Nancy Farmer’s House of the Scorpion published by Simon and Schuster (2002) is a riddle of a tale about the mysterious and confusing life of one of the greatest and darkest scientific experiments in the history of mankind -- cloning.

The lost and ever-wandering Matteo Alacran or “Matt”, child clone of a power-hungry, senile drug lord named El Patron, is on a constant struggle to find his true self in a chaotic and dysfunctional family. Led by ambition and little pieces of past memories, he must endure an endless journey of self-searching. His family considers him a monster, a freak of nature, so all Matt can do is stay inside his caregiver’s house and watch the children play in the opium fields.

He soon grows bold and leaves his prison of a home only to fall into another prison made by the terrified Alacran children after he attempts to escape. After being saved by his clone father, Matt is finally granted respect from the fellow family members. Unfortunately, his family may respect him, but that doesn’t stop them from hating the little “monster.” So Matt is trying everything he can to fit in with the Alacran Family and to discover more about his identity.

House of the Scorpion is the fictitious memoir of a confused and misunderstood clone. This book is a great incantation of the hardships of differing from everyone else. Farmer writes about the complexity of growth and maturity so simple and understandable that makes this a must read. Readers of science fiction, drama and adventure may take up the book and never see daylight until they have read cover to cover.

With a handful of vivid characters, reflective outlooks into future politics, scientific discoveries, and a sense of hope emerging from even the darkest of places, House of the Scorpion will grab readers by their minds, bodies, and spirits.