Son of the Mob

Korman, Gordon. Son of the Mob. Hyperion, 2004. ISBN-10: 0786809183




Plot Summary
Vince Luca is the son of New York City's biggest crime boss who is hoping to leave organized crime behind when he starts film school in LA. Keeping his family's business a secret is getting difficult considering his friends-- his girlfriend's father is the FBI agent in charge of his father's case and his roommate is the son of a congressman. Soon his brother shows up at his dorm room for an extended visit and his mob uncles show up shortly after. When a union organizer gets kidnapped Vince gets suspicious. Does the arrival of his relatives have anything to do with the union worker's disappearance? How can Vince stay loyal to his family and maintain his stance against crime?



Critical evaluation
This story is ridiculously improbable but wonderfully entertaining.  Korman's portrayal of the mob is completely based on the movies, to which the characters freely allude. This book is mostly about eating pasta, making calls on pay phones, and the usual college stuff like frat parties, roommates and intimidating professors. But it also examines the relationship between Vince and his family. Interestingly, Vince's relationship with his father is contrasted with his roommate's relationship with his own father. While one man is a wanted criminal who is devoted to his friends and family, the other is an upstanding citizen who neglects his family. When taken together with the antics of Vince's "uncles" and his brother Tommy, this story moves along with plenty of laughs.

Recommended

Readers Annotations
Vince hopes to leave the mob behind when he leaves for college but when his family shows up for an unexpected visit is seems the mob is in California too.

Information About the Author
Gordon Korman wrote his first book when he was 12 and he has written over 50 books. He now lives in Long Island with his wife and three children.

Genre
Humor

Curriculum Ties


Booktalking Ideas
Mobsters

Reading Level/Interest Age
Grade 8+

Controversial Subject Matter and Defense of Ideas
none

Why Book Included
Gordon Korman appears on several favorite tween author lists