Nicky Deuce: Welcome to the Family

by Steven R. Schirripa, Charles Fleming

It’s July, and Nicholas Borelli II’s parents are scheduled to spend two weeks on a cruise. Nicholas will spend those two weeks, as he does every summer, at Camp Wannameka. The night before he’s to leave, however, there’s a phone thanks to an explosion in the septic system, camp is canceled. The only place for Nicholas to go instead is to his grandmother’s house in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York.
Nicholas’s father grew up in Brooklyn, but you’d hardly know it. An Italian dinner at Nicholas’s house in the suburbs is whole wheat pasta, organic tomato sauce, and, if he’s lucky, a tofu meatball. And Brooklyn? Well, Brooklyn is the place his father left and never talks about. Nicholas has never been there, and he doesn’t want to go now.
But when Nicholas tastes his grandma Tutti’s meatballs for the first time, gets a nickname from his uncle Frankie, and makes a friend in the neighborhood, his feelings about Brooklyn–and family–begin to change.

Genres: Realistic Fiction

176 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Steven Ralph Schirripa is an American actor. He is regularly credited as Steven R. Schirripa, including his total of over 300 total appearances in three long running series, playing: Bobby Bacala on The Sopranos; Leo Boykewich on The Secret Life of the American Teenager; and Detective Anthony Abetemarco on Blue Bloods. Schirripa is host of two Investigation Discovery series: Karma's A B*tch! and Nothing Personal. He is the voice of Roberto in the Open Season film series.

Reviews

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read. I love the Italian community where much is set and the assumptions made by the young boy that is visiting the community for a few weeks while his parents vacation. I would say it would be fine for most 5th grade students and through middle school. I would consider this a poolside read, not a book that I will quote while teaching. There is enough character development to allow the reader to get the perspective of a young boy, though, and that alone makes it worth reading, if you like to learn a bit about Italian slang. (There is even a recipe for a real Italian meal, like the grandmother in the story is always cooking.)

[Becky H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicholas Borelli has to go live with his grandmother when his summer camp gets cancelled. He is in for an eye opener. He gets real meatballs and many delicious foods he had never had before and becomes very educated by his uncle when it comes to how to live in Brooklyn.

#BookQuest category=Cooking

[Mark Luongo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ay! Ooh! Nice story by one of my favorite "Goombas", "Bobby Bacala". Love stories that remind me of my Italian heritage and Steven brings it all back. "Nonna" Tutti cooks like my Grandma! Nice ending.

[Codi Lessner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book.

[Amanda Harris · Rating 2 out of 5]

12 year old Nicholas Borelli aka Nicky Deuce is supposed to spend the summer at camp while his parents go on a cruise. Plans change when the camp is shut down and now Nicky is on his way to Brooklyn to spend the summer with his italian grandma Tutti and uncle Frankie. At first Nicky isn't too excited, but things start to change when Frankie introduces him to some of his friends. Nicky meets Sallie the butcher, Oscar the undertaker, Jimmy the iceman, and several other gangster like characters. Nicky even manages to make a friend on his own - Tommy. Tommy's a good kid, but a little wild. The two boys manage to get themselves caught up in a serious mess and now they need help getting themselves out of it. Who's Nicky going to call for help? Grandma Tutti isn't home, Frankie is gone and hasn't left any info. on his whereabouts, and his dad is miles away. Will Nicky make it out alive or will he be wearing a pair of cement shoes never to be seen again?

This somewhat realistic adventure story was fast paced and the characterization mostly focused on describing the surroundings and building up situations than it did on the characters. I would suggest this book for kids in 4th-7th grade who like gangster movies/books. I also think this book might work as a good read-a-loud for a dad and his kids-especially if the dad likes the sopranos or other gangster movies. Incidentally, the author Steven R. Schirripa, was the character Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri on the Sopranos, so that is probably why this book is very "Italian gangster".

Fugheddaboudit - That's how I feel about this book! This book was not good. It's so full of Italian stereo-types that it felt very Hollywood. I've got a lot of Italian family and I don't remember them living like this-other than maybe all the cooking that grandma Tutti does! I think it had potential, but it fell flat. There were too many things going on in the story line-some just disappeared leaving you wondering what was going to happen, some had nothing to do with anything at all, and the main story line was some what realistic, but the characters were so generic that it felt very hokey. If the story lines were more focused and it was written for a more mature audience, say for teens, then I feel like it would have been more successful and probably would have reached a wider audience. I have respect for writers, but in this case I think Schirripa needs to stick to the big screen!

*One thing I did like about this book was that it includes a recipe for Grandma Tutti's Tomato Sauce!

Read-a-likes:
"Spaceheadz" by Jon Scieszka because it also takes place in Brooklyn and the main character is a 12 year old boy.

"Granny Torelli Makes Soup" by Sharon Creech because it showcases Italian-American heritage.

[L13_Nicole Agee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicholas Borelli is sent to spend the summer with his grandmother Tutti who lives in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York after his camp gets closed down due to a bad septic system and while his parents are on a cruise sailing throughout the Caribbean. Nicholas arrives in New York as a privileged kid from the suburbs who knows very little about his family, culture, or his father's upbringing in Brooklyn. He meets his Uncle Frankie who teaches him all about the neighborhood and introduces him to his friends who have names like, Sallie the Butcher, Oscar the Undertaker, Jimmy the Iceman, and Bobby Car Service. Uncle Frankie teaches Nicholas how not to be a goomba, get into a jam, and the ways of Italian culture by showing him the movies, The God Father, Goodfellas, and the Sopranos. Nicholas makes friends at summer school and starts running errands and delivering packages for money for the men in the neighborhood. He gets into a jam and calls on his father and Uncle Frankie to save him. When he is saved from the gangsters, his Uncle Frankie is not who he thinks he is. Nicholas is surprised by who his Uncle Frankie actually is and what side of the law he really is on.

Once you hear this audio version, you get the feeling that you are in the heart of Brooklyn. Grandma Tutti makes delicious pasta dishes and you can feel the love from the food she makes for her family. She takes Nicholas around the neighborhood visiting the local meat markets, deli's, bakeries, and pastry shops. Everyone in the neighborhood knows each other and takes care of each other. It is the feeling of home and even though twenty years have passed, nothing has changed, not the people or the neighborhood.

This is recommended for listeners ages ten and up. You could use this in the classroom to have students compare it to their own neighborhoods and the different kinds of towns they live in and where they grocery shop, the restaurants they frequent, and the kinds of neighbors they have. The students could also look at characterization and discuss the different types of personalities that are in their neighborhoods and how they compare to Nicky Deuce Welcome to the Family. This was an excellent audio book and I think kids of all ages will be able to relate to it.

[Conan Tigard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Nicky Deuce: Welcome to the Family. Now, I am not Italian, nor to I generally like Italian Mob movies, but I really enjoyed this story about Nicky Deuce. All of the characters are great, especially Grandma Tutti and Uncle Frankie. As Nicky struggles to fit in with the other goomba kids, he has to shed the life he has always known and embrace his heritage. He is now an Italian American living in Brooklyn, a place where Italian American's rule the streets and all things that happen on them.

Nicky learns about the powerful men that run the streets and what happens when you cross them, as his new friend, Tommy, does some things he shouldn't. All of the characters are very well written and jump right off the page. The story is very realistic and young readers will be flipping pages as fast as they can to see what is going to happen with Nicky.

Overall, Nicky Deuce: Welcome to the Family is a fantastic journey into a world that so many of us will never get to experience: the life of a young Italian American boy growing up in Brooklyn. Bravo! Now, if only Grandma Tutti would come over to my place and serve me some of that wonderful pasta she was always making. I am sure that it would be quite delicious.

I rated this book a 9 out of 10.

[F · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a mother who just finished reading this book, I have reservations about the book being age appropriate for grades fourth through sixth. The main character, Nicky and his friend, Tommy are asked to pass counterfeit twenties --- and they do so. They are asked to deliver two packages of unknown contents at a specific place, day, and time. And, they agree to do so. Tommy (at age 12) buys wine for his grandpa in some back-room establishment. Bullets fly at a warehouse toward the end of the book. Even though the book has some endearing qualities such as Nicky developing a real love and respect for his Italian grandmother during his summer visit, there is much better quality young adult fiction available.

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicholas Borelli was supposed to go to camp like he always does. But since the sewar exploded he has to spend the summer in Brooklyn. He is soon dubbed Nicky Deuce by his Uncle and is being instructed in how to be a prober Goomba. But is his Uncle really a gangster? And will Nicky get pulled into every criminal activity in the neighborhood by his new pal?
Funny and exciting. Written by Steven Schirripa from the Sopranos this book revels in Italian-American stereotypes and even includes a recipe for Marinara sauce at the back of the book.
Worth a read

[Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicholas Borelli was supposed to be at Camp WannaMeka, swimming, kayaking, and hanging out with his other friends. Not down here in Brooklyn, the place his father grew up in, but hates it and never speaks about it. while his parents are on a two week cruise with his dad's boss, Nicholas gets a nickname from his uncle, tries real Italian food, makes a couple friends, and maybe catches a bad guy or two.

This book is one of my second favorites and is a great book if I'm going on a road trip. This book I recommend to anyone who loves those unexpected endings.

[Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was really dumb. The stereotypes were over the top. I read it because I'm currently weeding our juv fiction collection at the library and I felt bad for it because in the 6 years we've had it, the book was never checked out. This was Nicky Deuce's last chance to impress someone before meeting his maker. Unfortunately, he did not bring his A-game. Tomorrow, he meets the book sale table.

It was just poorly written and the story was stupid. The end went completely bonkers and seemed rushed. Not funny, not interesting, not good.

[Amandalynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at the library along with the audio for Cameron. Very entertaining and loved the narrator. It was fun to listen to and Cameron really enjoyed it his favorite part is the end. We have put in a request for the sequel from the library. This would be a great read aloud book for any family interested in a good laugh and a twist and a taste of American Italians.

[Tamsyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun (and funny) on tape, with authentic Italian-American voices. Nicky spends the summer with his grandmother and an uncle he's never met, and is immersed in the Italian side of his heritage, which he enjoys immensely until he suspects his uncle of mob involvement.

[Joseph-Daniel Peter Paul Abondius · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy gangsters/mob families this is the story for you

[Danie P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though it abounds in Italian-American stereotypes I loved it because it was easy to read, it was enjoyable and nobody dies.

[Jordan]

I just didnt like it !

[Rabia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good they also have a 2nd book im reading that one right now. I Recommend this book. :)

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh boy. Stereotypes are funny.
Or not.

But this was cute enough and only took a few hours to read. I guess it's a better characterization of Italian-Americans than the Jersey Shore.

[Smi4ever2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to read it because I grew up in the same area. Great book.

[Abby Schwartz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everyone liked it - a fun look at life in Brooklyn