The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1)

by Rick Riordan (Author)

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1)

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.

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Publishers Weekly

A clever concept drives Riordan's highly charged children's book debut (the first in a series): the Greek Gods still rule, though now from a Mt. Olympus on the 600th floor of the Empire State Building, and their offspring, demigods, live among human beings. Narrator Percy Jackson thinks he's just another troubled 12-year-old, until he vaporizes his math teacher, learns his best friend, Grover, is a satyr and narrowly escapes a minotaur to arrive at Camp Half-Blood. After a humorous stint at camp, Percy learns he's the son of Poseidon and embarks on a quest to the Underworld with Grover and Annabeth (a daughter of Athena) to resolve a battle between Zeus and Poseidon over Zeus's stolen "master" lightning bolt. Without sacrificing plot or pacing, Riordan integrates a great deal of mythology into the tale and believably places mythical characters into modern times, often with hilarious results (such as Hades ranting about the problem of "sprawl," or population explosion). However, on emotional notes the novel proves less strong (for example, Percy's grief for his mother rings hollow; readers will likely spot the "friend" who betrays the hero, as foretold by the Oracle of Delphi, before Percy does) and their ultimate confrontation proves a bit anticlimactic. Still, this swift and humorous adventure will leave many readers eager for the next installment. Ages 10-up. "(July)"

Copyright 2005 Publishers Weekly Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Starred Review

Gr 5-9 -An adventure-quest with a hip edge. At first glance, Perseus Jackson seems like a loser (readers meet him at a boarding school for troubled youth), but he's really the son of Poseidon and a mortal woman. As he discovers his heritage, he also loses that mother and falls into mortal danger. The gods (still very active in the 21st-century world) are about to go to war over a lost thunderbolt, so Percy and sidekicks Grover (a young satyr) and Annabeth (daughter of Athena) set out to retrieve it. Many close calls and monster-attacks later, they enter Hades's realm (via L.A.). A virtuoso description of the Underworld is matched by a later account of Olympus (hovering 600 floors above Manhattan). There's lots of zippy review of Greek myth and legend, and characters like Medusa, Procrustes, Charon, and the Eumenides get updates. Some of the Labors of Heracles or Odysseus's adventures are recycled, but nothing seems stale, and the breakneck pace keeps the action from being too predictable. Percy is an ADHD, wise-cracking, first-person narrator. Naturally, his real quest is for his own identity. Along the way, such topics as family, trust, war, the environment, dreams, and perceptions are raised. There is subtle social critique for sophisticated readers who can see it. Although the novel ends with a satisfying conclusion (and at least one surprise), it is clear that the story isn't over. The 12-year-old has matured and is ready for another quest, and the villain is at large. Readers will be eager to follow the young protagonist's next move." -Patricia D. Lothrop, St. George's School, Newport, RI"

Copyright 2005 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

This book is super amazing!

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief is a very amusing, scary kind of book. One reason I liked it was that there was a big, giant bull inside the mansion. My next reason is that Percy got expelled from Yancy Academy. Also Percy went to Camp Half Blood. I highly encourage you to read this book because you might bust a gut.

This book is amazing

This book is SOOO good. I loved the Greek mythology and the advancers Percy takes on and almost dies. Its almost like watching a movie. I got in my bed one night and read it for hours.

Rick Riordan
Rick Riordan, dubbed "storyteller of the gods" by Publishers Weekly, is the author of five #1 New York Times best-selling middle grade series with millions of copies sold throughout the world: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Heroes of Olympus, and the Trials of Apollo, based on Greek and Roman mythology; the Kane Chronicles, based on Ancient Egyptian mythology; and Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, based on Norse mythology. Rick collaborated with illustrator John Rocco on two #1 New York Times best-selling collections of Greek myths for the whole family: Percy Jackson's Greek Gods and Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes. Rick is also the publisher of an imprint at Disney-Hyperion, Rick Riordan Presents, dedicated to finding other authors of highly entertaining fiction based on world cultures and mythologies. He lives in Boston, Massachusetts with his wife and two sons. Follow him on Twitter at @RickRiordan.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780786856299
Lexile Measure
680
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Disney-Hyperion
Publication date
June 01, 2005
Series
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
BISAC categories
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic
JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
Library of Congress categories
Friendship
Identity
Identity (Psychology)
Fathers and sons
Fantasy
Fantasy fiction
Mythology, Greek
Poseidon
Hades
Zeus
Mythological fiction
Bluebonnet Awards
Nominee 2007 - 2007
Rhode Island Teen Book Award
Nominee 2007 - 2007
Beehive Awards
Winner 2007 - 2007
Young Reader's Choice Award
Winner 2008 - 2008
Grand Canyon Reader Award
Winner 2008 - 2008
Colorado Blue Spruce Award
Nominee 2008 - 2008
Nutmeg Book Award
Winner 2008 - 2008
Sunshine State Young Reader's Award
Winner 2008 - 2008
North Carolina Children's Book Award
Nominee 2008 - 2008
Massachusetts Children's Book Award
Winner 2007 - 2008
Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award
Winner 2008 - 2008
Colorado Children's Book Award
Runner-Up 2008 - 2008
Isinglass Teen Read Award
Nominee 2007 - 2008
Nene Award
Winner 2008 - 2008
Sequoyah Book Awards
Winner 2008 - 2008
South Carolina Childrens, Junior and Young Adult Book Award
Winner 2007 - 2008
Virginia Readers Choice Award
Winner 2008 - 2008
Georgia Children's Book Award
Winner 2009 - 2009
Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award
Winner 2009 - 2009
Golden Archer Award
Nominee 2009 - 2009
Iowa Teen Award
Winner 2009 - 2009
Golden Sower Award
Winner 2008 - 2008
Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award
Winner 2008 - 2008
Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award
Winner 2009 - 2009
West Virginia Children's Book Award
Nominee 2008 - 2008
Volunteer State Book Awards
Winner 2008 - 2009
Maine Student Book Award
Winner 2007 - 2007
Mark Twain Readers Award
Winner 2007 - 2008

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