43. The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

THE HOUSE OF THE SCORPION by Nancy Farmer (Scholastic, 2002)

GENRE: Science Fiction / Dystopian

HONORS: ABC Children’s Booksellers Choices Award, Arizona Young Readers’ Award, Bay Area Book Reviewers Association Award, John Newbery Medal Honor Book, Locus Award Finalist, Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book, National Book Award Winner, Rhode Island Teen Book Award, Sequoyah Book Award, South Carolina Junior Book Award, Volunteer State Book Award, Young Hoosier Book Award, Young Reader’s Choice Award

REVIEW:

Young Matt lives in isolation with his mother until the day he meets his first outsiders and learns of his actual identity.  In the country of Opium, an empire between the United States and Aztlan (formerly Mexico), Matt learns that he is the clone of the country’s dictator and drug lord, El Patron.  Taken away from his foster mother and sent to the main house, Matt is treated as livestock and he becomes aware of the hatred that humans have toward clones.  In contrast, El Patron treats Matt like a son.  Whereas most clones have their brains destroyed at creation, El Patron saved Matt and gives him the best in education.  Believing that El Patron is grooming him to be the next leader of Opium, Matt is shocked to find out his true purpose.  Fleeing, Matt makes his way over the border into Aztlan only to discover that things there aren’t as peaceful as they seem, either.

OPINION:

This book has earned a spot as one of my favorites that I’ve read for this project.  Farmer has created a horrific world with such detail that readers will have little difficulty imagining the landscape and the people within it.  The image of poppy fields with eejit workers tending to them leaves readers with a picture of the definition of inhumanity and many such images will stick with readers long after they finish the book.  Tween readers will identify with Matt as he grows up through the course of the book.  Although he makes several mistakes reminiscent of El Patron’s wickedness, he learns from them and demonstrates more humanity than many of the humans around him display.  There are several moments that will have readers on the edge of their seats and the exciting narrative will make it hard for them to put down.

IDEAS:

With the current popularity of dystopian fiction, it would be great to include this book in a library display of tween dystopian literature.  This could also be used for a tween book group at the library, leading them to discuss some of the themes of the book and imagine what could happen to Matt after the book ends.