The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan

Title: The Lightning Thief

From the Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Author: Rick Riordan

Publisher: Hyperion

Year: 2006 (paperback)

# Pages: 400

Category: Series

Other books in the Series: Sea of Monsters (2006), The Titan’s Curse (2007), Battle of the Labyrinth (2008), The Last Olympian (2009)

Genre: Fantasy, Mythology

Other books in the Series: Sea of Monsters (2006), The Titan’s Curse (2007), Battle of the Labyrinth (2008), The Last Olympian (2009)

Awards & Honors:

School Library Journal Best Book of 2005

VOYA Top Shelf Fiction

ALA Notable Book 2006

Young Readers’ Choice Award 2008 (chosen by students)

My Summary & Critique:

Twelve year old Percy Jackson tells his story, starting with his sixth grade class field trip to New York City while attending Yancy Academy, a private school for troubled kids. We quickly learn that Percy gets in trouble a lot but seems intelligent and suffers from ADD and dyslexia which do not do him any favors in school. The action gets going quickly when he is attacked by a teacher who turns into a flying monster, and soon discovers that he is not just a typical kid. He soon learns that his best friend, Grover, is actually a satyr and kind of a bodyguard for him. He learns that he is a half-blood or demi-god and he is taken to safety to Camp Half-Blood, a “summer camp” for kids just like him. Along the way, he is being chased by monsters and his mother disappears before his eyes, in the arms of a minotaur, and is presumed dead. At Camp Half-Blood, Percy struggles to find his place and cope with the news of his heritage and newly discovered strengths. He learns that he is actually the son of Poseidon, the god of the sea and brother to Hades and Zeus, the chief god, god of the sky. When Zeus’ lightning bolt is stolen, Poseidon is blamed and Percy is sent on a quest to retrieve the bolt. Percy is accompanied in this quest by his friend Grover and his new friend, Annabeth, half-blood daughter of Athena. Together, they cross the country, enter the Underworld, and battle Ares, the god of war in pursuit of the lightning bolt and attempting to clear Poseidon and Percy of wrongdoing.

The Lightning Thief is fast paced, funny, and packed with action that will keep young adults on the edge of their seats and keep them reading. In the process, they will learn a lot about ancient Greek mythology, perhaps even craving to learn more after the last page is turned. This book’s greatest strengths are the voice of the narrator, Percy Jackson, who is an underdog, likable, humble, and so funny. Young adult readers will appreciate modern references in the story and they will be intrigued by the blending of ancient Greek myths with the modern world. Of course Ares would drive a Harley! Readers who already are familiar with these myths will be amused and entertained by the incorporation of mythological characters, locations, etc. in the modern world. Readers who don’t know much about mythology will want to learn more. It is a win-win situation. This novel would make excellent discussion and read-aloud in schools, especially in the middle grades but high school students will also appreciate such a fun, interesting, and exciting read and will scramble to read the rest of the novels in this series.