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Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
The Sopranos (minus the vulgarity and violence) meets Leave It to Beaver (minus the "aw-shucks" tone and dated sensibility) in Korman's (No More Dead Dogs) brassy, comical caper. With its razor-sharp dialogue and bullet-fast pace, this tale could fly on either the small or big screen, yet it makes a page-turner of a novel. Korman shapes a believable and likable crew-despite the less than reputable profession of some. Many of the novel's conflicts revolve around the fact that the affable narrator, 17-year-old Vince Luca, refuses to become involved in the family "vending machine business." But of course, since his father is the Mob boss, and his older brother serves as their father's loser lackey, Vince cannot avoid being tainted (e.g., he lands in jail "because my sixteenth-birthday present [a Porsche] turns out to be hot"). Mom turns a deaf ear to the shady goings-on, cooking up a steady storm in the kitchen and willing "to serve a sit-down dinner for fifteen guys at four in the morning with ten minutes advance notice." Things heat up when Vince begins dating-and eventually falls in love with-the daughter of the FBI agent determined to bring down Vince's father. The boy also gets sucked into the maelstrom when he loans money to one of his father's underlings for whom he feels sorry. Funny and unexpectedly affecting, this will grab-and hold onto-even the most reluctant of readers. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From School Library Journal
Grade 7 Up-Vince Luca, 17, has always been concerned, embarrassed, and fearful about his crime-family background, though he has sworn never to become involved or to let it keep him from upstanding behavior. During his senior year, all he wants is romance, friendship, and to get through school, just like any normal guy, but things don't go as planned. His new girlfriend turns out to be the daughter of the FBI agent who is bugging his house; his older brother has figured out how to use his New Media class Web-page project for a bookmaking scheme; and he decides to save two lowlifes who owe big bucks to his father from the pains of mob revenge. The novel's quick pace and Korman's recognizable, upbeat style balance the contrived and predictable elements that infiltrate the story. Vince is a believable character; there are moments when he realizes that his name gives him power and he has to remind himself that he has chosen a different path. Susan Beth Pfeffer's Most Precious Blood (Bantam, 1991; o.p.) deals with a teenage girl whose father belongs to a crime family, but it is more serious. 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.
Diane P. Tuccillo, City of Mesa Library, AZ
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Diane P. Tuccillo, City of Mesa Library, AZ
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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First Sentence
THE WORST NIGHT of my life? Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
THE WORST NIGHT of my life? Read the first page
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Concordance
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The audio version rocks!,
By yvette "starlet" (Vancouver, BC) - See all my reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lil' Sopranos,
By
This review is from: Son of the Mob (Audio Cassette)
Vincent Lucas is the youngest son of crime boss Anthony Lucas. Although he enjoys the fruits of his family's ill gotten gains (like a new Porsche for his sixteenth birthday), he isn't particularly interested in following in his father's footsteps, especially when he becomes romantically involved with the daughter of the FBI agent gunning to put his father away. He finds himself at odds with his father when he takes pity on two men who owe his dad some money. Vince wants to show the scumbags how to budget. His dad wants to do it the mob way - cut off a few fingers with the garden shears.Meanwhile, he faces the typical complications of being a teen, like trying to get his schoolwork done and play quarterback on the high school football team, while also trying to avoid the complications of his family's business, like the unconscious body of a man in the trunk of his car. Will Vince be able to escape the family business? Will he and Kendra find true love and live happily ever after? Max Cassella does an excellent job narrating this audiobook, with an authentic wiseguy, Sopranos-esque voice. The humorous, fast paced story will hold the attention of any teen as well as be an enjoyable story for the parents to listen to in the car. With the runaway success of The Sopranos, all things mafia are very popular currently. An exciting crime element (albeit with very toned down violence) combined with a thoughtful, funny, likeable protagonist would interest even the most reluctant audiobook user. The narrator's fast paced voice and hilarious delivery do an excellent job holding the attention of the listener, even in the unabridged format.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hilarious,
By "marigold1101" (USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Son of the Mob (Audio Cassette)
This was an entertaining, laugh-out-loud book! Max Casella was awesome as the reader, and his voices are very believable. I was swept into the interesting story immediately, and it never lost my attention. Korman created in-depth characters and a great plot with comedy, romance, and suspense!
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