The book "The House of the Scorpion" focuses around the life of a boy named Matteo Alacran, known as Matt in the book. Most people do not show any compassion or friendliness towards Matt because he is the clone of the real Matteo Alacran, who is referred to as "El Patron". El Patron is the lord of a country called Opium; several acres of poppy fields lying between the United States and Aztlan, which was previously known as Mexico. While El Patron was once a powerful drug lord, he is now more than 140 years old and the only way he can continue living is by creating clones himself. When El Patron's organs fail, the organs of his clones are used to replace the failing ones. Almost everyone in Opium is scared of what El Patron could do if they don't do what he says, except for Matt. Clones are generally looked upon as animals instead of humans because their minds are destroyed at birth, and that was the law. However, El Patron got around the law and made sure that Matt's mind wasn't harmed so that Matt could grow up as a somewhat normal boy.
Throughout the book, Matt tries to understand how he came into existence, all while being threatened by a sinister group of characters, including El Patron's evil family and a dangerous army of bodyguards. Escape from Opium is the only way Matt can survive. However, escaping from El Patron is no guarantee of freedom, as he will soon learn.
Throughout the book, Matt tries to understand how he came into existence, all while being threatened by a sinister group of characters, including El Patron's evil family and a dangerous army of bodyguards. Escape from Opium is the only way Matt can survive. However, escaping from El Patron is no guarantee of freedom, as he will soon learn.