In the House of the Scorpion the basic theme is that people shouldn't judge others' differences base on the outside, but instead they should judge in the inside of them because that is where we all have simalrities that brings us closer and gives us purposes in life.
The main theme might be that people do not have a set role in life until they choose it, no matter what other people might say. Or that being a human really means you have a choice in how you live your life.