Realistic Fiction/Humor

Korman, Gordon. 2002. Son of the mob. New York: Hyperion.

Summary: Vince Luca is a young man who seems very ordinary except for one thing: his father is a mob boss. His organization is well known for criminal activity which makes him the target of the FBI. Vince has all the normal struggles of a young man his own age, trying to fit in and impress girls. He doesn’t really feel comfortable with his family’s “business” but sometimes he gets sucked into it without even trying. His dad is pressuring him to get motivated but Vince doesn’t like the choices he has. His life gets even more complicated when he meets a girl named Kendra. He really likes Kendra but is afraid she will find out what his Dad does for a living. Things take another crazy turn when he finds out that Kendra’s Dad is an FBI agent who has his Dad under surveillance. Kendra doesn’t know this and he struggles to keep his father’s identity a secret, but eventually Kendra finds out. How will she react? This fast-paced, action packed and sometimes humorous novel shows how two young people from totally separate worlds manage to find common ground.

Analysis/Impressions: This young adult fiction novel presents realism in a humorous fashion. While Vince’s life is filled with a lot more challenges than most ordinary teens (because of family crime connections), the story tries to put a funny spin on the challenges. The author makes us laugh at some of the predicaments Vince finds himself in, even though some of them could be very serious and dangerous at times.

Written from the perspective of Vince, we get the first hand how he feels and thinks. This will appeal to young adults, who tend to prefer books that focus more on the perspective of one character. Other characters, while less developed still add a great deal to the story. Some of the crime “family” characters are quite humorous as we see them though the eyes of Vince, with their tough façade removed and their more human failings exposed.

The characters in the book are well developed and interesting. The main protagonist, Vince is well rounded. We see him as a complex individual with both good and bad traits. He doesn’t always make the right choices, but we see his character fully. We see through his thoughts, dialogue and actions how he relates to others and how others react to him. We see how his character changes during the course of the story, and we watch him grow stronger. In the beginning his father saw him as unmotivated. In the end he has to admit “I always thought the advantages you had made you a flake-in-training—no drive, no motivation, just take, take, take. I was wrong about you Vince. I don’t like what you did, but I’ve got to hand it to you, you’re motivated.” (Korman 2002, 253)

Vince faces the challenges that most teenagers face: trying to develop socially and become independent. While some teens are embarrassed of their families, Vince has a harder burden because he can’t even admit what his family is really about. He lives in two different worlds.

This book helps to balance out some of the more serious books in this genre. The author does a good job of helping the readers relate to the male protagonist Vince. Young adults are going through a time of self discovery and they can see themselves in Vince, even if they don’t have a mob boss dad. One of the main issues we see in Vince’s life is his struggle to develop his own ethical standards and his own life philosophy. We see time and again how he struggles internally with issues of right and wrong. He knows his family’s crime activities are wrong, but after all “blood is thicker than water” and he does feel a sense of loyalty.

We also see another important issue cropping up in Vince’s story. He must decide what to do with his life. His Dad is putting pressure on him to decide. As he grows and matures, his own sense of right and wrong are telling him that he doesn’t want any part in the family business. While the book doesn’t tell us the next step in Vince’s life, we get the picture that he is going to make some independent choices. One of his the biggest choices he will have to make is what larger community he wants to belong to. In his case, the choice will have major consequences.

The style of the book isn’t preachy or moralistic, but there is a message. Young people can see that sometimes making right choices is hard. While some of the situations seem humorous we know that living in a crime family can be risky business.

The book is a quick read and will be enjoyed by young adults who like realism and lots of laughs. It is a change from some of the more serious, dark books written for young adults. I would recommend it for ages 12 and up.

Review Excerpts:

“Readers who perceive the frightening meaning of organized-crime activity will best appreciate the tension and edgy humor that permeate this book, and will cheer when Vince finally stands up to his father.” (School Library Journal, Nov 2002, Vol. 48 Issue 11)

“The fast-paced, tightly focused story addresses the problems of being an honest kid in a family of outlaws—and loving them anyway.” (Horn Book Magazine, Jan/Feb 2003, v. 79 no. 1)