Plot Summary
In the near future, Matt is a young man living in Opium, a country between the United States and Mexico, now known as Aztlán. He lives with Celia in a house in the middle of a large poppy field, which Matt is never allowed to leave. One day, while Celia is at work, as a cook, Matt sees other children for the first time in his life as they wander around the poppy field. In an attempt to make contact with them, Matt falls through a window and severely injures himself. When the other children take him to a large house for medical treatment, they all find out the secret Celia has been hiding from Matt - he is a clone.
Matt's life is turned upside down when he finds out the truth. He is the clone of Matteo Alacrán, or El Patrón, who is the ruthless leader of Opium. While Matteo is away, his family keep Matt in horrible, filthy conditions that threaten his health and sanity, as clones are seen as disgusting creatures by the majority of people. When El Patrón finds out, he punishes those involved and sees to it that Matt and Celia have a comfortable life in the estate.
For the next seven years, Matt learns the ins and outs of the big house, as well as the family politics of El Patrón's extensive clan. He now has a bodyguard, Tam Lin, who teaches Matt desert survival, as well as life lessons. Though everything seems to be going well, Matt soon learns why El Patrón was cloned in the first place - and what it means for his future.
Matt's life is turned upside down when he finds out the truth. He is the clone of Matteo Alacrán, or El Patrón, who is the ruthless leader of Opium. While Matteo is away, his family keep Matt in horrible, filthy conditions that threaten his health and sanity, as clones are seen as disgusting creatures by the majority of people. When El Patrón finds out, he punishes those involved and sees to it that Matt and Celia have a comfortable life in the estate.
For the next seven years, Matt learns the ins and outs of the big house, as well as the family politics of El Patrón's extensive clan. He now has a bodyguard, Tam Lin, who teaches Matt desert survival, as well as life lessons. Though everything seems to be going well, Matt soon learns why El Patrón was cloned in the first place - and what it means for his future.