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The House of the Scorpion (Hardcover)

by Nancy Farmer (Author) "In the beginning there were thirty-six of them, thirty-six droplets of life so tiny that Eduardo could see them only under a microscope ..." (more)

4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (92 customer reviews)

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Product Details

Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books (Sep 1 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0689852223
ISBN-13: 978-0689852220
Product Dimensions: 22.9 x 15.5 x 3.3 cm
Shipping Weight: 681 g

Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (92 customer reviews)

Amazon.ca Sales Rank: #465,345 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

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Fields of white opium poppies stretch away over the hills, and uniformed workers bend over the rows, harvesting the juice. This is the empire of Matteo Alacran, a feudal drug lord in the country of Opium, which lies between the United States and Aztlan, formerly Mexico. Field work, or any menial tasks, are done by "eejits," humans in whose brains computer chips have been installed to insure docility. Alacran, or El Patron, has lived 140 years with the help of transplants from a series of clones, a common practice among rich men in this world. The intelligence of clones is usually destroyed at birth, but Matt, the latest of Alacran's doubles, has been spared because he belongs to El Patron. He grows up in the family's mansion, alternately caged and despised as an animal and pampered and educated as El Patron's favorite. Gradually he realizes the fate that is in store for him, and with the help of Tam Lin, his bluff and kind Scottish bodyguard, he escapes to Aztlan. There he and other "lost children" are trapped in a more subtle kind of slavery before Matt can return to Opium to take his rightful place and transform his country.

Nancy Farmer, a two-time Newbery honoree, surpasses even her marvelous novel, The Ear, The Eye and the Arm in the breathless action and fascinating characters of The House of the Scorpion. Readers will be reminded of Orson Scott Card's Ender in Matt's persistence and courage in the face of a world that intends to use him for its own purposes, and of Louis Sachar's Holes in the camaraderie of imprisoned boys and the layers of meaning embedded in this irresistibly compelling story. (Ages 12 and older) --Patty Campbell

Books in Canada

Nancy Farmer leads us into the devastatingly bleak futuristic world of Opium where, for generations, El Patron has ruled a drug empire with an iron fist. El Patron has survived by having clones made from a supply of frozen DNA, clones who can provide body parts and, ultimately, new life and clones who aren't even considered human in this society. Matt is the latest in the line of the clones who have been harvested for El Patron and El Patron has decided that he's going to give Matt a chance to have the best of everything before using the boy's heart. But things are about to fall apart in the perfectly dreadful world that El Patron has created and Matt holds the key to a brighter future if he can survive.
Nancy Farmer has written an intensely inventive fiction that deals superbly with the difficult issues that genetic modification raises.
Jeffrey Canton (Books in Canada)

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First Sentence
In the beginning there were thirty-six of them, thirty-six droplets of life so tiny that Eduardo could see them only under a microscope. Read the first page

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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover

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Customer Reviews

92 Reviews

5 star:		(84)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

Average Customer Review

4.8 out of 5 stars (92 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Truly Amazing., Nov 15 2009

By	Laup Otta "Laup" (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The House of the Scorpion (Paperback)

I consider myself to be an incredibly picky reader, however when I started this book, I found myself enjoying every minute of it.

The main character is a boy named Matteo Alacran, or Matt. The story begins while he is just cells - because he is a clone. His DNA comes from a famous, rich, and powerful drug lord also named Matteo Alacran, however he is commonly adressed as El Patron. He is the lord of a strip of land between the United States and what used to be called Mexico called Opium (as poppies are grown and harvested there.)

Matt is treated like filth by most of the inhabitants of Opium, but El Patron seems to have an ulterior motive to keep Matt in good condition - however that reason might be not-so-good for Matt.

When you get this book, you will never want to put it down. Farmer uses many amazing elements to keep the book suspenseful, which is why I recommend it to everyone, as even picky readers will find it unbelievable.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Believable Through and Through, Aug 2 2009

By	Susan Ricketts "Sues Views" (Guelph ON Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The House of the Scorpion (Paperback)

By now most of have either read I, Robot the book written by Isaac Asimov or have seen the movie which was made a few years back starring Will Smith. That was one of a series of books which explored the ethics of intelligent creatures being created by humankind to serve as their tools. It harked back to an even earlier dilemma of using human slaves to do our bidding.
Nancy Farmer has written a book which addresses our current desires to live longer by harvesting organs from people who have died in order to prolong our own lives. Its a slippery slope and a huge moral concern. Are we just human meat and thus parts to be harvested? And should we strive to live longer than the parts we are born with are able to last? Today we have the ability to create clones in Petri dishes and implant them into any animal or human to gestate and be born, but should we?
The House of the Scorpion is written from the viewpoint of a boy who is the clone of a man who was 140 years old at the time of his birth. Although he knows from early on that he is a clone and is thus ostracized by human society, he believes that because he is being educated and did not have his mind altered at birth, there has to be a higher purpose for him than as a spare parts factory for El Patron.
This book is written in a fast paced easy to read style which grips you from the beginning and makes you want to see if he can escape his fate and if he does, how will he use his life. Will he be a copy of the selfish. dictator El Patron? Or can he become his own person and develop his own conscience and morals? The imagined world of the future is a not so fantastic take on what may be the ultimate fate of North America.
Well written and a great read.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Nancy Farmer's Best Feat Yet, Mar 2 2006

By	John (Ontario) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The House of the Scorpion (Paperback)

This science fiction novel by Nancy Farmer, the House of the Scorpion, is a page turner. You will not be able to put it down. It is thrilling, suspenseful, and has an unexpected twist. This book takes place sometime in the future. I recommend this book for 12-99 year old boys.

Matt, the main character, is a clone who lives in a small house in the opium fields with his beloved caretaker Celia. He does not know he is a clone until some kids from the big house come and knock on the windows. He has never before seen other kids and he is very excited. Matt is only six years old. He cannot open the door and the windows are locked. Without thinking he takes a pan and breaks the window. He then jumps out the window. Matt cuts his hands and feet very badly. Maria, later to be Matt's best friend carries him to the big house. Maria is the same age as Matt. She is very nice and loves animals. Here they immediately called a doctor until the see the writing on Matt's foot: "Property of El Patron." They then realize that Matt is a clone and lock him in a cellar. Three months time has passed of Matt being in the cellar, and being treated like an animal. One day a maid runs and fetches Matt, of course after being a prisoner for three months he is very confused. The maid cuts his hair and cleans him up.

It turns out El Patron has come to visit. El Patron is a really old man who is extremely powerful as he is in charge of the opium fields. This is the man who created Matt. Matt is his clone! When El Patron hears from Celia how they have been treating Matt he is furious He demands that Celia and Matt have there own quarters.

Is El Patron really the good man we think he is? Read the House of the Scorpion to find out, and see if Matt will escape and survive!

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars An original idea and thrilling adventure
Nancy Farmer, the author of "House of the Scorpion", was born in 1941 and is a three time Newbury Award winner. Read more

Published on Dec 14 2005 by Tess Lenon

5.0 out of 5 stars my new favourite book
this book is so twisted!!!it led me to think things were gonna happen when they didnt and some of the most unexpected things took place. Read more

Published on April 9 2005 by Adri

5.0 out of 5 stars Adam's Review
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... Read more

Published on Jun 11 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars All I can say is wow.
After reading this book over and over again and not getting the least bit bored, I realized that this was my favorite book ever. The sad thing is, I don't even own it. Read more