The House of the  Scorpion

By Nancy Farmer

Reviewed by Winfield

      My book is about a clone named Matt.  Most people treat Matt like dirt because he is a clone.  Matt is special.  He is the clone of El Patrón, a powerful drug lord.   At his coming of age party, Matt asks bodyguard Tam Lin, “I know that I don’t have a birthday but when was I born?”

    Tam Lin answers in a way that makes Matt seem fake but I think Matt could fool anyone into thinking he’s a real person. Here are some reasons.

    One reason is Matt is a greatly talented musician.  He can play guitar and the piano.  It’s hard to learn to play an instrument and it takes a lot of concentration.

    Matt has a lot of concentration.  He has learned how to play the piano and guitar.  He created a little underground kingdom when he was in prison. But the thing I think he has to concentrate on the most is ignoring other people taunting him because he is different.

    Matt is also very hot tempered and emotional.  One time he got so bored during school that he started yelling and beat up his teacher.  Then he got extremely happy because he wasn’t able to talk before that time and  now he could.

    Matt is also caring.  Later on in the book, he and his friend, Chacho, are thrown into a pit of whalebones.  Matt got there before Chacho but he wouldn’t leave until Chacho got out.

    Now that you have read this, if you met Matt, do you think you would guess he is a clone?  Probably no, so I wonder why people treated him with such cruelty? 

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This page last updated: 08/28/04 .