The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer (Book Review)

The House of the Scorpion
By Nancy Farmer
Published by Atheneum Books, 2002
Ebook Price: $8.99

Matt Alacran has been a prisoner in his house in the land of Opium for his entire childhood. He doesn't get to play with other kids or go to school or even go outside for any length of time. The reason for this is that Matt is a clone, and not just any clone. He is the clone of El Patron, the biggest and most powerful drug dealer in the world. That does not give him any privileges though. In Opium, clones are seen as cattle, as animals with no rights. Actually, they are seen as LOWER than animals. People shun them and don't even want to touch them because they are so disgusted by their existence. The only human contact Matt gets is with El Patron's head cook, a woman named Celia, who takes care of Matt. She is his jailer as well as his adopted mother. Matt's life changes when he is discovered by the children of El Patron's extended family.

Apparently, Matt over the course of years due to the growing senility of  the extremely long lived El Patron (he's around 140 years old), has been forgotten by his makers. Out of sight, out of mind. When El Patron remembers his existence, Matt finally gains his freedom, but still has to face the hatred of his "family". El Patron sees Matt as the most important out of his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He even refers to Matt as "Mi Vida", or "My Life". El Patron isn't a nice guy by any means. His entire drug operation is supported by slaves called "eejits", captured immigrants who have an implanted computer chip on their brains that make them completely servile. So Matt's purpose for existence probably doesn't have any relation to anything good.

I really enjoyed this book, mainly because Matt is such a sympathetic character...well, for the most part...at first when El Patron sets him aside for special treatment, he does go through a jerk period. But for the most part, he shows a lot of grit and determination in the midst of a no win situation. The relationships between the main characters are also very realistic and interesting. For example, even though Matt knows El Patron is a very bad man, guilty of ruining countless lives, murders, and slavery. He can't help loving the old man because he IS the old man. It's a very compelling dynamic.

Even though this book was published in 2002, I found that the illegal immigrant issue the formation of Opium is a solution to was very timely. Obviously the current Mexican government has no interest in stopping their flow through their country. Do you think Mexico wants all those losers squatting in THEIR country? No. They pass them on to us to deal with. Would I accept drug cartels enslaving migrants for labor and then turning a blind eye to drug sales in Asia and Europe? Hmmmm. Let me think about that one.

The plot and pacing of the novel is great. It's almost like a Game of Thrones like atmosphere with different members of El Patron's family maneuvering for power and trying to win favor. Even the KIDS are engaging in the game, trying their best to gain an advantage. Add into this Matt as a wild card who on the surface seems to have lot of prestige but in reality is despised and hated. It makes for great drama.

I will definitely be reading the sequel to this book, entitled The Lord of Opium.

My Grade: A