Synopses & Reviews
Vince Luca is just like any other high school guy. His best friend, Alex, is trying to score vicariously through him; his brother is a giant pain; and his father keeps bugging him to get motivated. There is just one thing that really sets him apart for other kids--his father happens to be the head of a powerful crime organization. Needless to say, while Vince's family's connections can be handy for certain things (like when teachers are afraid to give him a bad grade), they can put a serious crimp in his dating life. How is he supposed to explain to a girl what his father does for a living? But when Vince meets a girl who finally seems to be worth the trouble, her family turns out to be the biggest problem of all. Because her father is an FBI agent--the one who wants to put his father away for good.
Review
"[A] 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....Funny and unexpectedly affecting, this will grab and hold onto even the most reluctant of readers." Publishers Weekly
Review
"Korman can reliably be counted on to deliver a hilarious story; he delivers in spades here....Maintaining the balance between situational humor and the real violence and ugliness of organized crime is no easy matter, but Korman pulls it off in fine manner, managing to create genuinely sympathetic characters....Laced with running gags...here's a laugh-out-loud addition to the ranks of dreary teen fiction." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"The Sopranos meets Romeo and Juliet in this briskly comic romance....[An] expertly plotted escapade..." John Peters, Booklist
Review
"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....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