The House of the Scorpion

Rating:
Summary: Whoa....
Review: Mindless slaves of opium? 200 year old dictators? Clones? This book is a tad more vicious than Farmer's other works. Chronicles the life of a clone of the ruler of an opium empire, and how he discovers the harsh realities of his way of life. The book could have a better ending, but is riddled with satisfying touches. Sure to please.

Rating:
Summary: Wow!
Review: This book was one of the best books I've ever read! I just couldn't put it down! I had to force myself too, just to get other things done but I only lasted 45 minutes tops before I picked it up again.
After I was done all I could do was think about the surprising ending. The characters are loveble in some cases and also easy to hate in others. The plot is exciting and engaging. Superb!

Rating:
Summary: Topical but too long
Review: Although this book is laudable for approaching the whole ethics of cloning issue, it takes forever to get its plot moving and repeats and repeats and repeats itself along the way. Then as though the author has gotten tired of her own story, the ending is thrown together quickly with a few absurd and disappointing coincidences masquerading as a resolution. I've read many many teen lit books and I teach reading to middle schoolers. This is NOT a particularly good example of the genre.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely fabulous!
Review: This is a wonderful science fiction novel. The characters are well rounded and the plot moves at a good pace. I was absolutely glued to the pages once I started. Every time I put it down, I found myself wondering what was going to happen next. Next thing I knew, I found an excuse to sit down and read some more. This is a definite must read!

Rating:
Summary: Visions of the future?
Review: This novel explores the possibility of a future country between Mexico and the US, a country which is one huge drug farm, worked by slave clones. I discovered this book because I am on a committee for the Mock Newbery Awards 2003. I'm not sure if this would be a Newbery winner, but it was a fascinating read, with plenty of action and suspense. Current issues like the drug trade and human cloning are presented in a intriguing way. The protagonist is a clone of the leading drug lord, special in that he was left "untouched", that is, not lobotomized as most clones are. The reason for clones is not only to provide slaves, but for another horrifying reason which the reader can discover. I'd be interested in the thoughts of teenage readers.

Rating:
Summary: A winner from first page to last
Review: Number of family members and friends who have read my one copy of "The House of the Scorpion": 4 (and counting)
Number of days it took one 12-year-old girl, one 14-year-old boy, one 22-year-old recent Stanford grad, and one 49-year-old mom to read "The House of the Scorpion": 8
Number of copies of "The House of the Scorpion" I plan to purchase for birthday and holiday gifts: 10 (and counting)
This book deserves to take off faster than Harry Potter, and because it won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, it just might do that. Bravo -- for Matt, and for Nancy Farmer!

Rating:
Summary: An all-too-realistic future world
Review: House Of The Scorpion is recommended for mature young adults able to grasp the scientific and social complexities inherent in a future where genetic cloning has resulted in expendable people. Matt is considered a beast because he's a clone of a rich elderly man - but he's alternately abused and pampered in his position, and grows up with the affection of a worker woman who raises him. His struggle to understand his world and his place in it changes as he ages, until a frightening truth emerges about his future. Farmer has created an all-too-realistic future world and raises some important questions about its ethics - and about the roots of humanity.

Rating:
Summary: A fantastic journey for an eager and open mind.
Review: I have to thank US News and World Report magazine for introducing me to this book. It was one of the their fall picks for entertainment and that is exactly what I encountered. It is definitely the dark side of Harry Potter as imagined by the teenage mind of Octavio Paz and Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Far from being a young adult novel, it is a richly layered and thoughtful work of fiction. A terrific blend of unique characters with a simple agenda of politics, culture, social commentary and science. I could not put this book down for a moment. What I loved most is how the ethnicity of the narrative did not lapse into offensive stereotype. Some of the strokes are broad, but it really took hold of my imagination. I can only hope that parents are not put off by its themes or situations. A science fiction epic that takes place within the enclave of a drug lord is hardly politically correct. But this novel deserves attention as it challenges the mind, while reflecting world issues in a thoughtful and responsible manner. Throw in an adventure worthy of Dickens and you have a near perfect reading experience. A true triumph for Nancy Farmer and I look forward to see how she continues her heroic protagonist Matt Alacran's fantastic journey.

Rating:
Summary: A fantastic journey.
Review: I have to thank US Business and World Report magazine for introducing me to this book. It was one of the their fall picks for entertainment and that is exactly what I encountered. Far from being a young adult novel, it is a richly layered and thoughtful work of fiction. A terrific blend of unique characters with a simple agenda of politics, culture and science. I could not put this book down for a moment. What I loved most is how the ethnicity of the narrative did not lapse into offensive stereotype. Some of the strokes are broad, but it really took hold of my imagination. I can only hope that parents are not put off by its themes or situations. A science fiction epic that takes place within the enclave of a drug lord is hardly politically correct. But this novel deserves attention as it challenges the mind, while reflecting world issues in a thoughtful and responsible manner. Throw in an adventure worthy of Dickens and you have a near perfect reading experience. A true triumph for Nancy Farmer.

Rating:
Summary: At last
Review: At last, a book that young adults will love and parents will accept. I teach 8th grade and am always looking for books that will satisfy children without offending parents. Also, I teach my students the importance of conflict and tension in books, but so much of young adult fiction is bland and lifeless. Finally, I think science fiction is a perfect means to help young adults grow and mature. The House of the Scorpion does all these things and more. An added benefit: I couldn't put the book down and read it in one sitting.