The Lightning Thief (Book)

Riordan, R. (2005). The lightning thief. New York, NY: Miramax Books.

Interest Level: Ages 9 to 12
Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Subjects/Themes: Olympian Gods, Action Adventure, First Person Narrative

Plot: Percy Jackson is the son of Poseidon, the Greek God of the Sea, and a mortal woman named Sally. Being the half-blood son of a Greek God means that Percy will develop some of the gifts of the gods but it also means that he has ADHD and dyslexia since his brain is meant to read and write in ancient Greek. His two best friends are Grover, a satyr (half man and half goat), and Annabeth, the daughter of Athena the Greek Goddess of Wisdom. Together they travel to Los Angeles on a quest to find the entrance to the Underworld where they hope to find Zesus’s Master Lightning Bolt which has been stolen. Along the way they must battle Medusa, the Furies, and Ares, the Greek God of war.

Series Info: Book One of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series. Sequel: The Sea of Monsters.
Awards: YALSA Best Book for Young Adults 2005; A Best Book of 2005, Child Magazine; A Best Book of 2005, School Library Journal

Personal Thoughts: Written in first person, this book is an action packed rollercoaster ride. Each chapter is short but filled with something exciting happening. The main character is struggling with a variety of personal issues that teens can relate to such as: in school Percy has both academic and behavioral problems; he has a terrible step-father; and he is struggling with finding out his real dad is alive.  The was a movie made based on the book.  Check out the Percy Jackson Movie Website for more details.

Similar materials: Yolen, J., & Robert, J. H. (2001). Odysseus in the serpent maze. New York, NY: HarperCollins.