Part 1: Chapters 1-3 Summary

Alcatraz is an island off of San Francisco, California that functioned as a federal prison 1934-1963. Al Capone was a prisoner there from 1934 to 1939. This novel is set in 1935. Natalie, Moose's sister, would be diagnosed as autistic in modern times, but autism was not a recognized medical disorder until 1943.

Chapter 1. Moose Flanagan, christened Matthew, has just moved into an apartment on Alcatraz Island where his father has beaten out hundreds of candidates for a job as electrician and prison guard. Moose's mother forced the move so that Moose's sister, Natalie, can attend a school in San Francisco called Esther P. Marinoff, a school to help emotionally and mentally impaired children.

Chapter 2. Moose has slept with all his clothing on out of fear of a midnight attack by convicts, but feels dumb for doing it the following morning. When Moose...