The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

The House of the Scorpion is an amazingly creative work, Nancy Farmer has built a future world that is realistic and scary with the United States and Mexico having dealt with their border issues and drug problems by establishing a third intermediate country called Opium. Under the control of El Patron, the supreme ruler of Opium, fields of poppies are farmed by mind-controlled slaves.  Clones are despised here, so 14 year old clone Matteo has had a hard life, but more so when he learns that he is not the only clone of El Patron, with huge implications for his life and freedom. This is a coming of age story with a twist as Matteo  struggles to understand who he is and his place in the world in the face of being a replica of an evil and twisted drug lord. 

Many questions are raised in this fantasy adventure, especially the social implications of technological advances. The House of the Scorpion has won multiple awards including National Book Award and Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Book. There is a sequel due in September 2013, entitled The Lord of Opium.

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Read an excerpt from the author's home page.