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The House of the Scorpion, written by Newberry Honor book author, Nancy Farmer, has earned the National Book Award and is a Junior Library Guild Selection. An excellent example of literary merit, this novel draws you into its unique settings and expansive characters. You truly feel as if you are lost in the Poppy Fields in the midday heat on El Patron's estate or coughing and itching along with Matt as he endures months of captivity in a room filled with chicken litter and roaches. Farmer's characters are so believable you find yourself feeling compassion for a clone, and anger at those who treat him as anything less than human. Farmer cleverly uses figurative language and understatements to slowly build your curiosity and the suspense. You struggle along with Matt as he attempts to understand his purpose and what those who love him are trying desperately to convey to him.
"So many hints! So many clues! Like a pebble that starts an avalanche, Matt's fear shook loose more and more memories. Why had Tam Lin given him a chest full of supplies and maps? Why had Maria run from him when they found MacGregor's clone in the hospital? Because she knew! They all knew!"

The characters never are able to tell Matt directly what he so desperately wants to know.
"They're looking for you everywhere.....They've sent bodyguards to comb the stables and fields..... 'Why are they looking for me?' (Matt desperately wants to know.) 'You have to know. Tam Lin said you were too clever not to figure it out.' Matt felt turned to stone. The bodyguard evidently gave him more credit than he deserved. Matt hadn't figured it out- not really-until a few minutes ago."

Although this book has a science fictional flair to it, it appeals to a wider range of readers including those who enjoy suspense and mysteries. As well as, readers who are not afraid of controversial topics like cloning, drug lords, brain-deadened eejits and wealth that surpass morals and the laws. Within a classroom, this book could be used to stimulate discussions on present day controversies of cloning, stem cell research as well as nature vs. nurture, since Matt and El Patron had the same DNA however turned out to be very different people.

The book, The House of the Scorpion, was written by the amazing author Nancy Farmer. The setting in this story takes place in the future on opium fields between the U.S. and Mexico. Matteo Alacrán, also known as El Patron, is in charge. He has many "eejits" working for him; an eejit is a former person with a computer chip installed in his or her head.

El Patron is 140 years old, he has lived this long because whenever he needs a new organ he can "harvest" one from one of his clones. Matt is different; he is a very educated clone of El Patron. As the story goes on Matt realizes that El Patron is not treating him very well. With Tam Lin's help (Matt's bodyguard) he escapes to Aztlan. Matt is kept at a plankton farm, but escapes. He returns to the opium estate and finds he is the only one left to run the farm.

I recommend this book to teenagers and adults. This was a very interesting book that has a lot of action. For anyone looking for a good science fiction book to read this is a good choice.

The authors purpose for writing this novel was to give the reader suspense and mystery. One example is when Matt, the main character, is framed for killing his friends dog when he didn't. He then must prove his innocents to a crowd of prejudice people. It is suspenceful when one of Matt's best friend's, Tam Lin, pretends to become evil in order to help save Matt.I think the author definitely achieved her two goals of being suspenseful and providing mystery. This book was brilliantly written.