• The House of the Scorpion

  • By: Nancy Farmer
  • Narrated by: Raul Esparza
  • Length: 10 hrs and 43 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (2,095 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The House of the Scorpion  By  cover art

The House of the Scorpion

By: Nancy Farmer
Narrated by: Raul Esparza
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.96

Buy for $17.96

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

National Book Award, Young People's Literature, 2002

Matt is a clone of El Patrón, a powerful drug lord of the land of Opium, which is located between the United States and Mexico. For six years, he has lived in a tiny cottage in the poppy fields with Celia, a kind and deeply religious servant woman who is charged with his care and safety. He knows little about his existence until he is discovered by a group of children playing in the fields and wonders why he isn't like them. Though Matt has been spared the fate of most clones, who have their intelligence destroyed at birth, the evil inhabitants of El Patrón's empire consider him a "beast" and an "eejit".

When El Patrón dies at the age of 146, 14-year-old Matt escapes Opium with the help of Celia and Tam Lin, his devoted bodyguard who wants to right his own wrongs. After a near misadventure in his escape, Matt makes his way back home and begins to rid the country of its evils.

©2004 Nancy Farmer (P)2008 Simon and Schuster

What listeners say about The House of the Scorpion

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,521
  • 4 Stars
    387
  • 3 Stars
    125
  • 2 Stars
    30
  • 1 Stars
    32
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,351
  • 4 Stars
    299
  • 3 Stars
    79
  • 2 Stars
    18
  • 1 Stars
    24
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,313
  • 4 Stars
    299
  • 3 Stars
    96
  • 2 Stars
    34
  • 1 Stars
    24

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I’ve read this book 6 times and listened twice

I’ve loved this book since high school and it continues to be one of
My favorites. Fantastic story world and setting.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

it was a good book we are listening to it in school

and it pretty fun my favorite character was tan lin even tho i don’t know what happened to him

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Very Imaginative

I highly recommend this audiobook. It’s a highly imaginative journey into time and place that may be closer than we realize, Though there are some dark elements, it leaves one with hope and a sense of triumph over great odds.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A story so rich with detail I forget where I am

I have read this book many times, and given away copies of it on paper many times. It is a hard story, beautifully told in rich detail. It gives me hope.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I love this book.

I loveeeeeeeeee this move if you Nancy farmer made a part two I would instantly read it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Captivating story with an incredible performance!

The writing is wonderful and the performance by the narrator adds depth to the characters.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Dynamic reading

I'm so glad I listened to this instead of reading it. Such amazing performance!!! Highly recommended to all listeners.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing!

Seriously amazing. Such a gripping story and so well read! Everyone needs to read or listen to it!!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Story!

What a great story! Never expected the ending! Such av great book! Recommend for anyone looking for a good book/story!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent narrator!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book to a friend because I LOVED the narration and I also really enjoyed the story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!