Module 7b – Son of the Mob by Gordon Korman

1. Citation - Korman, Gordon.
   Son of the Mob. 2002. 272p. Hyperion, (0-7868-0769-5).
   
2. Summary – Vince Luca is the son of one of the most notorious mobsters around. Though he wants no part of the family "business", he gets sucked into it when he finds a hostage in his trunk while on a date. The story unfolds as he ends up making a connection with a girl who's father happens to be the FBI agent currently investigating his father and bugging his house. Will he be able to stay out of the business and pursue this intriguing young lady?
   
3. Impressions of the Book – This book was a very fun read, and I ended up having to go and get the next installment! Vince is a refreshing character who stands on morals (even when the chips are down), but does not betray his family. The twists and turns of this quick read will keep you on your toes. The dialog is quirky, and the story very entertaining. Is it serious? No, but it is a fun read. The family drama and interpersonal relationships are those which most teenagers can relate to in some way.
   
4. Reviews -
   Peters, J. (2002). Son of the Mob (Book). Booklist, 99(5), 485. Retrieved from MAS Ultra - School Edition database.
   

   The Sopranos meets Romeo and Juliet in this briskly comic romance, costarring a crime kingpin's son and an FBI agent's daughter. Tony and Kendra are mad for each other, but that doesn't mean that Tony is ready to tell Kendra who his father is—especially after his horrifying discovery that her father is on the listening end of the bugs and wiretaps scattered through his house. Realizing that it wouldn't be wise for either dad to find out what's what, Tony has to do some fancy footwork to keep the fathers, and Kendra's suspicions, at bay—a task considerably complicated by his unwilling involvement with a pair of petty hoodlums. Stubbornly battling to preserve his illusion that the family "business" has nothing to do with him, Tony presents a winning mix of good instincts and innocence that will have readers cheering him on as he weathers a succession of amatory and ethical crises, to emerge at the end of this expertly plotted escapade with relationships, self-respect, and even conscience more or less intact. —John Peters
   

 

1. Use in a library setting – This book could be part of a "realistic fiction" series within a book group.