Son Of The Mob

Winner of the 2005 Young Readers Choice Award (Middle Division)

The treacherous, hormone-soaked hallways of Franklin Middle School are the setting for this sharp, funny noir novel about tough guys and even tougher girls. "The Frank"is in the clutches of a crime syndicate run by seventh-grader Vinny "Mr. Biggs" Biggio, who deals in forged hall passes and blackmarket candy. Double-cross him and your number is punched by one of his deadly water gun-toting assassins. One hit in the pants and you are in "the Outs" forever. Matt Stevens is a proud loner with his own code of justice. He's avoided being pulled into Vinny's organization until now: Mr. Biggs has offered him a job he can't resist, even if it means bringing down one of his oldest friends. 

Nominated for an Edgar Award in 2009, The Big Splash revitalizes the noir novel while delivering a terrific, addictive mystery that crackles with wit and excitement.

Awards and praise for The Big Splash 

2009 Edgar Award nomination 

"Jack Ferraiolo shines a light on middle school and reveals what we've always suspected: It's a sinister place ruled by crime bosses and thugs. The Big Splash will make you laugh out loud." 

--Jeff Kinney, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid 

"Entertaining and thrilling."

--New York Times Book Review 

"An ingenious premise: junior high noir. . . . Twists and curve balls keep readers guessing; extended jokes will keep them laughing."

--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Well paced, funny, and suspenseful, with some real commentary on bullying and mob mentality."

--School Library Journal 

"If middle school has an 'underworld,' this book is The Godfather and The Maltese Falcon all rolled into one. Better still, it's funny, and not just a little."

--Gordon Korman, author of Born to Rock

"The Sopranos meets Romeo and Juliet in this briskly comic romance.... Tony presents a winning mix of good instincts and innocence that will have readers cheering him on as he weathers a succession of amatory and ethical crises, to emerge at the end of this expertly plotted escapade with relationships, self-respect, and even conscience more or less intact." John Peters, Booklist

"Funny and unexpectedly affecting, this will grab — and hold onto — even the most reluctant of readers." Publishers Weekly

"Although Vince's emotions are presented in a somewhat exaggerated manner, younger teens will enjoy the excitement and humor of the story. Casella does whatever is necessary — shouting, breaking into song, etc. — to make the narration very realistic. A great choice to motivate adolescent boys." Claudia Moore, School Library Journal

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 as 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 finally meets one who 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.

Seventeen-year-old Vince's life is constantly complicated by the fact that he is the son of a powerful Mafia boss, a relationship that threatens to destroy his romance with the daughter of an FBI agent.

In this much-anticipated sequel to The Big Splash, junior high detective Matt Stevens is back on the case, bringing us another hilarious middle school noir.

When the star of the basketball team is blackmailed, its up to Matt, the lone voice for justice in a morass of middle school corruption, to figure out whos behind the scheme. Is it eighth-grade crime lord Vinny “Mr. Biggs” Biggio, who has made his name peddling forged hall passes and leading a crew of social assassins who send enemies to the Outs with a humiliating squirt-gun blast below the belt? Or is it his lieutenant and Matts former best friend, Kevin? Or a pair of scheming twins who sell Pixy Stix to sugar-addicted classmates? One things for sure: There wont be a quick fix for the trouble at this middle school.

Praise for The Quick Fix

"The quick-moving plot and interesting characters give this detective story plenty of reluctant-reader appeal."

—School Library Journal

Award

Winner - Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Fiction

Jack D. Ferraiolo is the author of The Big Splash. He grew up in southern Connecticut and lives in northern Massachusetts. As the head of development at a children's animation production company, he has developed and writes for WordGirl on PBS, for which he won an Emmy. Visit him online at www.jackferraiolo.com.