Have you been looking for a new book to read? Maybe you would enjoy The House of the Scorpion. The seventh grade high ability section just finished reading it, and many have chosen to explore the second book in the series. The House of the Scorpion is a book set in the future in the made up country of Opium with a focus on cloning. In it we follow the life of the most prominent and powerful drug dealer in all of the country.

Some of the highlights in The House of the Scorpion include some really likeable characters and interesting topics. Throughout the book many characters make an impact on the protagonist Matt’s life. These characters would affect him either negatively or positively, and sometimes even both. You really grow to love or detest some of these characters. If you are looking for a solid book that is a challenging read, this one is perfect for you. The chapters are broken up into sections of Matt’s life and each chapter is a good length. The House of the Scorpion discusses a wide variety of themes (acceptance, growth, fitting in, cloning, love, a traditional family) that most people would enjoy.

As mentioned, reading The House of the Scorpion is a challenge. For example, there are a lot of characters to keep track of, and it can get confusing when trying to remember who is who. Luckily, the book comes equipped with a family tree which you can use as you read. The book also switches characters and settings halfway through. This almost creates a feeling like there are two separate books included. The book is very fast paced despite its length and had a cliffhanger ending.

Anyone who enjoys books about the future or adventures would enjoy this book. Despite the fast pace, and confusion this book is amazing and I would recommend this book to anyone. If you have read this book, or plan on reading this book in the future, and want to not end on a cliff-hanger, you would be happy to know that there is also a sequel called, The Lord of Opium.