The House of the Scorpion

by Farmer

[nannah]

The first time I read this book, I was in my first year of high school, I think. It was on display at the school library, with all its awards, and I couldn't resist. I don't remember much from my first impression of this book, except that I had a notebook filled with my book ratings from back then, and there was just a big solid question mark beside The House of the Scorpion. This book was the first book to blow my mind, and I'll never forget that.

Book content warnings:
child abuse
drug addiction/abuse
alcohol addiction/abuse

Matteo Alacrán isn't "human"; he's a clone. A clone of El Patrón, to be exact, the drug lord of Opium, a country between the United States and what was once Mexico. Treated like an animal by everyone but El Patrón himself, who admires him like one would admire an old school picture, Matt has to find his own path in life.

But it's like . . . way darker than that. I forgot how bleak and chilling this book is and how terrifying it can get.

I'm so glad it has characters like María (and later, Fidelito) who add a brighter note to the story and its general atmosphere. María is spirited and surprisingly quite flawed for a love interest/main female character, and it just makes her feel more realistic and lovable. She's excitable, quick to anger but quick to find beauty in the unremarkable. She's not one to immediately fall for, given that her view of Matt isn't too different from those around her for a while ("too different" as in, he's just like her dog, Furball, who doesn't know right from wrong, etc.). In that way, her character arc is so much more understandable and relatable.

And Matt. God, Matt. It's not surprising this book has as many awards as it does, because the plot and especially the main character, Matt, are so well written. He has conflicting feelings towards El Patrón, an evil man, but a man who also bestowed kindness unto him. He should hate him, but despite himself, he always feels a wave of affection when the man's name is mentioned. Abusive relationship at its finest (and other factors too that I might not understand).

I'm also so glad the second half of the book is so different from the first. It takes Matt outside the setting he's used to, and outside his "comfort zone" when it comes to his social standing. He has a chance to start over and become a new person. To find his own way, find his own personality, self worth, etc.

I can't wait to see what else happens to Matt. The sequel was published more than ten years after The House of the Scorpion. It's been a long wait!