Review: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

The Lightning Thief
Author: Rick Riordan
Publication: Hyperion Book CH (September 16, 2008)

Product Description from Amazon: Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school...again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.

Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

My Thoughts: I thought this was an excellent adventure story. Percy is a likeable 12-year-old kid with problems including dyslexia and ADHD who lives with his loving mother and her husband Smelly Gabe when he is not in boarding school. He is also the target of mythological monsters. That is explained when his mother tells him that he is the son of a greek god and takes him to Camp Half-Blood so that he can be safe. There he meets other half-blood children and the other greek gods and creatures who are the camp counsellors. He also learns more about his heritage and begins to learn what his strengths are.

However, Percy can't just learn in safety and have a relaxing summer. He is soon embroiled in a quest along with his friend Grover who is a satyr and Annabeth who is the daughter of Athena. Someone has stolen Zeus' lightning bolt. Percy is being blamed and, if he can't find and return the lightning bolt before the solstice, war between the gods will break out. Percy, Annabeth and Grover have many adventures during the quest but always display both courage and ingenuity in the face of great danger.

I think these books are perfect for their audience of middle grade readers. The story has a lot of adventure, friendship, and also manages to sneak in a lot of information about greek mythology. The characters are all well-rounded and interesting.

I am hoping that the movie will also be good. I know they are upping Percy's age to make him a teenager but I hope the rest will stay the same. Here is a photo of the movie Percy Jackson as played by Logan Lerman. I can picture him as Percy.

Challenges: In the Middle Reading Challenge, Flashback Challenge