| Title: The house of the scorpion Publisher: Atheneum Author: Nancy Farmer Lexile: [?] 660L ATOS Level: [?] 5.1 Parent Rating: |
 Go For Age Range: 14-17 |
Synopsis
In a future where humans despise clones, Matt enjoys special status as the young clone of El Patrón, the 142-year-old leader of a corrupt drug empire nestled between Mexico and the United States.
Comments
This story has some complex social issues, but the 14-17 year-old range is probably ready for it. I don’t think younger kids will find the story very interesting because the movement of the story is through the social problems. Likely to generate some interesting conversation on cloning and government.
Language
Level 1 [?]
Sexual Content
Some kissing between teens. One scene where a girl is forced to kiss a teen in front of a crowd.
Alcohol/Drugs
How opium is grown and harvested. Multiple references to adults being drunk and on drugs.
Violence/Disturbing
Stories about chupacabras and of La Llorona, who roams the earth looking for children. Bombs are programmed to recognize certain people. Children on a school bus are accidentally killed by a bomb. Torture of a frog.
Social/Family
Human embryos are implanted into cows to grow, most of them die. Baby clones are poked in the brain with a needle at birth to blunt their intelligence. Child neglect and abuse. Several scenes of clones dying or being killed with little regard.
Religion/Spiritual
References to Catholic icons. A girl loves a clone and, because they are considered to have no soul, thinks it’s a sin and will go to hell for it.
Note: You can click on the key words or categories to see more info, by author, age or topic.
Meals: The art and science of feeding your family Click here to check it out! 