I did not read it as a kid, but I read it a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it. The concept of a boy who's really the clone of a drug lord and is supposedly raised to eventually inherit said drug lord's empire. I found the story compelling, the characters well developed, the themes of cloning and the search for personal identity are well represented and explored. Not to mention the tension, world building, and plot points were well established. Of course, the sequel "The Lord of Opium" leaves a lot to be desired, but "The House of the Scorpion" deserves its recognition and accolades (can't miss the 3 medals on the cover).
Why wasn't it more popular? With a premise like that, why hasn't it already been adapted into a movie or TV series? It may be considered dystopian, but IMO it's better than Hunger Games, Maze Runner, and Divergent. There are many more lackluster books and newer books that have been adapted (some hits and misses). I believe this book deserves its time to shine.
by thunderdragon517
3 Comments
I liked that book as well! I read it and its sequel several times.
I can’t answer your question, but I’m gonna comment here so hopefully this post gets more visibility (and I don’t forget that it exists).
I haven’t read it in many years but I remember enjoying it. My guess is it was completely overshadowed by Harry Potter mania. That specific mania fostered a huge demand for “chosen one goes on adventure” style stories which House of the Scorpion didn’t really satisfy.
The House of the Scorpion actually *was* quite well known and talked about in reading communities when it first came out, and it was given several honors. I remember people mentioning it all the time, but its popularity faded for whatever reason, most likely overshadowed by other things that came out around the same timeframe and gained more traction.
Not sure why it hasn’t been picked up like Maze Runner (I was given an advanced copy before it was published and I wasn’t very impressed with this one; I merely thought it was ok and it wouldn’t have crossed my mind that someone would want to create a film based on it) and the others you mention. The books that gain media attention are always an interesting topic (why *this* and not *that*).
I never knew there was a sequel!