We've got your back. With the Tough-O-Meter, you'll know whether to bring extra layers or Swiss army knives as you summit the literary mountain. (10 = Toughest)
Tree Line (5)
The House of the Scorpion is a very entertaining novel, that's for sure. But it's also very complicated . Farmer's book features a lot of big issues such as cloning, the drug trade, communism, economic decline, border crossing, and bullying. Plus, there's the fact that this book takes place in the future, where things are unfamiliar. Things in this book range from the fairly common (like two teenagers having their first romance) to the totally bizarre (clones are grown in cows?!). With all this stuff going on, you have to read pretty carefully in order to catch everything Farmer puts in. This novel is also pretty long, so it takes a time commitment to get through it. It's definitely an addictive read, though. If you're already a fan of sci-fi, you'll probably get into it quickly. And if you aren't a sci-fi fan, this one just might convert you.