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