The House of the Scorpion
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| Author | Nancy Farmer |
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| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Young adult; science fiction |
| Publisher | Atheneum Books for Young Readers |
| Released | 2002 |
| Media Type | Print (Hardcover and Paperback) |
The House of the Scorpion is a science fiction book by Nancy Farmer published in 2002. The main character is Matt, a young boy who lives in the fictional country of Opium, which is located between the United States and Mexico, now called Azatlan.
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[edit] Plot
Matt is a five-year-old that lives in a house surrounded by poppy fields. He lives with a cook named Celia, who works at the "Big House". He is forbidden form any contact with other people. When, for the first time, Matt sees some children, he tries to go out and meet them. He ends up injuring his foot and must be taken to the "Big House" for help. The doctor there realizes that he is a clone. The children who rescued him, Steven, Emilia, and Maria, are horrified, though Maria is more sympathetic to Matt, as they are the same age. After being yelled at by Mr. Alacran, and being put in a dark cell for about a year, El Patron comes to the mansion and, after seeing the conditions Matt lived in, orders him to be put in a room like everyone else. Matt was then taken to live with the rest of El Patron's families--The Alacrans. They are all selfish, greedy and despise each other greatly. However, they all are united in their hatred of Matt. As Matt grows up, it becomes very clear that despite El Patron's favoritism, he is barely tolerated. Considered a beloved pet by some and a diseased beastly intruder by others, he is kept ignorant of the nature of clones until a cruel joke reveals why he is different. He befriends Maria, a US Senator’s daughter who is eager to help, and Tam Lin, a wise bodyguard with a questionable past. As the story progresses, Matt develops his perceptions of the people around him, especially that of the Alacran family. After a near-fatal heart attack, El Patron requires a heart transplant from Matt to himself, but is foiled when Matt's guardian, Celia, reveals that she has poisoned Matt with arsenic, just enough that it would not kill the boy, but would kill El Patron if he were to acquire his organs. El Patron dies, and Matt escapes the mansion in the ensuing chaos. With the preparations of his bodyguard, Tam Lin, Matt manages to escape Opium to Aztlan, which was once the nation of Mexico. There, he comes across many events and places, such as a cruel environment for orphans. These orphans are called the Lost Boys and the Lost Girls, being a boy, Matt was sent to live with the Lost Boys. Similar to Stalinism, the counselors, or Keepers of this place treat the boys very unfairly (though claiming to be fair), having them laboring every day and feeding them "nutritious" plankton. The Keepers are allowed lavish quarters and delectable food, claiming that this is fair because they "earned" the right to do so when they were young. Matt is at first an outcast, an unwanted aristocrat. However, as his peers see that he was not a spoiled child, Matt becomes a hero in his society, and leads a rebellion against the Keepers. After liberating the Lost children, Matt finds Maria. El Patron has a funeral, and his family gathers to celebrate the death of him, because they lived their lives in perpetual fear of him. They drink a special wine harvested in the year El Patron was born, which turns out to be poison, killing everyone present. It is revealed that El Patron viewed his family as his possessions and when he died he would be taking all his possessions with him. Maria's estranged mother, Esperanza, a champion of clone's rights in the United States, tells Matt that because he is a clone of El Patron, upon the death of the original he now takes the original's place as El Patron, the ruler of Opium. Esperanza gives Matt orders from both the Aztlan and American governments to take command of Opium and destroy it from the inside out. He agrees, and returns to Opium to take control.
[edit] Themes
[edit] Awards
This book has been the recipient of many awards:
[edit] Film
It has been revealed that Warner Brothers and Henson Co. are going to produce the movie adaptation of The House of the Scorpion. The screenplay is being written by Jessica Postigo. Additional details are yet to be confirmed.
[edit] External links
- Most honored children's books: House of the Scorpion ranks near the top with its numerous honors.
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