Rating: 
Summary: Recommended for any age!
Review: There seems to be a wonderful standard for so-called "y/a" fiction that is slipping in adult fiction.This book is a great example. Beautifully written with rich, complex characters, THE HOUSE OF THE SCORPION deserves many awards, in addition to the Newberry Award it has. The lead character is a child named Matt, who is treated like a pet. Some pets are pampered, some are abused and neglected, and Matt endures all this and everything in between. He is loved, but most people hate him because he is a clone. The hatred is expressed in shockingly virulent ways. There are heartbreaking passages describing how this bright, talented child survives incredible abuse and neglect. Matt's resilience and spirit are so inspiring, you will be moved, but not be depressed by these scenes. There is a wonderful sense of immediacy in the descriptions of the huge estate where Matt lives--the center of a drug lord's empire. Matt has people who care for him: a cook with other "special" talents, a bodyguard with a dark past, and a sweet-hearted little girl. They serve as a surrogate family for Matt in the drug lord's wealthy household. The most compelling character is the ancient drug-lord himself; Matt is his clone, and loves him, even though the old man is corrupt and evil. The engaging and complex characters alone would make this novel stand out, but there is also an excellent plot and story. A bildungsroman perfect for any bright young person, or any adult who craves good fiction.
Rating:
Summary: A Definition Of A Good Book
Review: The House of The Scorpion, written by a Newberry Honor book author, Nancy Farmer, is an amazing novel I couldn't put down. It is filled with excellent examples of literacy merit throughout its pages and it is what I would call a good book. The House of The Scorpion draws you into a unique but futuristic setting of Mexico and the Untied Sates and displays the main character Matt as a believable character. He may be a clone in this book but you can feel his pains, fears, lost ness, and longings throughout this novel. From the room filled with chicken liter in which he was kept to the longing to find out why exactly he is here in this world in the first place, you follow in Matt's eyes to find his freedom. The dialogue used in the House of The Scorpion provides much insight into the many characters and their feelings. A great example is taken right from the book jacket, where Matt is still trying to find why exactly he is here. Matt asks El Patron's bodyguard at his coming of age party. "How old am I?...I know I don't have a birthday like humans, but I was born." "You were harvested." Tam Lin reminds him. "You were grown in that poor cow for nine months and then you were cut out of her." The author uses many understatements to provide clues to the reader and Matt, what is exactly Matt's purpose in life, which in turn creates many dramatic questions that keeps the reader hooked. 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 they all knew what was to become of Matt, except Matt himself. All the twist, turns and surprises in this book make it so hard to put down. Every time you think you can take a break from reading, something unexpected happens and you have to keep on reading.
Any science fiction fan will love reading this book. I also feel this book would appeal to readers who enjoy suspense and mystery books. For all those Harry Potter readers, here is a new one for you. Take away the magic and put in futuristic science you get the House of The Scorpion. Within a classroom, this book could be used to stimulate discussions or activities on present day cloning or stem cell research. It is also a great book to discuss nature vs. nurture, since Matt and El Patron had the same DNA but however turned out to be very different people.
Rating:
Summary: Clones, symbols, drugs!
Review: One thing you can say about this book is that is definitely has a unique subject. It takes place on the border between Mexico and the U.S. (AZ), which is a territory that's owned by drug lords, with their own rules and procedures. It's an adventure tale of how a young boy, who's also a clone, escapes from this wasteland in order to do better for the oppressed population within the drug lord's community where he grows up. This book is ahead of its time in the way the author deals with both the subject of cloning and the corrupt circumstances that currently reside on the U.S.-Mexican border. The book traveled in a different direction than what I expected, focusing more on the personal lives of the characters, rather than the overall events (such as cloning & the power of drugs). Overall, a great, unique book for adults & adolescents who are interested in cloning, drugs, Mexico, Arizona, and current affairs.
Rating:
Summary: A good intro to sci-fi for those not fans of it
Review: As a college student and future teacher, I was enrolled this past semester in a children's literature course. As required reading,we had two books from each genre. I have never liked science fiction and was a little discouraged to see my book was near 400 pages! It was difficult to find at the library, so I thought about buying it. I didn't though,because I didn't think I'd like it. I just finished it about an hour ago. I couldn't put it down! It wasn't only becase it was due today either! Nancy Farmer did a great job of making you care about the characters. The main character of the book is Matt. You see his struggle to live a sub-human life as a clone. After he meets his genetic "parent" El Patron, he begins to receive better treatment. Read this book if you want to find out what happens to Matt as El Patron has a need for him and what happens to the Opium Empire, which is between Aztlan (future Mexico) and the U.S. At times I was a little frustrated that I did not know Spanish, not knowing how some words and names were pronounced, but Nancy translates these phrases. I am considering buying this book and will recommend it an upper grade class if I am an upper grade teacher. Maybe this would be a good read aloud.
Rating:
Summary: WOW! My favourite book!
Review: I was at my school book fair and I saw this book. I read the back and found it interesting and I saw that it had 3 awards slapped on the cover. So I picked this book home and the minute I started reading it I was hooked. I normally don't like reading but this book is just plain awesome. It's about a clone, and he starts off living in a house with a servant for "the Big House". He then get's his foot cut by glass(doesn't sound horrible but when you read it you'll understand) and he is brought to this Big House, and they realize he is a clone. They kick him out but they soon take him back in. Then he must overcome prejudice from the family members, because they treat clones liek dogs. I've read 1 Harry Potter book and all those other books that are supposed to be the greatest thing thing sliced bread, but this kicks all those books into my trashcan! This could be enjoyed by a 10 year old and by a 30+ year old! Really though if you want to read a good book put down that Harry Potter and read this one
Rating:
Summary: This book i would call as one of the best of this century.
Review: The house of the Scorpion. This book is about A drug lord. Matteo Alacran. His family died while he was a little boy. Matteo Alacran now own a part of land that seperates The USA and Mexico. In this exciting sci fi book, the author explains how Matteo Alacran makes doctors clone him, inorder for him to live all eight lives ( his 3 brothers, 2 sisters, mother and father and his own life ) But, the clock turns as one of the clones turns back on him and excapes, leaving him to die, and one of the greatest drug lords to be, ELIMINATED!
Next, the doctors implant chips into peoples minds, this 'chip' controls their minds so that they drink and eat when they are told, these people are called, "eejits."
Rating:
Summary: LOOK at those award medals!
Review: You will find this in the YA or the Juvenile section but don't let that keep you from reading it. If I could give it 10 stars I would. This National Book Award Winner is one of the best near future sci-fi thriller novels written in the past few years. Early in the novel, Matt discovers he is a clone in a future where clones are thought of as little more than animals. Matt is the clone of a very powerful drug lord, and because of this, he enjoys a much more comfortable life than most. Matt learns a lot in the course of the novel...perhaps the most frightening of these is that there are many reasons for cloning one's self. I hear a lot of people review books and say things like "a page turner" and "you won't want to put it down." I read a lot and usually don't have too much trouble putting a book down if something else catches my eye or if it's late at night. This one kept me up until three a.m. This "Newbery Honor" is head and shoulders above the winner of the medal for 2003. (Crispin isn't even in the same league as this book). This is also head and shoulders above most SF books of 2003! Give it a look you won't be sorry!
Rating: 
Summary: Juvenile Fiction? I'm Stumped... (3.5 stars)
Review: Yes, it's a wonderfully clever story in many ways, though I'm not quite convinced that it is deserving of so much prestige. Perhaps my discomfort is related to a difficulty in classifying the book in terms of appropriate age level. The powers-that-be have catagorized it as juvenile fiction and, in many respects, this is an understandable choice (told from the perspective of a young boy, certain science fiction elements that are currently so popular, etc.). It just seems to me that certain aspects of the story would be better appreciated by an older audience (the "old-fashionism" of the future versus an apocalypic socialism). Yet, it will be overlooked by most adults because of the bookstore/library shelf on which it sits. This criticism has little to do, of course, with my respect for Nancy Farmer but, rather, the often strange marketing strategies of publishing houses. On the other hand, the distinct awkwardness that I perceived throughout the story (and especially toward the end as the story tripped over itself to find a tidy conclusion) certainly led to its difficult classification. In any event, I continue to be impressed with Farmer's work. For me, this particular plotline and set of characters fell a bit short of my expectations, especially considering the acclaim the book has earned.
Rating:
Summary: Maggie's English Project Review Thingy...Yeah...
Review: This book follows the adolescence of Matteo Alacran, the clone of Mateo Alacran, otherwise known as El Patron, who is one of three legal drug lords in the country of Opium, which sits in between what used to be Mexico and the United States. He grows up believing that El Patron loves him and plans to hand him the business when he dies. However, several brutally disturbing events catapult him from his secure mentallity. With the help of his "stepmother," his bodyguard, and El Patron's great-grand neice, Matt comes to the realization that if he doesn't escape, he will be killed for spare perts to keep the ancient Matt alive.
This book is very different from any that I have read recently. It's futuristic setting keeps you entertained with original ideas. The balance of humor and suspense will make this book one you don't want to put down, believe me, I read it in less than six hours! The House of the Scorpion is full of unnexpected, plot-thickening twists to keep you holding your breath and the surprise ending will leave you completely satisfied. Although one or two chapters seemed to drag on and on, this book still deserves five stars.
Rating:
Summary: Book Review for: The House of the Scorpion
Review: 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.
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