Monday, February 4, 2013

The House of the Scorpion


The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
Original ISBN 978-0-689-85222-0
Antheneum Books for Young Readers, 2002
380 pages
Plot Summary: Between the Unites States and Aztlán is a small strip of land where opium poppies are grown. The land called Opium is run by 146-year old drug lord Matteo Alacrán, also known as El Patrón. Matt has lived in hiding in a cottage in the fields since his birth six years ago. When he breaks free to follow some other children, they discover a tattoo on his foot that brands him “Property of Alacrán Estates.” Matt, it appears, is a clone of El Patrón to be used as “spare parts.” Clones usually have their minds wiped once they are harvested, but for whatever reason, El Patrón saved Matt from that horrendousness. When El Patrón becomes ill and the time has come to “use” Matt’s organs, his caretaker confesses to have given Matt small doses of arsenic rendering his body useless. El Patrón dies and his family, seeing no use in keeping Matt alive, wants him killed. Matt’s body guard, Tam Lin, helps the now teen escape, but Matt is soon captured at the Aztlán border and sent to a labor camp with other “Lost Boys.” Matt then rallies the boys to escape the labor camp.

Critical Evaluation: The House of the Scorpion is a story of survival and acceptance. Matt, the innocent protagonist, doesn’t understand why he is mistreated and thought of as mere “property.” Matt, does realize, however, that he is better off than the “eejits” – the workers whose brains have been programmed to work until they are told to stop. One can’t help but be reminded of the slavery movement in pre-Civil War America when reading this book.
The novel also addresses the issues of cloning, government corruption, and the drug trade.

Reader’s Annotation: Matt was always told by his caretaker that he was special. He has no idea just how “special” he is until he discovers he is the clone for drug lord, El Patrón. When Matt finds out this secret, his life changes forever.
Author Information: Nancy Farmer is an American author born in 1941. From her biography, one can gather that she has always had a passion involving herself in social issues. Immediately after graduating from college, Farmer joined the Peace Corps where she spent two years in India. She returned to the United States in 1965, but found herself growing restless and soon left for Africa where she monitored water weeds in Mozambique and helped control tsetse flies in Zimbabwe. She began writing at the age of 40 when she found working in Africa too dangerous.

Farmer has won three Newbery Honor Books awards (1995, 1997, and 2003), the 2002 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, and 2003 Printz Honor.  
Her website can be found at http://www.nancyfarmerwebsite.com/

Genre: Science Fiction; Coming-of-age
Curriculum Ties: This novel can be used to discuss social and ethical issues such as slavery, cloning, and government corruption.

Booktalking Ideas: I would read a section of the book when Matt discovers what is store for him after he is used to save El Patrón.
Reading Level / Interest Age: Grades 7-10

Lexile: 660
Challenge Issues: There may be people opposed to the discussion of cloning and slavery.

Reason for Item’s Inclusion: I chose this book simply for all of the medals on the cover. I’m glad I came across it; it was an interesting read.
Resources:

The House of the Scorpion. (2012, October 22). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_House_of_the_Scorpion

 

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