When most people hear the name Alcatraz, the first thing they think of is the escape-proof penitentiary that housed America's toughest criminals. But the small island known as "The Rock" has a long and fascinating history. Since its discovery in 1775, Alcatraz has also served as a fortress to protect the western United States from invasion, a Civil War-era military prison and a symbol of defiance for American Indians in the 1960s. Today, it has become a national park. With this book, young readers will go back to the island's humble beginnings and follow its transformations through the years. They'll meet the legendary Birdman and other notorious prisoners, learn about some famous "great escapes" and much more.

 

This book is part of a book series called Mysteries Unwrapped .

There are 96 pages in this book. This book was published 2008 by Sterling Juvenile .

Josh Cochran grew up in Taiwan and California. He teaches illustration at the School of Visual Arts and occasionally works as an art director at the New York Times. His clients include McSweeney's, Facebook, MTV, the New Yorker, Sony, Wired and Time Magazine. He lives in New York with his small dog, Porkchop.