Secrecy In Gordon Korman's Son Of The Mob

The Theme of Secrecy in Son of the Mob

What if our secrets are what keep us from moving forward in life? Throughout our time, most of us will have the opportunity to have an experience dealing with a secret. To a profuse amount of people, secrets are a means of power–a piece of information not many know about. Of course, certain secrets are better kept for the sake of others’ health and safety, but other times people are burdened. These significant secrets that make a person feel trapped and are so enormous and difficult to conceal that they end up being detrimental to one’s mental well-being. In Son of the Mob by Gordon Korman, the author depicts the deleterious effects derived from secrecy through the main character, Vince Luca, a seventeen-year-old

Vince’s father, Anthony ‘Honest Abe’ Luca, is a mob boss who has FBI agents actively working on trying to put him away, hence their bugged house (Korman 7). As a result of growing up in an environment where secrecy was of the essence, Vince Luca has been trapped in this world of lying and keeping secrets, which ultimately negatively impacts his relationships and mental health. Throughout the novel, we as readers witness Vince experiencing internal growth as he forms new relationships, sets boundaries, and reforms old ones. However, as his journey through his identity progresses, he is often faced with the difficulty of having to lie to the people closest to him. This secrecy inevitably impacts his newfound relationship with Kendra, his family, and his own mental health. All of these aspects have become increasingly difficult for Vince to handle, causing his

With FBI agents listening in on their everyday conversations and a bug-free basement that is frequently used as a meeting place for any business-related discussions, secrecy was a skill that the Luca children developed at an early age, just as they would learn to walk, talk, read, and write; it’s in their DNA. Growing up, being a male in the Luca family meant being expected to someday join the family business. However, Vince has other plans for himself. He often states how he refuses to take part in such an act, such as when he says, “‘[My father’s business] is never going to be a part of my life!’” (Korman 20). In addition, this widely-known decision sparks both trouble and understanding throughout his family, as Vince’s older brother, Tommy, believes there is “‘nothing wrong with what [their] dad does’” and that there’s no reason not to join in, whereas his father is considerate and accepting in his choice while also secretly harbouring the idea that he would eventually change his mind (Korman 95). Moreover, with secrecy being a prime factor in the Luca family, many problems arise as a result. For example, Vince often finds himself having to sneak around to keep not only his and Kendra’s relationship a secret but also his involvement with Jimmy and Ed, in direct defiance of his father. He often lies or keeps secrets, such as his contracting