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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.
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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
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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."
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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!
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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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Summary: AMAZING book
Review: The House of the Scorpion is a book that will leave you in a grace period upon finishing it - you will want to just sit and ponder the story and it's issues before beginning a new book. It is a book that, while not completely relevant to our modern society, almost everyone can relate to through the characters feelings and struggles. I couldn't help but fall in love with Matt, the main character. I have never felt more compassion for a main character when he is struggling as when Matt had to. This story is just plain heart-wrenching. Nancy Farmer created a wonderfully unique story. There is humour and there is pain. It will leave some sort of impact on all who read it.
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Summary: Scorpion review
Review: This is a pretty cool book. It really shows the difference between what we see as ignorance and curiosity of young people. I mean, a lot of people were all talking about how cool all the other little fantasy books and stuff like that are, but I'd definitley rate this number one. The book is about this boy, Mat, who finds out that he is clone, and has to live trying to find out the meaning of his existence in some totally freaked up world. I mean it's really not very distant in the future, but when you have countries named Opium you know something's wrong. I find it interesting the way that he focused his mind off the discrimination against his own clone people in world. Also, this book shows the natural greed that humans have, and are willing to enslave people beyond their ability of thought; beyond hopelessness. Mat is a very intelligence person who has to learn that some things just "go bad" and we cannot love evil for true evil cannot ever really and truly love us back. It's quite a moral story definitely deserving all the prestigious honors on the front. You really should read, it's definitely worth the time. Intelligent and cool book.
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Summary: 5 stars, I'd give it 10 if I could
Review: This book was excellent. I dont usually read science-fiction books but everyone who has read this has raved about it. I couldnt agree more. I just could not put this book down. I had to know what was going to happen next. Matteo Alacran was "harvested" a clone but grows into a human as the story progresses and meets lots of interesting characters along the way. I just cant get over how good this book was. Its takin its place among my favorites.
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Summary: House of Scorpion
Review: This is a great book. Usually I don't like reading sci-fi books but author made it realistic too. Since most of the plot has been explained already, I'll skip that. The cool thing about this book is that you learn and change as Matt is. When new revelations about clones, Opium, or El Patron is said, you're shocked just like he is. This is a great book (I know, already said that) but the ending is bittersweet. If you like this book, read The Eye, Ear, and the Arm also by Nancy Farmer.
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Summary: The Best
Review: This book is the best of all best! I have read this book about 3 times and still haven't got bored of it. You should read this book!
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