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The House of the Scorpion

The House of the Scorpion
The House of the Scorpion
This edition: Hardcover, 400 pages
Ages: 11 and up
List Price: $21.99
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Awards and Nominations

  • National Book Award Winner
  • ALA Newbery Honor Book
  • ALA Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book
  • ABC Children's Bookseller's Choices
  • ALA Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults
  • Arizona Young Reader Book Award
  • Blue Spruce YA Book Award Nominee (CO)
  • Booklist Editors' Choice
  • California Collections
  • Florida Teens Read Master List
  • Garden State Teen Book Award Nominee (NJ)
  • Iowa Teen Award Master List
  • IRA Young Adults' Choices
  • Maud Hart Lovelace Award Master List (MN)
  • Mythopoeic Fantasy Award Finalist
  • Nevada Young Readers' Award
  • Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award
  • Rosie Award Nominee (IN)
  • Sequoyah YA Book Award (OK)
  • Soaring Eagle Book Award Master List (WY)
  • South Carolina Book Award Nominee
  • Young Hoosier Book Award Master List (IN)
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Description


Matteo Alacrán was not born; he was harvested.

His DNA came from El Patrón, lord of a country called Opium—a strip of poppy fields lying between the United States and what was once called Mexico. Matt’s first cell split and divided inside a petri dish. Then he was placed in the womb of a cow, where he continued the miraculous journey from embryo to fetus to baby. He is a boy now, but most consider him a monster—except for El Patrón. El Patrón loves Matt as he loves himself, because Matt is himself.

As Matt struggles to understand his existence, he is threatened by a sinister cast of characters, including El Patrón’s power-hungry family, and he is surrounded by a dangerous army of bodyguards. Escape is the only chance Matt has to survive. But escape from the Alacrán Estate is no guarantee of freedom, because Matt is marked by his difference in ways he doesn’t even suspect.

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Kirkus, starred review An inspiring tale of friendship, survivial, hope, and transcendence
Booklist, starred review This is a powerful, ultimately hopeful story that builds on today's sociopolitical, ethical, and scientific issues and prognosticates a compelling picture of what the future could bring. All of these serious issues are held together by a remarkable coming-of-age story.
Chicago Tribune, April 9, 2010
...the Harry Potter series by Rowling were all-time favorites. We also enjoyed 'Chains' by Laurie Halse Anderson, 'The House of the Scorpion' by Nancy Farmer and 'The Hunger Games' by Suzanne Collins. Tell us about your book club at ...