Discover the National Book Award, Newbery Honor, and Printz Honor–winning modern classic and its riveting sequel—together in a collectible paperback boxed set for the first time!

Matt Alacrán was not born. He was harvested.

His DNA came from El Patrón, who is the drug-lord ruler of the country of Opium. Most people hate and fear clones like Matt—except for El Patrón. El Patrón loves Matt as he loves himself, because Matt is himself.

As Matt grows up and struggles to understand his existence, he is threatened by a sinister cast of characters, and has to make bigger decisions than he ever imagined. Through Matt’s page-turning adventures, Nancy Farmer tackles some of life’s most enduring questions—what it means to be human, what we owe to each other, and how to find hope in even the darkest situations.

This electric paperback boxed set includes:
The House of the Scorpion
The Lord of Opium

About The Author

Photo Credit:

Nancy Farmer

Nancy Farmer has written three Newbery Honor books: The Ear, the Eye and the Arm; A Girl Named Disaster; and The House of the Scorpion, which also won the National Book Award and the Printz Honor. Other books include The Lord of Opium, The Sea of Trolls, The Land of the Silver Apples, The Islands of the Blessed, Do You Know Me, The Warm Place, and three picture books for young children. She grew up on the Arizona-Mexico border and now lives with her family in the Chiricahua Mountains of Arizona.

Product Details

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (September 6, 2022)
Length: 880 pages
ISBN13: 9781665917865
Ages: 12 - 99

Raves and Reviews

“It's a pleasure to read science fiction that's full of warm, strong characters . . . that doesn't rely on violence as the solution to complex problems of right and wrong. The House of the Scorpion is a pleasure to read.”

– Ursula K. LeGuin

“Fabulous.”

– Diana Wynne Jones

“Strong, rough, exciting reading.”

– Chicago Tribune

“A story rich in twists and tangles, heroes and heroines . . . and often dazzlingly beautiful descriptive prose.”

– The Boston Globe

* “Farmer's novel . . . hits close to home, raising questions of what it means to be human, what is the value of life, and what are the responsibilities of a society. Readers will be hooked from the first page.”

– Publishers Weekly, starred review of THE HOUSE OF THE SCORPION

* “Powerful [and] ultimately hopeful. . . . A remarkable coming-of-age story.”

– Booklist, starred review of THE HOUSE OF THE SCORPION

* “An inspiring tale of friendship, survival, hope, and transcendence.”

– Kirkus, starred review of THE HOUSE OF THE SCORPION

“Mind-expanding fiction for older teens that also works for adults."

– USA Today

* "Farmer’s near-future world offers an electric blend of horrors and beauty. Lyrically written and filled with well-rounded, sometimes thorny characters. . . . [a] superb novel."

– Publishers Weekly, starred review of THE LORD OF OPIUM

* "A stellar sequel worth the wait.”

– Booklist, starred review of THE LORD OF OPIUM