The House of the Scorpion

The House of the Scorpion, by Nancy Farmer, was recommended to me. I picked it up at Borders, and after finishing The Hunger Games and Airhead, began reading it.

The book's a few hundred pages, though it does drag by a little. This isn't bad, it just seems like the book should be longer, after all it crams in. It seems longer than it is, is what I'm trying to say. I think caffeine would benefit me right about now. I'm nearly falling asleep here in school...

Anyway. Back on topic. I thought it was incredible. The book revolves around Matteo Alacran, called Matt. He's the clone of a tyrant who runs a drug nation. The original Matteo, called El Patron, is about one hundred and forty the first time his name is mentioned. In the beginning of the book, Matt is cared for by Celia, who is a cook at the Alacran household. Matt wonders what goes on at the "big house" on the estate, and wishes he could escape. One day, he sees some children who live at the big house. He is desperate to play with some other children, and breaks a window. He jumps out (it's a single-story house), and cuts himself on the shattered glass. He is brought to the big house to be patched up. While the doctors stitch up his feet, they discover a small tattoo, reading Property of the Alacran Estate. This indicates that Matt is a clone. In this world, clones are considered inferior to humans, since they are usually injected with a chemical that lowers their IQ, rendering them retarded. Matt, being the clone of an extremely powerful man, was not injected with this. He is the only clone, as far as anyone knows, that has their original intelligence.
Matt is taken to a room where he is imprisoned by Rosa, a servant of the household. Rosa is a cruel woman, and she treats Matt like an animal, filling his cell with shavings like you'd put in a hamster's cage. Finally, El Patron arrives at the estate, and Matt is released, and given a bodyguard called Tam Lin, who is Scottish.
The book chronicles Matt growing up, and trying to be accepted while avoiding plots by enemies, and trying to win the girl he likes, Maria. It's an excellent read.
Er, I may add to this, but class is ending and I have gym now... aghh, seeya :- )