The House of the Scorpion was full of delicious revelations in the beginning, which I gobbled up with relish! I discovered a futuristic world where humans are grown for spare parts, brains are programed to make more efficient slaves and prejudices are based on the science of creation rather than race or religion. I found El Patron to be the most interesting character and I liked him despite all his evil deeds. I was hoping that in the end Matt would go back to Opium with the same drive to succeed and survive no matter the cost. I wanted him to make clones of all those who have shunned him and make them watch as the clones took their rightful place. I wanted him to be just like El Patron in an ironic cruel ending that slapped you in the face, but that wouldn't make for a very nice moral now would it? I was disappointed in the last quarter of the story and found myself bored. It almost seems like Nancy couldn't decide where to go with the story and just filled some pages to get it over with. After Matt left Opium all I wanted was for him to return and conquer. Instead, I got to read about some ridiculousness about an orphanage slave farm for pages and pages. Things started really going downhill after Maria's mother was introduced and started to educate everyone on the clone laws. I rolled my eyes and read on, knowing that I wouldn't be able to give this book five stars anymore. Definately worth the 4 stars though and worth the read! 
 PLOT:19/20 
 CREATIVITY:19/20 
 WRITING::18/20 
 CHARACTERS:19/20 
 ENDING:4/10 
 COVER:8/10 
 OVERALL GRADE:87/100=B