The House of the Scorpion | Teen Ink

The House of the Scorpion MAG

By Bapalapa2 ELITE, Brooklyn, New York
Bapalapa2 ELITE, Brooklyn, New York
1044 articles 0 photos 1 comment

     Anyone, and I mean anyone, will enjoy reading The House of the Scorpion. I couldn't take my eyes off it. Around every corner is a twist, and at the end comes the biggest twist of all.

The main character is Mutt, a lonely boy who lives in a little House in the poppy fields near the Alcaran House (the Alcarians run the country). Mutt lives with Celia, who cooks for the Alcaran House. Mutt is scared and frightened when he is alone while Celia is cooking, but he starts to spend more time there.

As the story unfolds, Mutt grows into a more self-assured character, and that confidence helps him learn the secrets and feelings of the residents of the house. He also finds that the chief ruler of the country is Mutt's clone, or I should say, Mutt is the ruler's clone. While uncovering secrets about El Patron, he discovers another person he has been searching for all his life - himself.

I was blown away when I read this book. I really thought it would be boring and scientific, but it turned out to be a suspenseful, futuristic story. It is full of characters that develop into real people. I feel like this book may really set the bar for those that follow.

Nancy Farmer has an interesting style. First, she creates a setting we know barely anything about. Then she introduces us to characters we aren't formally acquainted with. Then she gets the adventure started and works her magic into the story, answering our questions and making things clear.

It's hard to categorize this book. It's a futuristic science fiction novel with some mystery, adventure, action and revenge. Revenge is a big factor, actually, and there are lots of symbols used. The Farm Patrol, people who watch the desert so nobody crosses the border into Mexico, are similar to the police who guard the border and disguise themselves as people giving out green cards when Mexicans try to cross into the United States. One symbol throughout the book is the scorpion; some of the characters even resemble it.

I highly recommend this book to anyone. You don't have to like a certain type of book to like this one because the plot, characters and suspense make it so engaging.


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This article has 7 comments.


i love this !

on Nov. 9 2010 at 2:00 am
Donosuke BRONZE, Tillamook, Oregon
2 articles 0 photos 3 comments
This book was amazing. My teacher in science told me about it and i read it and it was absolutley breathtaking, but seriously you didnt get many of the facts right.....Still an amazing book

on Jan. 14 2010 at 11:07 pm
hi,randomperson. GOLD, Fall City, Washington
13 articles 2 photos 23 comments

Favorite Quote:
Love is not forbidden but it is a risky to fall into,but if its real-than you should stay true. Love is a funny thing,it cant be bought like a diamond ring. Love is greif and pain, you feel lost and insane.Love is a wonderful treasure,keep it forever

sorry but its matt and it's kind of embarressing that this article was published when the first name of the main character was wrong...multiple times

wow... said...
on Nov. 30 2009 at 4:47 pm
Mutt?

its Matt....

wow someone read the book.

flerping said...
on Sep. 20 2009 at 12:20 pm
Almost nothing about this review is accurate.

Descant GOLD said...
on Mar. 22 2009 at 12:10 pm
Descant GOLD, Huntington Beach, California
15 articles 40 photos 26 comments

Favorite Quote:
"A man's work is nothing but this slow trek to rediscover, through the detours of art, those two or three great and simple images in whose presence his heart first opened" –Albert Camus

Umm... it's "Matt," not "Mutt." Rather different, you know?

lailyboo said...
on Feb. 25 2009 at 9:40 pm
im reading this book now n i like i so far i need to read more ill finish it then ill write back but its a good book!!