This was a nice one, a fast, easy, interesting read that I got to after reading a few heavy, slow-moving books. When it's taken me a week to read each of the last two books, I really need a one-day read as a pick-me-up, and that's what this was. The House of the Scorpion is a very interesting little dystopia: the drug lords of Mexico, led by one Matteo Alacran, managed to swing a deal with the US and Mexico whereby they were given the area around the border between the two countries as their own sovereign territory; in exchange, they agreed to stop completely the flow of illegal immigrants, and also promised not to sell their drugs in either nation, but go to Europe, Asia, and Africa with their product. So now, 100 years later, Matteo Alacran is still alive, owing to the fact that he keeps growing new clones of himself in order to harvest their organs. He's not unique in this, the other drug lords do the same, but what is unique is that Alacran allows his clones to retain their minds, to learn and experience life until he needs to cut them open and take their still-beating heart, so to speak. The novel is the story of the last of these clones, who goes by Matt.

The author does a nice job of portraying life as the complete outsider. She also created excellent characters for El Patron, who is the original Alacran, and Tam Lin, the IRA terrorist-cum-bodyguard who befriends little Matt. It's a nice little idea that Alacran gets his security personnel from other countries, since, as he tells Matt, that means it's harder for them to plot against him; his most recent hiring was a group of English soccer hooligans. There's also a nice idea of how the country turns the captured illegal immigrants into mindless slaves to work the fields, and I love the depiction of the Alacran family and its infighting and scandal and hatred of themselves and pretty much everyone else.

The problem, if there was any, was in the last part of the book; it's a nice little chapter in the story and it has a good resolution, but the only problem with it is that it has no connection to the rest of the book: the last section is about Communist oppression and government corruption, and the first parts of the book are not. It disappoints because the themes in the first section are so strong, so immediate -- drug cartels, illegal immigrants, cloning; it is about what makes one a human being, what makes people into a family, and also gets deep into the purpose of a nation and a government. These were all explored, all fascinating, all done with an adept touch as the book never got too profound or preachy -- and then they were all abandoned as the setting shifts. I suppose we could see the last section as offering an alternative to the nation of Opium, and trying to show that every nation has its problems, but that is rather a different idea, and not one that connects well with the other main points.

Despite my henpecking, however, the ending of the book was fine, and the first three-quarters of the book were excellent. This is a great recommendation -- especially for boys who aren't big readers, as it was recommended to me by one such. It's science fiction and action, but both are thoughtful, and neither is overwhelming.

I'll start by saying that I am about two thirds through this book. I am reading it because it has been assigned as summer reading to my 9th grader. It is a rare book that I can't get excited about, and this happens to be one of them. So far, the story has been long-winded and convoluted. The concept of cloning should be intriguing, but I'm finding that I have no interest in any of the characters...not even the main one. I'm sure that the author could have thought of a better name than furball for the dog! :-)

I'm simply dreading the summer of trying to get my daughter to wade through this long boring story. I can't for the life of me understand all these glowing reviews of this book. There are any number of fantastic and exciting books they could have picked for summer reading; why this one?

This book is simply amazing--fluidly well told, with none of the typical "coming of age" tawdry sexualization, no offensive language, just an interesting take on contemporary issues. The realistic characters and well-paced story make this book worthy of all the awards it garnered. Buy your kid this book--then read it yourself!

I found the storyline in this book to be very bizarre to the point where at times it gave me the creeps. Yet, I could not put it down. The characters were compelling as were their struggles in life. The book was packed with moralistic sub stories and character twists that all seemed to come together to make this book a fantastic effort from the author. Highly recommended.

A real page turner, I can see why its now on many schools summer reading lists.

Its a highly addictive book that keeps you wanting more. I have to read this for my English class and I can't stop reading, When I first got this book I thought it was going to be "Another one of those books" so to speak. It's an experience that can't and shouldn't be passed up. Once you start reading this book it becomes hard to put down there is nothing I can say bad about this book 5/5

This book is a must read for any person, but there are drugs and violence, and the plot might be a little scary for some people.
This is one of my favorite books, as it doesnt just include one element. it has sci-fi, moral issues suspense, humor, and even a bit of (GASP!) romance!!! it doesnt get too intimate though, just kissing. i would reccomend this book to anyone four and up on the reading experience scale.
although it seems like a thick book, its a really fast read!

The book was great, but the ending seemed like it should have another book (series).

Imagine being harvested, not born. Imagine having no mother or father. Imagine being the exact replica of a feared and reviled drug lord. Imagine having a life expectancy of 14 years, for unknown yet fearful reasons. This is life as young Matteo Alacran knows it, and his story is what makes Nancy Farmer's THE HOUSE OF THE SCORPION a terrifically engaging book.

Rich in both plot and characterization, SCORPION opens with a boy locked in a house and kept by a kindly servant who works for El Patron, a 140-year-old (that is not a typo) drug lord whose real name is also Matteo Alacran and who rules a futuristic land, called Opium, that lies between the United States and the former land of Mexico (now called Aztlan). Matt's guardian is Celia, but her secret spills out into the open when Matt is discovered by children who wander far from the Big House where El Patron's rather nasty family lives.

Farmer provides a helpful family tree in the beginning, but it's not too difficult to keep track as only a few of the characters play a larger role -- chiefly young Maria, who bucks the trend of the entire family (spare El Patron) by lavishing attention on the reviled clone (our young protagonist, Matt). Then there's her step-brother, Tom, who makes a terrific antagonist -- all red hair, freckles, and guile. Tom's mother Felicia, a drug and alcohol-laden Cruella De Ville type, bears watching. And then there's El Patron himself, a Godfather figure who Matt loves despite foreshadowed warnings that begin to show their dark and sinister heads as the plot advances.

One huge plus for the book is the character of Tam Lin, a Scottish bodyguard assigned to Matt who proves a true mentor and savior in a most unexpected package. One slight minus for the book is the last section, "La Vida Nueva," which is almost like a sequel (though it ties in with previous material at the end) and isn't quite as strong as the beginning 2/3rds, due to a number of strong characters being missing from the action.

Still, it's a small complaint. This is a book of ideas capable of yielding rich discussion about the ethics of cloning (for various reasons that I can't get into here). An excellent plot will engage reluctant readers, and rich characterization will enchant readers who like to really get to KNOW their characters as flesh and blood people. When you enter this world, you won't easily forget it, even after you've long put the novel down. Can there be higher compliment for a book?

A young clone, Matteo "Matt" Alacrán (scorpion in Spanish), lives a secluded life in a desolate house within the poppy fields owned by a man he has never met. His only human contact is with his caregiver, Celia, a servant of the master, El Patrón, who goes to great lengths to exceed his life expectancy. Her stories are his only source of information about the world. Early on, he encounters some of the children of whom he knows only through her stories. Injured during the encounter, he is taken to the main house and treated kindly. But in the time it takes for a scorpion's tale to inject its venom, everything changes with the revelation of his true identity. Eejits and clones are center stage in this story of a family set amidst a variety of societal issues; communism, Catholicism, drug trafficking and immigration as well as the distorted family ties that bind the members together.

Taking place in three countries: America, no longer a world of milk and honey (as many people emigrate as immigrate), Aztlán (formerly Mexico) and the land between, Opium, it follows the life of Matt, an unlikely hero, whose will to live and persistence pay off when faced with a series of obstacles. A book geared towards teens, it's written at a high school level. Although it is interestingly complicated and includes a clarifying Cast of Characters and Family History, similar stuff has been written in books like Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, published later, shares similar themes.

Nancy Farmer spent quite a bit of time in Africa, mostly Zimbabwe, in the Peace Corp. I decided to give her a try again, and I am half way through "The House of the Scorpion". She is way too prophetic. Definitely not for children. It is a future where rich people raise clones of themselves to butcher for body parts. By law, they are deliberately braindamaged at birth. But, of course, this doesn't make them any less human - despite the desperate assurances that the luckier people give each other that "they are only animals". Somehow, the clones are not regular animals like dogs, cats, or horses - but "filthy beasts". Nancy Farmer understands projection. Many unlucky adults are made into "eejits" - a high tech version of Haitian zombification. They are people who are kidnapped and deliberately partially braindamaged just enough to be useful, but compliant slaves. And you thought waking up in a bathtub with your kidneys missing was bad.

The protagonist is a clone that didn't get brain damaged. Imagine that everyone treats you like a filthy beast, except a half dozen insightful people. Even the girl you love defends you because she is against any kind of cruelty to animals - not because she thinks you are human. Although as a good Catholic, she is troubled by the "theological problem" of an apparently intelligent person "without a soul".

As I say, I am half way through, and I suspect that the rich sponsor of the protagonist (at age 143) is going to need some body parts at some point...

Ok, I'm finished. Yes, the sponsor needed some body parts - that's all I'll say. Other reviewers complained about the ending. I disagree. It is a classic "catharsis" ending with the future hinted at but left to your imagination. A sequel could spell things out, and address the moral question that I was left with. Will the protagonist be able to avoid the gradual insidious slide into evil that befell his predecessor? Or will the temptations of wealth and power eventually corrupt him? A character in the story opines that the moral character of a life is set by choices made in its youth. But is that really true?

The concepts and characters were wonderful, especially Mateo. The story was driving and interesting, making the reader root for our young protagonist. The whole universe was believable and richly designed. I was in love with this book until the strange and pointless ending that wasn't really and ending at all. There was just no more book at one point and I was left wondering what actually happened to Mateo and his friend.

A better conclusion would have gotten this one the full five stars.

Most high school students would tell you that they wouldn't read a book that their old, crabby, high school librarian had suggested to them. They might even go out of their way to avoid ever even coming into contact with that particular title. Yes, that is what most high school students would tell you, but then again, I'm not like most high school students.

When my librarian said I ought to read A Girl Named Disaster, I was skeptical, but didn't want to seem rude, so I took the book off the shelf and checked it out anyway. I must tell you that once I opened the cover of that book, it was painful for me to close it again. Nancy Farmer's words captivated me and I was therein the jungles of Mozambique. I finished it within days and was back in the library, searching for more titles by the same author. That was the day I was introduced to The House of the Scorpion.

This highly suspenseful novel contains year by year accounts of young Matteo Alcran, a clone of a Mexican drug lord. Farmer's imagery holds you in place as you follow Matt on his journeys through love, loss, and even into near death on several occasions. This book, like her others, will not let you go even a moment without wondering what's next.

The most intense parts of Matt's life are definitely the moments when he is hanging by a thin thread between living and dying. You are there, not just watching Matt; you are Matt as he awaits his fate.

Nancy Farmer seems to want us to think about what our future may hold, as far as how we are treating our relation ship with Mexico. We need to take into consideration what would be best for both the people of Mexico and ourselves, not just making our decision based on our own selfish views. Also, this book brings up the issue of clones and how they would be accepted by society. Since they don't really have parents, and yet they are a 'copy' of another persons genes.

Nancy Farmer's writing has won many awards, and for good reason. The suspense is incredible, and her great word choice creates vivid imagery that transports you to the worlds of her books. This is and awesome book that any who wonder what the future may hold should read. Intense; a must-read!

-DCW

This book is really good. It was just really good I wont say what happens but ill kinda tell you the plot. OK this kid named Matt is living in a house (hes 6 when it starts out) and he never goes outside and all he does is watch TV. And lives with this woman who isnt his mom. Well he meets some kids and sevral things happen. But he ends up meeting this old mexican drug lord who Matt is a clone of. I wont say what happens but I will say that it held my intrest for the whole thing (and for a book this long thats saying something).

The age level I would reccomend is mabye 9 and up. As long as the 9 year old isnt scared easy. You see whenever the Mexican Drug Lord catches an illegal immagrint trying to go over the border he kills them (woman and children too) and puts a computer chip in their brain and that turns them into eijiets (I think its actully spelled diffrently I cant spell, hey im just 14) and the eijiets work in the opioum (the drug he harvests) fields. and many of them die. Its a bit like the borg in Star Trek.

I know this sounds like that one british dude from the book on tape thing.
But if you liked this another good book is Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer.
Its a good book and in the edition of The House of the Scorpion I read it had a chapter of Sea of Trolls in the back.

Peace Out

This book is really good. It was just really good I wont say what happens but ill kinda tell you the plot. OK this kid named Matt is living in a house (hes 6 when it starts out) and he never goes outside and all he does is watch TV. And lives with this woman who isnt his mom. Well he meets some kids and sevral things happen. But he ends up meeting this old mexican drug lord who Matt is a clone of. I wont say what happens but I will say that it held my intrest for the whole thing (and for a book this long thats saying something).

The age level I would reccomend is mabye oh lets say 9 and up. Just make sure the little 9 year old kid isnt scared eaisly. I wont give it away but its kinda like the borg from Star Trek.

I know this sounds like that one british dude from the book on tape thing.
But if you liked this another good book is Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer.
Its a good book and in the edition of The House of the Scorpion I read it had a chapter of Sea of Trolls in the back.

Peace Out

FANTASY
Farmer, N. (2002). The House of Scorpion. New York: Simon Pulse

Evaluation: This futuristic fantasy story was enjoyable at the start. The beginning is very intriguing. The Latino culture is part of the story with the use of Spanish words in text. Matt is a strong character and as he learns more, he becomes more interesting. The plot of the story at the beginning is very strong. Matt being viewed as an outcast constantly tries to prove others that he is "human" through his becoming more intelligent and musically gifted. The story takes a turn when it makes an attempt to involve more than just the cloning and the relationship with El Patron in its plot. The story has too many things going on with it after Matt finds out he is going to be used to save El Patron's life. Matt runs away and becomes part of a slave group of orphaned children that harvest plankton. Maria's mother is finding sanctuary at a motherhouse and Matt eventually finds her letting Maria know about her mother's whereabouts. Maria's mother advises Matt to return to El Patron's estate because he is the only one who can make a change in the way El Patron ran his estate. The Latino element is enjoyable in text, but as this chaos develops in the plot, it seems as if it is even too much to process in the story. This book is meant for junior high and high school readers. If a teacher were to use this book in a classroom, he/she may discuss science and the use of cloning. Touching on social studies, the teacher may examine a map having students come up with ideas as to where the opium fields were and how they divided the United States from Mexico. Teachers may also use this book to discuss what happens when the end of a story leaves you confused and without a solid end; in addition to what happens when the end of a book has too many different things going on and it becomes weak its ending. The book has won the National Book Award, Newberry Honor, and the Michael I. Printz Award for Excellence.

This book is worth every penny.

When I first picked up this book, I was thinking, "Cloning???" It had to be some awful tale of cloning strangers and taking over the world...nothing like what it really is

This book is about a boy (Matt) who barely knows what a clone is, but is one himself. He has three friends: His caretaker, his bodyguard, and a girl. Most people think of him as an animal, or worse...though he is as smart and perhaps even smarter than the humans around him. He soon finds out that the man he was cloned from actually made him to kill Matt for his body parts so he can live a longer life. He escapes and goes to find his girl friend but runs into a few problems...

The House of the Scorpion is sad but great... secrets are hiding in every page, ever sentence...

You will want to read this book over and over again. You will love the characters and will find yourself cheering Matt on as he makes his way - alone - in the new world

It is a good read; you will not be able to put it down! It took me only 3 days to finish it because I just HAD to know what happened-what the secret was-what happened to Matt in the well-written House of the Scorpion, by Nancy Farmer

I picked this book up at a garage sale because I'd read The Eye, the Ear and the Arm and had thoroughly enjoyed that even though it was bordering on bizarre. I liked this book even better. I loved how she dealt with many different issues of our time and set it in the future. She packs in many difficult issues such as human clones, drug trafficking, illegal immigrants, organ harvesting, and socialism vs individualism. This is a book that will make you think!

As for the book not being based on the scientific "fact" that clones would not have identical fingerprints, I didn't have a problem with that at all. It is not scientific fact because there are NOT any human clones on which to test the theory. It is only a scientific theory (educated guess) based on the fact that identical twins do not have identical fingerprints.

This book is not only for young adults. I'm 34 and enjoyed it greatly. I'm recommending this one to my 12 year old son, he will enjoy it just as much as I did. While there is some violence, it is never gory in its description.

This book had potential, but the author lacked any knowledge of the topics written about, which detracted from the story and ruined any point the author was trying to make. For instance, it is a basic scientific fact that twins (and hence clones) do not have the same fingerprints, and yet the idea that the clone has identical fingerprints to the original is a key point in the conclusion. This novel is all buildup with no facts, no point, and a broad unrealistic ending.

I like good science fiction, and really liked this book. The characters really made it come to life, and the action is intense. (Maybe too intense for some readers.) The clone Matt wonders why he was created, and tries to escape his heavily guarded farm. The book is suspenseful and thoughtful, and makes you think about good and evil in the world. Matt is a likable character who struggles to do the right thing. At the end, you're glad to see him finally win. In that regard, I would compare it to An Audience for Einstein, another great book about a human experiment and its consequences.

This is about the best novel I have ever read! I am not even done with it yet and it has the best use of language and description I have ever read. The plot is intriguing because it brings up scenarios and debates about today. There is the issue of drugs, illegal immigrants, cloning, and many more. A must read!

The House of the Scorpion is a place of power, ruthlessness, and compassion in unexpected places. The setting is Opium - a large swath of land spanning the present-day U.S.-Mexico border, established to solve two problems: drug smuggling and illegal immigration. Matt, who this story revolves around, learns that he is an integral part of this country and the power it represents.

There are twisted tales of deceit and misleading in Nancy Farmer's The House of the Scorpion. The story is told through the eyes of an onlooker who knows the protagonist, Matteo Alacran's feelings. Even though the book feels like it is in the olden days, the story actually takes place in the distant future. This futuristic setting really helps the reader understand the significance of the cloning in the story.

As you follow Matteo Alacran, the illegal clone of drug lord El Patron, throughout the story, you will unravel the mystery that surrounds El Patron's territory of Opium. Matteo gets taken care of very well and also receives a good education in the hands of El Patron. Celia, Matt's caretaker, and Tm Lin, Matt's bodyguard, help Matt along the windy path of his life in the "Big House in The Poppy Fields". Mr. Ortega, Matt's music teacher, helps Matt with his unbelievable music skills, something that has never been seen in El Patron.

The many conflicts in the story really help the reader understand Matt's character. As many external conflicts as there are between Matt and El Patron's grandson, Tom, there are just as many internal conflicts that Matt fights in his mind.

All in all I thought that this was a great book with plentiful action and such a captivating plot. I recommend this book to anyone who likes science fiction or just a well written adventurous book.

This futuristic science fiction novel begins with an intriguing premise and keeps the reader pondering moral questions throughout. Where do lines get drawn between the ethical treatment of all beings and the idea of growing clones for the purposes of organ donation. The family dynamics in the story are detailed and can be a confusing aspect for younger readers. It leads up to many questions of right and wrong, and while the beginning scaffolds information for the reader to adequately predict the rationale behind Matt's existence the final chapters take a completely different turn when Matt ends up in a post modern Mexico turned somewhat communist in raising the youth. This can be a pretty big leap to expect young readers to take, but with careful discussion it can also be used to demonstrate a book's ability to flip settings and purposes. Instructional ideas can include recent developments of cloning, organ donation, stem cell research debate, and a comparison to "equal" societies. Also touched upon is the illegal immigrant issues and the disturbing ways they were "handled" in the story. Realistic debates could easily come out of many aspects of this story.

I LOVE THIS BOOK!. it has all the elements of a wonderful book, betrayel, deception, love, EVERYTHING. if u were to read this book, you would get lost in its pages the first time you read it.

The book that i read is House of the Scorpions.The author is Nancy Farmer,and there was 380 pages.
The main characters are Matt ,El Patron, Mr.Alacran,Felicia,
Tom, Senator Mendoza, Maria,Esparanza,Tam Lin,Celia,Rosa,Raul.
First of all, Matt's full name is Matteo Alacran,aka "Mi Vida" and "The Clone". El Patron,the original Matteo Alacran also a powerful drug lord.Tom, the son o Felicia and Mr.McGregor.Emilia and Maria are the daughters of Esperanza and Senator Menedoza.
Celia is the Chief cook and Matt's caretaker.The setting is the Alacran Estate ,by the Country Opium.Matt is an advanced Eejit.
I liked this book because of the title not a complete giveaway of what this story is about.You would have to stay very focused on this book because it is a little hard to comprehend.

This realistic fiction/fantasy will keep readers at the edges of their seats. Starring a boy named Matt who finds out he's a clone. Having a terrible life with people treating him like a thing, and trying to win a girl from an evil boy, this book will keep the lights under your covers on until u finish it.

I am a middle school teacher and I recommended this book to my students for an after school book club and it really got my middle school boys reading! It's a great book as good as "The Giver" or better! A real "thinker" or theme to ponder type of novel for teens or older teens.

I don`t normally like science fiction novels. But in House of the Scorpion Nancy Farmer did and excellent job of keeping my attention. I really like the main idea of the book. Cloning. It is a very interesting story line that Nancy Farmer portrays for the future.
This book takes place in the Alacran mansion. This is where El patron lives (El Patron is the head of a major drug empire and is very rich). It is a very busy place that Nancy Farmer creates. Servants, Bodyguards, Families, and eejits which are people with chips in their brains. So they will only do something if you tell them to. The mansion is in between Mexico and the U.S. On a humongous poppy field. This is where El Patron grows all of his Opium.
Of the many people who live here Matteo Alacran or Matt is one of them. He is a clone, in the future where clones are despised. He lives a carefree life. With Tam Lin his bodyguard and Maria his friend. Matt is a very smart kid. considering his DNA comes from El Patron. One of the richest people in the world. El Patron treats matt like a king. And Matt does not know why. Most of this book shows how Matt tries to figure out his existence. So I also think that this book could also be classified as a mystery.
As the story unfolds Matt finally learns why he exists. To supply El Patron with his organs. When El Patron's fail. He is then faced with a dilemma. What to do. Should he run away? Should he give up? This book is a good description of what the world could possibly be in the future. Although it is three hundred and eighty pages long this book is definitely worth your time. Because you will love it. Nancy Farmer absolutely did a fantastic job with it.

I have learned the hard way that no matter how many quotes are plastered on the back of a book, the mean nothing. Take Faerie Wars (by Herbie Brennan), for instance. The book's backside is smothered with riveting praise that the book fails to stand up to...

But that's not the same with The House of the Scorpion. It actually was "mindblowing fiction." it actually did send me into deep thought. It was inspiring because everything about it was so real.

I have to give Ms. Farmer credit. She may be one of the few children/YA authors out there who can actually make a character seem their given age. Cornerlia Funke (The Thief Lord, Inkheart, etc...) is a bestselling author yet cannot master this... Nancy Farmer does it magnificently. When Matt (the beloved main character) is six, he seems six. When he's fourteen, he seems fourteen.

On normal circumstances, this book would have recieved a 4 star review from me on the account that it is a bit predictable and that the ending was a little rushed, but I realized that this is a novel intended for younger teens and older kids. Plus, the writing, story, and Farmer's ability to give character's creditability when it comes to their age greatly outweighed those two flaws.

Overall, The House of the Scorpion was one of the best novels I have read in a long while. It held my attention from beginning to end, made me think, and gave me hope that perhaps not all praise is empty.

DQ

"Air was sucked into growth chambers. A dull, red light shone on the faces of the workers...." With this line in the second paragraph of the first page, Farmer begins to weave her mood of dread, of science run amok, of humans on the short, fast road to the loss of their humanity. And all the while, she builds characters with whom we empathize, in whose existence we can see our own lives. This is a book that teaches the great lessons literature needs to teach, and ought to teach, our youth.

The book, The House of the Scorpion, is about a man who made clones of himself. He made a lot of clones but only one lived. He called the last clone Matt. Matt lived in this house called the big house. In the house he meets a girl called Maria. Matt meets El Patron, the man whom he was cloned from. In the book, Matt finds out that El Patron treated him nicely because he wanted to take Matt's heart so that he could live longer.
The setting of this book is made up country between the United States and México. This land is called Aztlan, but the people out of the country call it Dream Land. The book takes place one hundred years into the future. Most of the book takes place in the big house. And the rest of the time in a plankton factory or some where else that is out side.
The problem in the book is that El Patron treats Matt too nicely. Another problem is that Celia poisoned Matt a little. Celia poisoned Matt so that El Patron would not take his heart and live longer. Another problem is that El Patron doesn't allow any new technology in his house.
If you like to read books that has cloning, treachery, futuristic things, sci-fi, and odd deaths than I recommend this book to you. I like it because this book contained lots of weird events. When I was reading this book I felt like I needed to keep on reading. If you keep on reading and you have a pretty good imagination you could almost see the book as a movie. And that is why I liked this book.
~GM

Matt always had a normal life or at least he thought he did. He had to be locked up in a house in Mexico with Cecilia, the woman who took care of him. She had taken care of Matt since he was a small kid and was very kind to him. Whenever she went to work, Matt had to stay inside the house.
In the beginning Matt meets kids about his own age that he never met before. Tom is the oldest of the kids. Tom carried and took Matt when he got cut by glass in his feet to El Patron's house so Matt could get medical attention. In the beginning Tom is nice but after he figures out that Matt is a clone he starts to treat Matt really bad. Maria, the youngest one is the same age of Matt. She is a very stubborn girl and cries a lot. Later in the story Matt starts to like Maria and Maria starts to like him. After Matt's accident he meets El Patron. There he finds out that he is El Patron's clone! Matt grows up thinking that El Patron is a good loving person but is El Patron really how Matt thinks he is? Everyone seems to respect El Patron. Tam Lin, Matt's body guard, tells him all of El Patron's secrets. El Patron is the owner of everything. He is one- hundred fifty years old. No one ever disrespects him. A lot of people seem to be scared of him. In the house where Matt and El Patron there are people called eejits. Eejits are people that have computers in their heads. They don't have feelings and they just do whatever they are told to do. Matt has his first real adventure when he has to escape and save himself. Matt had always been a calm loving kid but once he discovers the truth about his past his attitude changes. He didn't know that one day his life would change just by breaking a window.
I really enjoyed this book. When I started reading it and I couldn't stop. There are a lot of clever books that Nancy Farmer wrote. For example she wrote, The Eye, The Ear, and The Arm. The story is exciting and there are some parts where there is romance. The theme of this book is acceptance. In the book only very few people like Matt. He faces a lot of persecution. No one likes Matt just because he is a clone. I've learned from this book that love will always beat money and power no matter what.
I think that people of all ages who love adventure would enjoy this book. Once you read House of Scorpions you will never forget about it. I really recommend that you read this book!

I started out just reading this book in segments of only 15 minutes each day. I would grab it and start reading when my 9th graders started their 15 minutes of SSR time each day. After only 2 days, I was hooked. I really don't like science fiction, but I loved this book. The premise of the book is engaging to kids and adults. The ending fizzles a little, but that's not unusual with young adult novels. I have noticed it in quite a few young adult novels with The Lovely Bones being a good example. Anyway, I liked the book so much that I ordered copies for my small reading class to read together in literature circles.

The House of the Scorpion is an amazing book. It is about a young teenage clone boy, Mattie, living in the future of Mexico (a drug producing land called Opium) The book follows Mattie as he learns that he is a clone to the overlord of this humongus opium plantation. He goes through many trials and learns many things about his home that he doesn't wish to be a part of. The House of the Scorpion is an absolutely wonderful book. It will keep you on the edge of your seat from cover to cover.

The House of the Scorpian was definatly one of the most deserving of the title of Newberry honor, especially when compareed with some of the books that win the award as well. The whole thing takes place between the bordars of America and Mexico and is dubbed Opium, not the name I would have picked. House of the Scorpian focuses in on the the life of Matt, a clone harbored in the stomach of a cow. We learn of the hardships there are in the life of a clone, about all of the very biased folks he encounters, and his final journy out of Opium, into Mexico.

From a critical point of view, House of the Scorpian is, like most of Farmer's books, far too long. although I have attempted it twice, I still have notfinished it due to its absurd length. Please Nancy Farmer, write less and stop elaborating on every conceivable thing! On the nicer side, this book brings up some excellent points about human beliefs and behavior. Setting the story in the future helped embellish all of the fear geared toward Matt and also adds an interesting backdrop for the story. But, despite the cover and the summary given on the book, it is not as sinister as it is cracked up to be. Yes, one of the characters is a drug lord, but the whole drug buisness is certainly downplayed in the novel as well as the scary scorpian featured on the cover.

In all honesty, House of the Scorpian is way too long and dull at times. If you're ready than go for it.If not, than don't because you're not missing out.

In this science fiction novel there was one main character, his name was Matt. Matt was a clown of a rich and powerful man named El Patron. Matt had lived with a cook named Celia who was supposed to take care of him. One day three children found Matt's home in the fields. Their names were Steven, Emilia, and Maria they lived in the mansion on the farm. When Matt got hurt they carried him back to the mansion where he got first aid. But when everyone figured out he was a clone he was treated like an animal he was put in hay and lived there for months until El Patron found out. Then he met his body guard Tam Lin who was a former terrorist. Tam Lin treats Matt like a person when everyone else treats him like an animal. Tam Lin gets him a home schooling teacher and shows him how to ride horses. He also got him a piano teacher that is deaf and really needed a job so he agreed to teach Matt even though he was a clone. But at Emilia and Tom's wedding something very much unexpected happens and Matts life takes a turn for the worse. I enjoyed this book I would give it 9 out of 10, 10 being good 1 being bad. I like this book because it was exciting and fun to read it had a lot of unexpected turns in it. I would suggest this book to all of my friends!

I'm not a big Science Fiction fan, so that in itself put me off, but it was a well written book. This was an easy read, but a disturbing subject. A good vs evil story, but a dark story all the way through until the end. Matt being the main character was considered stupid and unworthy not only of love but any type of attention. He lived with a cook and he had a body guard who loved him but that was it.
Farmer did a good job of portraying Matt's feelings and setting the scene.
I'd say the only thing I didn't like was the story kept getting darker and more disturbing and there didn't seem to be any redemption for Matt and I got tired of that - thankfully he was redeemed in the end.

This is quite an interesting story - futuristic fiction. I don't normally read stories of this genre, but I was curious and intrigued by the back cover blurb. It's a story of the future in which clones figure, and is written from the point of view of a clone from about 6 years old on. Really makes one think. The story is well thought-out, brutal, maddening, depressing, but I think intentionally and makes good points without being obvious or beating one over the head with it. Interesting moral and ethical issues, and particularly interesting future bigotry. Clones are considered evil, dirty, beasts, inhuman/animals, etc. like so many ethnic groups of yesterday. Interesting perspective of awareness from the clone, and the characters that turn out to be good and help him during several enormous crises, have qualities that are timeless and could be of any age, culture, time, etc. Other beings are humans and animals called eedjits that have had a chip installed in their brains which makes them actual slaves and unable to do anything but their assigned duties or tasks. No free will or thought, even inside. This disturbed me quite a lot. The injustice and cruelty of many are disturbing, but realistic, and the most surprising was the brainwashing mentality of what appeared to be communistic society of what was formerly Mexico. Well-written, easy to follow and understand, well-developed. Overall, this story was not my cup of tea, but no fault of the author's. It is a very interesting and thought-provoking story, and I encourage others to read it to sample some of the issues that could come up regarding clones, brainwashing, mind-control to the extreme and various societies in the future.

The house of the Scorpion

Nancy Farmer

In this science fiction novel there was one main character, his name was Matt. Matt was a clown of a rich and powerful man named El Patron. Matt had lived with a cook named Celia who was supposed to take care of him. One day three children found Matt's home in the fields. Their names were Steven, Emilia, and Maria they lived in the mansion on the farm. When Matt got hurt they carried him back to the mansion where he was treated, but from then on Matt's life was never the same. I enjoyed this book I would give it 9 out of 10, 10 being good 1 being bad. I like this book because it was exciting and fun to read it had a lot of unexpected turns in it. I would suggest this book to my friends.


Chase Bennink

This book, The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer, starts out by introducing Matt, the main character. Matt lives in a futuristic society. He leaves his house and goes to an estate. There he is treated like an animal because he is a clone. Then, el' Patron (who was cloned) took him in and treated him like his son. Matt was living in luxury. Then Matt and el' Patron were getting older so el' Patron wanted to kill him and use him for him for his body parts so he could live longer. Matt decided to run away so he wouldn't be killed. What will Matt do now? Will he survive? Will he meet any new people on his journey? What will happen to Matt?
I liked this story. I liked this story because it was interesting and exciting throughout the whole entire book. I t also had a lot of cliff-hangers and at the end of every chapter it left you wanting to read more. The only thing I really didn't like was the beginning because it was a little confusing. Overall I think the story was amazing! I would recommend it to anybody who would like to read a thrilling and exciting story. But who wouldn't?

When was the last time you read a book that made you jump in your seat with enthusiasm?? That's what I thought. Well in the story, The House of the Scorpion, that's exactly what the book is about! Bravery, relationship, and yes, romance. The book also will make you bellow with hilarity! This book will take you on a journey to the future!
The story has many topics and they play an essential role. The foremost themes are adaptation and courage. Truly having courageousness in the subject really pursues you into the tale. Romance encounters as well.
The characters in the novel are adapting and are condemning themselves in their own distinctive, unique way. Like Matt, the focal character, has to acclimatize to his own suspicions and uncertainties. That's precisely how the novel magnetizes itself to you.
Setting is an immense piece of the story because it expresses the location so dramatically; you experience the painted picture in your mind. Here is an example of a narrative:
"The indistinguishable room gassed up heat from the ancient ground as Lisa stepped on the pedal." Now that's descriptive!
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who is willingly up for a challenge and can prove that the word "courageousness" is in their vocabulary. This book really is extraordinary and comes up with seemingly impossible odds!!! So are you up for the challenge?


THE END

The book The House of the Scorpian was a Newberry Honor book and has two more awards to go with it. It is written by Nancy Farmer and it is a fiction book. It took place in Opium, the territory between Aztlan and the United States. The main character is Matt, he is a clone of the richest man on the planet. Matt falls in love with a girl named Maria but Matt is not allowed to see Maria because he a clone. Then Maria gets sent to a convent to learn to behave. Matt has to leave when the man he cloned died so now people are after him. He flees to Aztlan and meets up with three friends, thren he finds Maria but then he had to go back to Opium.

This book is filled with adventure and is a great book. I loved it and I would read it again if I had the chance. This book would best suit 7th to 12h graders if they like fantasy books with a lot of adventure. Overall this was a great book and if you read it closely you will notice cool things in the story tat will affect the story later on

Reading the book, "The House of The Scorpion", written by Nancy Farmer, made me understand why this fictional novel won her a title such as a "Three-Time Newberry Honor Author." The takes place in the future on a strip of land, large enough to be a country, between and part of what used to be the United States and Mexico. Matteo is a clone of a 180-year old drug lord/cloner and lives his life as a child in neglect for being a clone. Matt, for short, begins his journey to realizing his own existence in the drug lord's, servant's home in the middle of a vast poppy field. He does not know he is a clone until the drug lord's relatives find him. The kids brought Matt back to their home, the home of the drug lord, because they didn't know Matt was a clone either and he needed medical attention. Matt found out he was a clone that day and no one in the majority of the population of the country liked clones. The only thing that was odd was the "fact" that people hate clones. You would think clones would be cool to have around.
This story was unique because it had more than one plot to end up as one whole storyline. The author gets you accustomed to one setting and then get you moving willingly to the next. This book is good for anyone who likes longer stories that keep your attention for long periods of time. The book is easy to understand and it's even easier to get a grasp of how people think in this story. It would be worth your time to read it.

The Book that I read was "The House of the Scorpions". By, Nancy Farmer. This book is about a boy, who in fact is no boy at all. He is a clone of a very old and very powerful drug lord.
This book takes place in the future with hover cars, clones, and ejiets. This is a very dangerous place to live. The place that it takes place is Atlazan. It is a new and less improved Mexico with more drugs and more poverty. This book makes you think about things. The clone's whole life he was said to be different. But how different is he really when the only mark that says he is a clone is a little tattoo on his foot. This book has very many issues that it discusses such as; Drug trafficking, prejudice, and also enslavery.
In conclusion this book was great. This was my second time reading it and I would do it again if I had time. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes action and suspense.

I likes this book because it had a lot of sespance and when thing got dull there was a surprise that slapped you in the face

the story was about a kid named Matt that had would not speak but he could speak.

Then on day he wanted to play out side but Celia would not let him because he was a clone and Matt did no know that till on day a group of kids came to his house and asked him if he wanted to play. The door where locked and the windows where locked so Matt too a pan and smashed the window. When he started to run around he stepped on a broken peace of glass and fell down on hid hands and knees. The kids brought him to Maria's house and when the where cleaning him up thy found a tattoo that said he was the property of El Patron. The maid threw him in a room full of hey since a clone is like a animal.

Then one day a doctor come over to see Matt and he was in bad condition and he was the only clone that was smart because when people make clones the put a shot in them so they wont get attached to them so when the person that made a clone of him self needs a part he will just take it away. They gave Matt back to Celia and then El Patron gives Matt a body guard Tim Lin to protect him. Tim Lin got a teacher to teach Matt how to speak and she was teaching Matt stuff he already new and he yells at her. Tim Lin was happy that he finally talked.

In the music room Matt found a closet and went in side it there was a secret passages and there was finger print scanners and Matt got threw all the doors and discovers secrets.

One after non El Patron had a hart attack and he need Matt's heart but he could not use it because Celia poisend it just a little that El Patrons body can not handle. And El Patron died.

The new owner ordered Tim Lin to kill Matt so Tim Lin took him to a secret place and told him where to Azeltin to find a job and try to get El Patrons power since Matt is EL Patron.

A kind of reader would like this book is a person that does not mind grouse things and is a good reader.

i really liked this book it was very exciting so if you like fanasty, action, and comedy this is the book to read its about achild named matteo alacran and it tells about his life from age 6 to 14. this book is packed with adventure and matt goes thruogh a lot he gets bullied and also almost dies but i cant say anymore because i will spoil all the fun

I would give this book 5 stars for the first 2/3 of the book and 2-3 stars for the last 1/3.

To me, the premise and setup were complex and sophisticated, bordering on adult fiction. The characters were multi-layered and interesting -- the kind who are neither all good nor all bad. I couldn't put the book down and raved about it to everyone.

But then, the last third of the book went off on a tangent that didn't seem related to the beginning. Its tone ranged from Young Adult to Children's fiction, and the plot and characters changed from complex to rather simplistic. I don't want to give away any plot points. I will simply say that the ending was too quick and easy and didn't follow up on the conflicts set up early on.

My initial reaction was "This is brilliant!" My final reaction was close to "Oh, hmm."

Still, well worth reading for the characters and world. I just wish the book had ended as strongly as it began.

the book was the best i have ever read i recomend this book for all ages its not just a fiction story its a thrilling adventer.el patron is a drug lord and is posible the most powerful man in the world he lives up to be 145 years old he uses clones to keep him self alive one of the clones named matt was not turned into aeejit he was spared by el patron he lived a normal life intell he found out he was a clone,and he ran away and thats were part of his advenyer sarted.

The House of the Scorpion.

By Nancy Farmer.

The book I am reviewing is the House of the Scorpion. This book is a science fiction. It takes place in a land bordering the United States and Mexico. What takes place there is a powerful drug lord grows clones for spare body parts that he may live longer. This book is about one clone's will to survive. The book tells about his story.

My impression of the book is that ot deserved all the awards it won. It was very well written. I think the book is best suited for children ages ten to fourteen. As I was reading the book I almost couldn't put it down. It was one of the very best books I have ever read.