The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer | Teen Ink

The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer MAG

By Continuum GOLD, Little Rock, Arkansas
Continuum GOLD, Little Rock, Arkansas
17 articles 0 photos 0 comments

When my mom gave me The House of the Scorpion, I thought I would never read it. The cover was red and black and had a large, creepy scorpion on it. My first thought was this was some horror story with bugs crawling all over. I finally gave in and began reading it. Immediately I was sucked in; The House of the Scorpion is not about actual scorpions, but a family whose last name is Alacrán, which means scorpion.

This novel is set in a futur­istic world of Mexico and the Southern United States. The main character is Matteo Alacrán, the clone of a powerful drug lord. This book is about his journey as a clone with everyone looking down
on him. When he finds out the horrible secret of why he was ­created, he realizes he must ­escape. The House of the Scorpion is not just thrilling but thought-­provoking.

It is very easy to connect with the characters because the author, Nancy Farmer, writes so beautifully. She paints pictures with words; I could see everything as it happened. Because I was so engrossed in this world, it was hard to put it down. When I finished, I wanted to read it again and again.

The cover of The House of the Scorpion doesn't bother me anymore – probably because I love the story behind it. I finally learned with this book the age-old rule: “Don't judge a book by its cover.” If anyone is looking for a fascinating read, I highly recommend The House of the Scorpion.


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This article has 41 comments.


SavageTracy said...
on Jul. 9 2012 at 7:16 am
Don't have money to buy a car? Do not worry, because that is possible to take the home loans to resolve all the problems. Thus take a auto loan to buy everything you require.

on May. 15 2012 at 5:00 pm
tinytechie SILVER, 34 Ridgewood St., Connecticut
7 articles 0 photos 25 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I've been singing since I was born" - Idina Menzel

that was so smart of her. she really loves him and though it was a big risk, it was better than the alternitive... 

on May. 15 2012 at 5:00 pm
tinytechie SILVER, 34 Ridgewood St., Connecticut
7 articles 0 photos 25 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I've been singing since I was born" - Idina Menzel

good idea!

on May. 15 2012 at 4:59 pm
tinytechie SILVER, 34 Ridgewood St., Connecticut
7 articles 0 photos 25 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I've been singing since I was born" - Idina Menzel

i loved this book! i had to read for summer reading and was never bored (but i love books so that is rarely the case)! Matt is so brave and El Patron is so creepy! That story he always tells is so weird and it just gets weirder. Gosh I want to just keep writing, but then I would spoil the book! READ THIS BOOK!

Kimmers96 said...
on Feb. 23 2012 at 3:59 pm
Kimmers96, Scranton, Pennsylvania
0 articles 1 photo 2 comments

Amazing book! I had to read it for a literature class and thought it'd be creepy.. but it's really good!

Your review made me think of exactly how I felt!


on Feb. 19 2012 at 10:24 am
Amyelisee BRONZE, Lake Bluff, Illinois
3 articles 8 photos 117 comments
I want to read it!!!

on Jan. 28 2012 at 7:38 am
lzcelloplayer BRONZE, Wayland, Massachusetts
2 articles 0 photos 31 comments

Favorite Quote:
"It seems that we all look at Nature too much, and live with her too little." ~ Oscar Wilde

I absolutely loved this book and could not stop reading it. I think you wrote this review very well and did the book justice. :D

Afra- SILVER said...
on Nov. 1 2011 at 5:06 am
Afra- SILVER, Colombo, Other
8 articles 0 photos 47 comments

Favorite Quote:
Even when the sun sets the moon will rise.

I LOVED this book. It was amazing! 

on May. 20 2011 at 11:31 am
glinda123 BRONZE, Mukwonago, Wisconsin
2 articles 0 photos 4 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Dogs are not our whole lives, but they make our lives whole." - Roger Caras

A great review of an excellent book. Good job! :)

mudkip123 said...
on Apr. 11 2011 at 2:10 pm
i totally agree i love this book as well!!!!!!!!!  :)

on Mar. 20 2011 at 3:16 am
nice review!

on Nov. 13 2010 at 6:20 am
writingrocks GOLD, Brooklyn, New York
16 articles 23 photos 145 comments

Favorite Quote:
"You have to learn to love yourself before you learn to love others."

I read this book and I loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great review!!!!!!!!!!!

GrayDays said...
on Oct. 23 2010 at 11:00 pm
GrayDays, Arcadia, California
0 articles 0 photos 3 comments
I read this book too! It's actually a pretty good book. It really makes you think about how money can control someone and how a clone is a whole different being in itself.

on May. 7 2010 at 7:39 pm
Bobby Forman BRONZE, Melbourne, Florida
3 articles 0 photos 1 comment
It was a really great book. I had a hard time putting it down too!

PyronKim GOLD said...
on Mar. 22 2010 at 10:36 pm
PyronKim GOLD, Busan, Other
16 articles 9 photos 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
Bend or Break.

She used arsenic and poured it into the small swimming pool.

reader101 said...
on Mar. 3 2010 at 5:04 pm
They should make a 2nd Part of this book. I didn't really get the ending of this book and also, very good and adventure book

dahc55 said...
on Mar. 1 2010 at 3:30 pm
HOW DOES THIS BOOK END? WHATS THE CONCLUSION

dahc55 said...
on Feb. 17 2010 at 5:23 pm
how does this end

Ejm1059 BRONZE said...
on Feb. 11 2010 at 8:06 pm
Ejm1059 BRONZE, Wexford, Pennsylvania
3 articles 0 photos 2 comments
I loved this book when I was younger! I couldn't put it down :]

Hottopic21 said...
on Jan. 31 2010 at 5:32 pm
What did Celia poison Matt with?