81 pages 2 hours read

Gordon Korman

Son of the Mob

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2002

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Introduction

Son of the Mob

  • Genre: Fiction; young adult comedic adventure
  • Originally Published: 2002
  • Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 690L; grades 7-12
  • Structure/Length: 20 chapters; approx. 272 pages; approx. 4 hours, 30 minutes on audio
  • Protagonist and Central Conflict: Vince Luca has all the usual concerns of a teenage boy, such as success in high school and dating, but his life is complicated by his family’s Mafia entanglements. He must balance his desire to live a normal, law-abiding life with the continual dramas of mob business.
  • Potential Sensitivity Issues: Criminal activity; sex work; gang violence

Gordon Korman, Author

  • Bio: Born in 1963 in Montreal, Quebec; wrote his first book at age 12 and published it as the first installment of his Macdonald Hall series; earned his BFA from New York University; has written over 100 books; lives on Long Island, New York, with his family
  • Other Works: Chasing the Falconers (first in On the Run series; 2013); Masterminds (first in series of same name; 2015); Unplugged (2021); The Fort (2022); The Superteacher Project (2023)
  • Awards: ALA Best Books for Young Adults (2003); ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (2003); ALA Selected Audiobooks for Young Adults (2003)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Unit:

  • How to Live a Moral Life
  • The Power of Appearances and Status Symbols
  • The Difficulty of Breaking Away from Family