Illustrator) · Where Is . . . ? series

A book about the history of Alcatraz prison and its notorious inmates.

112 pages· 7,850 words· Est. 1 hour read

4.2 Goodreads · 729 ratings

$7.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Discover the enigmatic history of Alcatraz, from its eerie legends to its notorious inmates like Al Capone. Explore thrilling escape attempts, including one involving spoons and raincoat rafts. What secrets does this infamous island hold?

Sale price

$1049

Chapter Book · Ages 9–14 · 2018

The Alcatraz Escape

By Jennifer Chambliss Bertman, Sarah Watts (Illustrator) · Book #3 in the Book Scavenger series

A mystery game on Alcatraz turns dangerous as sabotage threatens Emily and James.

272 pages· 50,594 words· Est. 5.5 hour read

4.3 Goodreads · 2,915 ratings

$10.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Emily and James face their toughest challenge yet on Alcatraz Island, where a literary escape-room game becomes perilous. As threatening notes and mysterious accidents unfold, Emily's brother is framed, putting his future at risk. Can Emily and James unravel the mystery before it's too late, or will their fame make them targets in a game with high stakes and hidden enemies?

Sale price

$1049

Chapter Book · Ages 12–15 · 2011

The Warlock

By Michael Scott · Book #5 in the The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series

A divided prophecy, a looming battle. Can Sophie reunite with her twin to save the world from ruin?

380 pages· 82,380 words· Est. 7.5 hour read

4.2 Goodreads · 62,604 ratings

$10.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: In a world teetering on the brink of destruction, Sophie Newman must find her twin, Josh, who has allied with dark forces. As San Francisco faces chaos and allies are trapped in another realm, the stakes are higher than ever. Will Sophie reunite with Josh and prevent the end, or will betrayal seal their fate? Dive into a tale of magic, mystery, and the ultimate battle between good and evil in the fifth installment of the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series.

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2013

Al Capone Does My Homework

By Gennifer Choldenko · Tales from Alcatraz series

A cryptic note from Al Capone may hold the key to saving Moose's dad from danger.

240 pages· 43,876 words· Est. 5 hour read

4.1 Goodreads · 4,079 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: On Alcatraz Island in the 1930s, Moose Flanagan faces a daunting challenge. His father, newly promoted to Associate Warden, is in peril as prisoners target him. When a fire breaks out and his sister Natalie is blamed, Moose must uncover the truth. A mysterious note from Al Capone hints at a deeper conspiracy. Can Moose decipher Capone's message in time to protect his family, or will the island's secrets consume them all? The stakes are high, and Moose's courage will be tested in this thrilling conclusion to the Alcatraz trilogy.

Sale price

$1049

Chapter Book · Ages 12–15 · 2009

The Sorceress

By Michael Scott · Book #3 in the The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series

Twins must master Water Magic to escape a city under dark control.

502 pages· 107,128 words· Est. 10 hour read

4.1 Goodreads · 88,710 ratings

$10.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Sophie and Josh face a dire challenge: trapped in a city controlled by the sinister John Dee, they must learn Water Magic to survive. With Perenelle imprisoned and Nicholas Flamel weakening, their only hope lies with the mad King Gilgamesh. Can they unlock the secrets of elemental magic before it's too late? The stakes are high, and the path is fraught with danger as they navigate a world of magic and mystery.

Sale price

$1248

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2017

Escape from Alcatraz

By Eric Braun · Encounter: Narrative Nonfiction series

Three men escape Alcatraz, vanishing without a trace. Did they survive or perish in the bay?

112 pages· 14,107 words· Est. 2 hour read

3.8 Goodreads · 575 ratings

$12.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: In 1962, Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers pulled off a daring escape from Alcatraz, leaving authorities baffled. While some believe they drowned in San Francisco Bay, others insist they reached Brazil. Dive into firsthand accounts and unravel the mystery of their fate. Did they outsmart the system, or did the waters claim them? The truth remains elusive, but the intrigue is undeniable.

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