Cast the Novel

Tom:

• Chapter 5, Page 45: “It was a boy somewhat older than himself, with bristly red hair and freckles.” 
• Chapter 7, Page 66: “Tom seemed to change right before his eyes.  The angry red faded from Tom’s cheeks.  His eyes became clear and guileless.  It was hard to believe it was the same boy who had been kicking and screaming only a minute ago.”
• Chapter 7, Page 67: “There was something a little off about everything Tom did.  He brought his mother drinks, but the glass didn’t always seem clean.  He opened the door for his grandfather, but he let it swing shut on the old man’s heel.  It wasn’t quite enough to make him fall, and it could have been an accident.  Everyone trusted Tom because he had such an open, innocent face, and yet–‘He’s an unnatural little weevil,’ growled Tim Lin.  Matt was relieved to find that the bodyguard didn’t like Tom either.”

Based on the textual evidence from The House of the Scorpion, Tom would look very much like this.  As the book specified, our "real-life" Tom has red hair and freckles, along with a innocent appearance. Despite this, he is a troublemaker and frequently fights with Matt.  This aspect is represented in the picture by the boy's mischievous smile, giving the impression that he is not as nice as he seems.    

Celia:

• Chapter 2, Page 7: The microwave had a sign reading PELIGRO!!! DANGER!!! and squares of yellow notepaper saying NO! NO! NO! To be extra sure, Celia had wrapped a belt around the microwave door and secured it with a padlock. She lived in terror that Matt would find a way to open it while she was at work and "cook his little gizzards," as she put it. 
• Chapter 2, Page 9: A second face pressed against the window. She had black hair and olive skin like Celia.
• Chapter 2, Page 10: "It's the fat old cook -what's her name?" the boy said.

Based on the book's description, Celia is a kind and caring mother figure for Matt.  She is concerned for Matt's safety, as described in the first quote.  The second and third quotes gives us an idea of her physical appearance, such as having black hair and olive skin.  


María:

Page 13 - Emilia's thirteen too, very pretty with black hair and brown eyes.

María is Emilia Mendoza's sister. Chances are, they look somewhat alike.




El Patron:

Page 54 “He was extremely thin, with shoulder length hair neatly combed beside a face so seamed and wrinkled it seemed hardly real.”

Page 57 “He rambled on about his youth in Aztlán. It was called Mexico when he was a boy, he said. He came from a place called Durango.”