Nearly 200 years in the future, a strip of land between the United States and Mexico has become its own nation known as Opium, ruled over by the powerful drug lord Matteo Alacrán. Alacrán is nearly 150 years old, having taken advantage of a number of elaborate medical treatments to prolong his life. One this old man's most powerful allies can be found in his clone, the young Matt. As a clone, Matt is despised by almost everyone else, treated like a piece of livestock and completely avoided by all but a few members of the elder Matteo Alacrán's household. Matt is unsure why he is treated this way, but over time he slowly comes to realize that clones are simply tools from which body parts are harvested, and with the elder Alacrán's failing health Matt's turn to be harvested may be coming soon. With the help of his few friends, 14-year-old Matt must make his escape and try to make his own way in a dangerous world of corruption and hardship.This engaging piece of science fiction, written by renowned author Nancy Farmer, looks at the issue of cloning and the ethics surrounding this practice. Matt's naivete allows the mystery surronding what he is to unfold slowly, and while the reader is likely to put the pieces together long before Matt does, his own journey and growth in understanding is brilliantly paced. This book is a well-conceived and perfectly executed dramatic adventure which has won numerous awards for its excellence, including the National Book Award, the Newbery Honor, and the Printz Honor.
Overall Grade: A
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