Title: The Lightning Thief
Author: Rick Riordan
Publisher: Disney Hyperion Books
Date of Publication: June 28, 2005
Number of Pages: 377
Genre: Fantasy
Age Level: Juvenile
Synopsis:
Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can’t seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse – Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy’s mom finds out, she knows it’s time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he’ll be safe.She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends—one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena – Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.
My Thoughts
I was only somewhat interested in this book series when it first came out. I figured that since I was above the age of the target audience, I probably wouldn’t like them. Honestly, I was afraid they’d be too childish, which was reinforced when I saw the chapter titles.
They were silly and immature, like “I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher” (Percy was attacked by a Fury), “Grover Unexpectedly Loses his Pants” (we find out Grover was actually a satyr in disguise), or ”My Mother Teaches Me Bullfighting” (He and his mom were attacked by a minotaur).
Even so, I thought the concept of Greek mythology was interesting and that the book cover was beautiful. I wanted to like it, but wasn’t sure if I actually would.
I made my choice when I saw the first two books sold as a two-pack for a great deal. It was a steal! I could try it out and if I liked it. . .hey, now I have the first two books! And if I didn’t, well, at least they didn’t cost much.
The Writing
So, I got the books and started reading. I quickly learned that despite the silly chapter titles, the story was actually more mature than I expected it to be. The characters and plot had more depth than I anticipated, and I found it all to be very entertaining. I bought all five books in the series, and I loved them all. Riordan writes very well and I enjoyed all of it.
Before reading these books, I always had a hard time keeping track of which Greek god was which. After reading these books and seeing these gods given personalities and storylines, I can actually remember who most the Greek gods are, even though I read them so long ago. It truly is a great series.
I honestly can’t remember much about the actual plot anymore, but I remember Percy had to not only save his mother who’d been kidnapped, but he also had to retrieve Zeus’s stolen lightning bolt from Hades. Percy and his two friends go on the adventure together, and it was a truly wild ride. The characters are three-dimensional and likable, the story is great. . .there isn’t really anything I didn’t like about it.
The Movie and Series
There were a couple movies made on the first two books, but they weren’t really that good. They didn’t follow the story very well, nor did they really capture the spirit of the novels.
I hear Disney+ is in the process of making a new Percy Jackson TV series. That’ll be interesting.
Even so, I suggest reading the books. They’re amazing, and I highly recommend them.
Want More Percy Jackson Fun?
Check out our Percy Jackson Blue Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe and Percy Jackson Nectar recipe just like Percy had in the book! We love finding fiction books with recipes or ones that inspire recipes, and Percy Jackson has a lot of them.
Accelerated Reader (AR) Info
Level: 4.7
Points: 13
Quiz Number: 89885
Word Count: 87,223
Interest Level: Middle Grades (MG 4-8)
My Rating out of 5
Let’s Chat!
If you’ve read Percy Jackson, which cabin would you want to be from?
What are some aspects of Greek Mythology that you find interesting?
Comment below! I’d love to hear from you!
