Al Capone was a legendary mobster in Chicago. If he were still alive, he would turn 125 on January 17, 2024. But why do we remember him? He built a huge crime empire in Chicago in the 1920s, based on gambling and selling liquor (which was illegal at the time).
He was treated like a celebrity, even though he was known to be ruthless and violent to get his way. He was a complicated person who only served prison time for tax evasion, rather than his violent crimes. To commemorate his memorable life of crime, try these heist books about crimes both true and imagined.
The Great Greene Heist: Jackson Greene is a notorious rule breaker who has gone straight. Or has he? When his nemesis rigs the school elections, Jackson has no choice but to recruit a team to steal them back and save the school from the nefarious Keith Sinclair.
Framed! Could you solve a crime for the FBI? 12-year-old Florian Bates and his neighbor Margaret are doing just that! You'll laugh at Florian's wit and confident ways, which are hopefully enough to help him escape when he is kidnapped by the criminals he's trying to catch.
The Mona Lisa Vanishes: Did you know that the Mona Lisa was once stolen from the Louvre? In fact, the theft is one reason the tiny painting is so famous today. Learn the true story of the heist and the history of the painting in this illuminating title.
And for a different exploration of the mobster, Al Capone Does My Shirts imagines what life was like on Alcatraz Island, when he was imprisoned there. In this fictional story, 12-year-old Moose lives there with his family because his dad is a prison guard. It's weird but also very interesting for all the kids on the island, especially when they find out what famous inmate is doing their laundry (and maybe trying to communicate with them).
Do you have a favorite heist book? Let us know in the comments!
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