The House of the Scorpion

The House of the Scorpion

Written by Nancy Farmer
Published by Atheneum Books (originally) / Scholastic Inc.
400 pages

AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS
1) A Newbery Honour, 20032) National Book Award, 20023) Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book, 2003
4) Sequoyah Book Award, 2004-05
5) Volunteer State Award, 2006
6) Arizona Young Readers Teen Award, 2005
7) South Carolina Junior Readers Award, 2005-2006
8) Rhode Island Teen Book Award Winner, 2005
9) Young Hoosier Book Award Middle Grades, 2006
10) Nevada Young Reader's Award in the Young Adult category, 2005
11) Senior Young Readers Choice Award, Pacific Northwest Library Association, 2004-0512) Buxtehude Bulle Germany, 2003





Blogger's Note
WOW! That's a lot of awards *Jaws hanging open MOM: WHAT ARE YOU PRETENDING TO BE A CHIPMUNK WITH A HEART ATTACK?! ME: TOUCHWOOD!!!!*! I first saw this book at my school display section and grabbed it straight away when it was available at my library. Man! This is an inspiring book. The views and the insight is spectacular. I must congratulate Nancy Farmer for her bravery in writing this book. Her ideas and freshness of plot proves that she is one who writes a story to tell what she wants to not write to tell what other people wants to hear and that takes courage and determination. However, personally speaking, I did not enjoy this story. Maybe it was the lack of humour. Or maybe I'm too head high in the clouds with unicorn (Not that I like them) or super powers but I felt a certain lack of connection when I read the book. You know, the special bond? But it's still a great book. For Sci-Fi fans, this is a book that you cannot miss! So... a definate 4/5.
Synopsis
The story takes place around a hundred years from now at a strip of land between USA and Mexico(called Atzlan). It was a Oopium empire, existing because of the unquench greed of the people. Matt is a clone of the El Patron (Matteo Alacran). He was so called "borrowed" to a cook in the mansion, Celia during his childhood, kept a secret in a small hut. Later, he was then discovered by a group of kids and in attempt to join them he broke a window and landed on shards of glass. Bleeding, the kids brought him to the mansion in which he was treated. But then , after discovering he was a clone, the whole body of the mansion treated him with hatred and despite, like a creature lower than a beast. He was then tortured. As Matt grew, he begin to discover more things about this Empire of Opium and how much he didn't know about the world outside as he seeked the answer on why does he exists.
About Sequel
Nancy Farmer states in her blog on her website that the book will have a sequel. She and her husband are moving to the oasis mentioned in the book for further research. Very few things have been leaked about the sequel due to Farmer's recent eye surgery. The original working title was “God's Ash Tray”. However Farmer has recently stated, “I probably won’t call it God’s Ash Tray now because it won’t take place in the Nevada desert known as God’s Ash Tray”, on her blog. (As written at wikipedia)
For more information click on the link below if you don't mind spoilers ;)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_House_of_the_Scorpion)