Home for the Holidays

January 1, 2007
Gr 4-6-In this sequel to "Nicky Deuce: Welcome to the Family" (Delacorte, 2005), Nicholas Borelli II, who spent the summer in Brooklyn with Grandma Tutti, is back home in New Jersey and bored, bored, bored despite his large, beautiful house and several friendly classmates. His father suggests that the extended family and his friend Tommy come and stay for the Christmas holidays, and Nicky is thrilled to reconnect with them and to eat Grandma's wonderful cooking. Dad is involved in a real-estate deal to gentrify a formerly dodgy neighborhood, but Nicky overhears his business partner's suspicious real plans and decides to investigate, with Tommy's help. A long search of the local library's newspaper files reveals that the man formerly had another name and has a criminal history. The boys decide to confide in a newspaper reporter, who promptly rats them out. Now Dad is in terrible danger. With the help of undercover cop Uncle Frankie, all ends well after a terrifying kidnapping and car chase. The exciting finale hints at sequels. Readers will be hooked on personable Nicky and his relatives, although some may feel that the Italian stereotyping is over-the-top and offensive. For libraries where the first book is popular."Susan Riley, Mount Kisco Public Library, NY"

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