The House Of the Scorpion: 2/5

November 22nd 2009

PG 76-152

Throughout this section of the book, Matt is settling in with the Alacrans. Matt finds places to hide and watch people in the house. Finally he gains the courage to try the piano, and when Tam Lin sees him, he gives Matt a Piano teacher.

Matt is becoming very attached to Maria. She is the only one that sees humanity in Matt. She can sometimes be difficult, but I guess that’s all you can expect from a 7-year-old girl. El Patron has taught him to be confident and to show no weakness to his enemies. At El Patrons birthday party, Matt forces Maria to give him a kiss. She is furious, and does not talk to Matt for quite some time. Soon, El Patron has a heart attack, but steadily recovers. Tam Lin leaves to go with Patron.

In an attempt to convince Maria that he is only human, he kidnaps her dog, Furball, as this seemed to be the only way to come in contact with her after what happened. During the kidnapping, someone secretly put a large amount of a sleeping drug in the dog’s food, and kiss it. Matt is blamed, and Maria is taken away to live with her father.

After living without Maria for about 4 years, their paths cross once more at the funeral of an old Alacran family member.

My questions from my last entry still remain mostly unanswered, however this section did somewhat clear it up. El Patron seems to be very old and has a history as a drug lord. He has authority over the family, and can do anything he wants.

This section has changed my thought on Maria. She seems a little greedy, and sometimes never listens or believes Matt. I am hoping this will change when Maria and Matt talk once again.

Matt however. Has earned maybe a little too much from Patron. What he did to Maria was a little over the top: both kissing her and stealing her dog. But again, Matt was only 8 or 9 when this happened.

Tam Lin still remains my favorite character, though it is sad he had to leave after El Patron’s heart attack.
The book is getting better every page. It’s becoming more and more exciting, though it can take time for something inciting to happen.