Escape from Alcatraz (Encounter: Narrative Nonfiction Stories) by Eric Braun


Escape from Alcatraz (Encounter: Narrative Nonfiction Stories)
Title : Escape from Alcatraz (Encounter: Narrative Nonfiction Stories)
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : -
Format Type : Kindle Edition
Number of Pages : 112
Publication : First published January 1, 2017

What's more exciting than a prison break? Frank Morris and John and Clarence Anglin escaped from Alcatraz in 1962 and have never been caught. Many authorities are certain they died crossing San Francisco Bay. Relatives claim they made it to Brazil. The theories of what happened to them are endless. Find out the facts from people who dealt with the men and the case first-hand. This is one mystery you'll definitely want to solve.


Escape from Alcatraz (Encounter: Narrative Nonfiction Stories) Reviews


  • Derrick

    A quick fun read about the infamous escape from Alcatraz. Not a whole lot of new information here as this story has been told and told again. It was interesting to read about the different theories on whether or not the three guys actually made it. I choose to believe they did in fact make it. Alcatraz history will always be intriguing and I look forward to reading more about it in the future.

  • SIMON J.

    AMAZING book. Can not believe that they made a hole in 8in. of concrete with the back of a spoon!

  • Natalie

    I visited Alcatraz a number of years ago and loved it. It was my favorite part of our trip to San Francisco. I couldn't help but be drawn to this intriguing story.

    I suppose any book like this is frustrating because there is no conclusion. We'll probably never know what happened to those guys.

    I believe this book is perfectly written for kids. It was informative in an accessible way. I felt like I got plenty of information about the escape. I don't feel the need to explore deeper. Sometimes when I read jr-non I feel the need to get more info from adult non-fiction. Not so with this guy.

    Recommended for people wanting a brief, but well written overview of this famous escape.

  • American Mensa

    "Long dashed over to Morris’s cell and pulled the covers off …. He was gone, too!" This was an incredible way to start the book. This caught my attention immediately. The quote intrigued me and made me want to turn the page.
    In 1962 Clarence Anglin, J.W. Anglin and Frank Morris escaped from Alcatraz, also known as The Rock. The Rock was “impossible to escape” so, Clarence Anglin, J.W. Anglin and Frank Morris decided to try for themselves. This escape plan includes stolen and handmade tools, dummy heads, handmade wooden paddles, homemade life jackets and a homemade boat. The inmates carved out the vents in their cells with the handmade tools. This was how they escaped. The dummy heads were made out of soap and human hair.
    A man named Allen West was supposed to escape with the rest of the inmates but, his vent got stuck at the last second. Clarence Anglin, J.W. Anglin and Frank Morris left without him but left behind a life jacket, one of the wooden paddles and part of the boat. Allen West’s vent did come out but by that time it was already too late. Clarence, J.W. and Frank left without him. Allen didn’t think he could get off of The Rock alone so he didn’t leave. When he went back to his cell and he left his dummy head in there.
    I recommend this book for 8-12 because it was a very interesting book that I think almost everyone would like. This book was a really good read.
    Giovanna P., 11, Connecticut/Western Massachusetts Mensa

  • Forgetfulone

    I didn't know too much about Alcatraz before reading this book, only that some men had tried to escape and the prison closed shortly thereafter. That was the extent of my knowledge. I originally purchased this book for my classroom thinking it would appeal to a lot of my boys. After reading it, I would also say it might be appealing to girls. It was a very interesting story.

    I love how the author explained a bit of history of the three men and what led them to being in prison at Alcatraz. He didn't include so much that it was boring. It was actually necessary. This shed some light on their personalities and their abilities as it relates to their escape plan. Braun also went in to great detail about the escape plan, how they procured supplies, and how they planned for every contingency. He also discussed several scenarios that could explain what happened to the three men who escaped "The Rock."

    Photographs that help the reader visualize parts of the prison and parts of the plan are also included. This was a very informative yet easy-to-read book. My son has said for a long time he would like to visit Alcatraz, and I think I do, too, now that I know more about what happened.

  • Diego

    This book is about three different men on a journey to escape Alcatraz since past crime in their life got them there so they plan,join and talk to others how to escape awhile not making them Suspicious once they escape there master plan investigating see how they escape with picture instead the books explain.



    I would rate this as a good book there isn’t any thing to really change about it. It explains every thing you would need to know about Alcatraz and the three people that escape from this prison

  • Jessica Gallant

    For some reason I thought this would be more like a novel, but it reads more of a documentary (although very interesting, regardless!). Alcatraz and the escape of the three men have fascinated me for some years now.
    I find it amazing the determination of these men.
    One of the men was put in Alcatraz for being one who easily escaped prisons but he was locked up for burglary. I may not know everything about these men, but it bothers me to death that they served such hard terms for "petty" crimes while child molesters and abusers walk free.
    It's disturbing, the entire justice system.

  • Tyler Hiles

    There's some pictures that are cool to see that tell you some cool facts about what they used to escape and a whole lot more i think anybody reading this should pick this book up and read it. Yes the book is small and not very long but all the details about how they dug through walls and made there escape of Alcatraz Prison...

  • Marilyn Grant

    Escape from Alcatraz

    I enjoyed reading the book, having visited the Island in 1977. It was quite an experience to see those cells and to examine solitary confinement. The book brought me back to that time. It was written well, but I can’t believe anyone escaping from that prison.

  • Cole B-C

    This book is about three men’s trip to freedom from Alcatraz. They have to craft fake heads and build their own rafts and grates to escape the island and trick the guards.

    I think this book is great. It is full of action and is very suspenseful. It put me on the edge of my seat the whole time and it has a great ending. It has a lot of real photographs.

  • Kimberly

    Interesting short non-fiction book about the three inmates who escaped from Alcatraz. Great for young readers ages 9-13. It covers all the intricacies of their plan for escape and everything authorities have done since to try to close the case. Fascinating, especially because we just don’t know what happened to these men.

  • Shannon Minner

    Good book with the basics of this Alcatraz escape. I would recommend it for a middle school library due to some vocabulary and brief mention of violence. I think it could be a good non-fiction companion to the Al Capone Does My...series by Gennifer Choldenko.

  • Sondra

    Interesting story. It was a bit difficult to keep the characters separate but nothing a little chart couldn’t help. There were also a few explanations which were a bit hard to visualize but overall it was an interesting and quick read.

  • Heather Jo

    juvenile, nonfiction, history, Alcatraz, prisons, escape, fourth grade, fifth grade, sixth grade,

  • Christine

    Very informative

  • Makenna Carpenter

    This book was very interesting.