CHARACTERS & RELATIONSHIPS
Who warned Matt long ago that El Patrón had both a good side and a very dark side?
Tam Lin
Where did Celia tell Matt to go if anything bad ever happened?
The pantry behind the kitchen.
What organ was El Patrón waiting to replace in the hospital?
His heart.
What rumor did Tam Lin spread to mislead the Farm Patrol?
That Matt had taken a Safe Horse north to the United States
What is El Patrón compared to when describing his dangerous nature?
A force of nature (like a tornado or volcano).
What disguise did María give Matt so he could try to escape?
An eejit uniform.
What symbol appeared on the wall when María used red light?
A glowing scorpion.
What did El Patrón compare himself to when describing his childhood survival?
A tree that grew large but twisted branches
What dangerous security feature did Tam Lin warn María about when trying to use the scorpion door?
If the wrong person touched it, the wall would release poison gas and deliver a lethal electric shock.
According to Tam Lin, what is the “dirty little secret” about clones?
There is no difference between clones and humans.
Why did María pretend Matt was her “new pet eejit”? Why could it have been a good plan?
Because eejits were considered unimportant “furniture,” so no one would question his presence.
Why did El Patrón build secret tunnels under the house?
Officially to spy on people (his “private soap opera”), but mainly as escape routes from enemies.
hy did Celia secretly poison Matt with foxglove and arsenic?
To make his heart unsuitable for transplant, protecting him from El Patrón’s exploitation
Why does Matt hesitate to leave El Patrón even though it puts him in danger?
Because despite everything, he loves him and feels connected to him.
Why is Matt conflicted when told he should pray for El Patrón’s death?
Because he both loves him as family and fears him as a tyrant.
How does Emilia reveal her attitude toward María and Matt when she discovers them in the hovercraft?
She dismisses María’s compassion as weakness and calls Matt “livestock,” showing cruelty and loyalty to El Patrón’s worldview.
How does Matt’s passage through the tunnels and scorpion doors symbolize his connection to El Patrón?
Only El Patrón’s DNA could open them, and since Matt is his clone, it shows Matt inherits both his privileges and his dangers.
How does El Patrón justify his cruelty and demand for more lives?
He believes his survival entitles him to “justice” for the deaths of his siblings, twisting personal tragedy into entitlement.
How does the failed hovercraft escape with María show the larger forces working against Matt?
It reveals the power of family betrayal (Emilia, Steven) and the surveillance state, proving Matt can’t trust anyone inside the system.
How does Celia’s act of poisoning Matt over the years reflect the theme of sacrifice in the novel?
She sacrifices Matt’s health and risks her own safety to protect him from being harvested, showing love and resistance against El Patrón’s cruelty.
What does Tam Lin’s decision at the oasis reveal about his inner conflict and his view of Matt?
am Lin shows regret for his past, protects Matt and Celia, and teaches Matt that clones are fully human, proving his loyalty despite working for El Patrón.
Why does the oasis become an important setting for Matt’s growth and survival?
It symbolizes freedom, self-reliance, and Tam Lin’s trust in Matt, contrasting the prison-like Big House.
In what way does El Patrón’s control over Opium’s culture (keeping it frozen in the past) reflect his obsession with cheating death?
By halting progress and technology, he creates a timeless world to resist change, symbolizing his refusal to accept mortality.
Why does Tam Lin ultimately refuse to escape with Matt to Aztlán, even though he could?
He feels bound by moral consequences of his past and chooses redemption by facing them, unlike El Patrón who avoided responsibility.
How do the chapters explore the theme of identity and humanity through Matt’s experiences?
Matt learns that being a clone doesn’t make him less human; his choices and relationships define him, contrasting El Patrón’s dehumanization of others.