Every day when I return to the LRC through the adjoining copy room door, I glance at the bookshelf directly in front of me. One of the books I always notice (mainly because we have 17 copies!) is The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer. I decided to read this one for many reasons. First, because the cover is cool! Second, because I wanted to try a new genre (I don't usually read science fiction). Third, because I know it has been nominated or won about five awards. And lastly, because we have so many copies I can recommend it to many students.
The book was strangely really good! I say strangely because it is science fiction and has a lot of interesting twists and turns. I would give it 4 out of 5 stars!!
Read the review from Booklist (9/15/2002):
Young Matteo (Matt) Alacran is a clone of the original Matteo Alacran, known as El Patron, the 142-year-old absolute ruler of Opium, a country separating the U.S and Aztlan, once known as Mexico. In Opium, mind-controlled slaves care for fields of poppies, and clones are universally despised. Matt, on El Patron's orders, is the only clone whose intelligence has not been blunted. While still quite young, Matt is taken from the loving care of El Patron's cook and placed into the abusive hands of a maid, who treats him like an animal. At 7, brought to El Patron's attention, he begins an indulged life, getting an education and musical training, though he is never allowed to forget that he is not considered human. Matt doesn't learn until he is 14 that El Patron has had other clones, who have provided hearts and other organs so El Patron can go on living. This is a powerful, ultimately hopeful, story that builds on today's sociopolitical, ethical, and scientific issues and prognosticates a compelling picture of what the future could bring. All of these serious issues are held together by a remarkable coming-of-age story, in which a boy's self-image and right to life are at stake.
