The House of the Scorpion, by Nancy Farmer

Bibliographic Data
Farmer, Nancy. 2002. The House of the Scorpion. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0-689-85222-3

Summary
Matt is a clone of the powerful El Patron. Although most clones’ brains are purposely damaged at birth, Matt has escaped that fate, but is treated like an animal by most humans. When El Patron dies, Matt escapes death by fleeing the country but is immediately imprisoned in an orphanage. Once again, he escapes his captors, and this time, he returns to his home to take his place as El Patron.

Critical Analysis
From the moment Farmer’s novel opens in a cloning lab, the reader understands that this is a fantasy set in the future. These are not experimental clones, they are human clones, and the one that has just been born is special. Instead of having his intelligence removed, he is spared because he is a Matteo Alacran. We learn more about this new world in later chapters. Matt is a resident of Opium, a country created from Mexico to act as a buffer between the United States and Aztlan. It is a country run by the drug lord El Patron, also known as Matteo Alacran, the donor of Matt’s DNA. Other, smaller changes have also taken place, such as new weapons, and types of transportation.

The disconnect between our world and this world of the future is evident in the way that Matt is viewed. We see him as a human, recognizing his intelligence, musical ability, and feelings. His humanity is ignored by most characters, and he is viewed as no better than any other animal; physically a younger version of El Patron, but mentally and emotionally, a beast. Only Celia, Maria and Tam Lin understand that Matt is more than what everyone else believes. Even Matt begins to believe in the futility of his existence, until Tam Lin reminds him that he has the power to choose the man he becomes:
“El Patron has his good side and his bad side… When he was young, he made a choice, like a tree does when it decides to grow one way or the other. He grew large and green until he shadowed over the whole forest, but most of his branches are twisted.”

Matt is not the only clone in this story. El Patron has used clones for a hundred years as organ donors and servants in his home and fields. These clones are given a drug at birth that removes their intelligence, essentially making them robotic and easily programmed – or so we think. Matt’s interaction with his teacher lets us know that while the “eejits” certainly have limited intelligence, they still have feelings, such as fear and confusion.

While at first glance, Opium seems an improbable land, one begins to wonder. For many years, we’ve heard stories about how the dangerous the area just beyond our border is. The US is very concerned about drugs and people entering the country illegally – would our government agree to look the other way if they could be assured the problem would stop? Strides continue to be made in cloning – is it possible we would go this far? Farmer creates a world that is just possible enough to help us suspend disbelief.

Reviews
From Publishers Weekly:
“Farmer's (A Girl Named Disaster; The Ear, the Eye and the Arm) novel may be futuristic, but it hits close to home, raising questions of what it means to be human, what is the value of life, and what are the responsibilities of a society. ” – Copyright 2002, Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal:
“Fans of Farmer's work will seek out this title. Some readers may be put off by its length, but those who dive in will find it worth the effort.” – Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, PA. Copyright 2002, Reed Business Information, Inc.

Connections
The "eejits" have limited intelligence and emotion. Is it acceptable to create and then use them as servants? Why or why not?

*****

Reviews found at the Carrollton Public Library website, http://cityofcarrollton.com/library/

Hoot, by Carl Hiaasen

Bibliographic Data
Hiaasen, Carl. 2002. Hoot. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 0-375-82181-3

Summary
Middle-schooler Roy Eberhardt is miserable over his recent move from Montana to Florida, until a mysterious boy catches his attention. Between standing up to the local bully, making friends with the toughest girl in school, figuring out who the mystery boy is, and helping to save the home of some adorable burrowing owls, Roy discovers that Florida isn’t so bad after all.

Critical Analysis
From the first page, this is a funny, fast moving novel that will appeal to both boys and girls in a variety of ages. For the most part, Roy is a realistically drawn character, not popular, but not completely an outcast (though he feels that way at times). He has an "everyman" persona that most students will be able to relate to. His friends are also multifaceted, not merely the athletic girl or the skateboarding dunce.

The only parts that don’t quite ring true are those that involve the class bully, Dana, and the mysterious boy, Mullet Fingers. No teacher or bus driver ever sees Dana’s harassment of Roy, even when the actions take place in full view. Roy, for that matter, doesn’t seem very concerned, and take every opportunity to torment Dana. While Dana serves as sort of a comic relief, Mullet Fingers’ role is quite different. He is obviously homeless, yet this word is never used, and negativity is not implied. Instead, his life is seen as an adventure, and rarely does he experience the hardships that would certainly befall a boy in his situation. Roy misses scenic Montana, but Mullet Fingers helps him appreciate the natural beauty of Florida. He is a fantastical figure that has a higher calling.

Though the novel is humorous, it deals with the serious subject that progress has on our environment. Roy and his friends aren’t old enough to vote, and don’t have money to support special interest groups. Instead, they do research to ensure they are well-informed, they spread the word, and they take action for the things they believe in. Children can feel very helpless at times, such as in the case of Roy, whose family has moved many times, and never by his choice. This novel is inspiring, in that it teaches children that they do have choices -- in how they react to what a bully does, how they protect their surroundings, and how they choose to make the best of a situation.

Reviews
From School Library Journal:
“Packed with quirky characters and improbable plot twists, Hiaasen's first novel for young readers is entertaining but ultimately not very memorable. Fans of the author's adult novels will find trademark elements-including environmental destruction, corrupt politicians, humorous situations, and a Florida setting-all viewed through the eyes of a middle-school student. ” – Miranda Doyle, San Francisco Public Library. Copyright 2002, Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Connections
The Walden Media Hoot website has activities and information for students and teachers at: http://www.walden.com/walden/teach/hoot/index.php One interesting activity is “To Build or Not To Build,” which asks students to research the feasibility of building a Mother Paula’s All-American Pancake House in their own town, then report on findings in a letter to the company’s president. This activity touches on science, social studies and language arts objectives.

*****
Reviews found at the Carrollton Public Library website, http://cityofcarrollton.com/library/

A Step from Heaven, by An Na

Bibliographic Data
Na, An. 2001. A step from heaven. Asheville, NC: Front Street. ISBN 1-886910-58-8

Summary
Young Ju is four years old when her family immigrates from Korea. Though she has been led to believe that America is heaven, she learns that it is not as easy or as wonderful as she had imagined. The novel follows Young Ju through her many trials on the way to adulthood.

Critical Analysis
The novel opens when Young Ju is four years old, still in Korea. The story is told from a first person limited perspective, so sometimes the reader must work to figure out what the young girl’s observations mean. The reader’s uncertainty mirrors Young Ju’s confusion as she moves to a new country and tries to figure out her surroundings. Just as she has a hard time understanding her teacher and the other students in her class, so do we:

“Ah ri cas, ca mo ve he,” the witch teacher says. She claps her hands and touches her cloud hair. All the other Mi Gook girls and boys come over fast like they are scared they will be eaten if they are not good children. They sit in a circle around me.

“Tees es Yung,” the witch teacher says.

“Wah ko um, Yung,” they say.

(p. 31)

Young Ju soon learns her teacher is kind after all, and she is determined that one day, she will know all the “Mi Gook words.” (p. 34)

As Young Ju grows older, the events in her life become clearer, both to her and the reader. Time moves steadily but quickly, with each new chapter advancing time about a year. Young Ju understands and becomes more comfortable in the US, but her family life deteriorates. Her father becomes increasingly unstable, with bouts of violence. As Young Ju matures, she starts to see her father in a new light, and while she begins to understand that she is not the cause of his temper, that realization doesn’t prevent her from being on the receiving end. There is suffering in Young Ju’s life, but Na has imbued her heroine with a composure and sense of hope that allows her to endure. This also helps the reader experience her pain with sympathy, but without fear.

In the end, Young Ju comes full circle. She is once again leaving a beloved home for a place of hope, this time college. We know that she is bound to face adversity again, but we also know that she will persevere and triumph again. While most students will not have experience with the hardships that Young Ju has to endure, everyone has hurdles to overcome. Her story can inspire them to succeed despite these hurdles.

Reviews
From School Publishers Weekly:
“The journey Na chronicles, in Young's graceful and resonant voice, is an acculturation process that is at times wrenching, at times triumphant and consistently absorbing. Told almost like a memoir, the narrative unfolds through jewel-like moments carefully strung together.” - Copyright 2001, Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From BookList:
“…the coming-of-age drama will grab teens and make them think of their own conflicts between home and outside. As in the best writing, the particulars make the story universal.” - Hazel Rochman2001, Copyright American Library Association.

Connections
This novel ends with a touching epilogue about Uhmma’s hands. Ask students to write a short essay describing a person, using a feature or activity as the thread that ties the characteristics together.

Ask students to write about a time that they or someone they know had to overcome adversity.

*****

Reviews found at the Carrollton Public Library website, http://cityofcarrollton.com/library/