The Lightning Thief

Summary: The Lightning Thief is the first book of the Percy Jackson & Olympians fantasy series. The book features a young boy named Percy Jackson who is a son of the Greek gods. As the son of Poseidon, Percy is a powerful character. After being expelled, he is sent away to Camp Half Blood, which begins to reveal more information about him. Percy is summoned to go on a mission in the Underworld in order to prevent a war among the gods in Olympus. Within this battle, Percy must come to terms with having once been abandoned by his father.

Bib Info: Riordan, R. (2005). The lightning thief. New York, NY: Miramax Books/Hyperion Paperbacks for Children.

Interest Level: 5-8

Impression:Percy is a boy on a fantasy mission that will keep students and an adult wanting to find out what happens next. Percy’s character is a strong-willed and caring individual. I think that this first book is the perfect hook to engage readers in a series.

Reviews and Awards: ALA Notable Children's Books 2006, Library Media Connection 10/01/10, Book Links 07/01/08, New York Times 11/13/05, Booklist 09/15/05, Publishers Weekly 07/18/05, Booklist starred 05/15/09, School Library Journal 06/01/09, Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 10/01/05, School Library Journal starred 08/01/05, Horn Book 07/01/05, Teacher Librarian 10/01/10, Horn Book starred 04/01/06, Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) 08/01/05, Kirkus Reviews 04/15/10, Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) starred 06/01/09, Kirkus Reviews starred 06/15/05, Wilson's Junior High School 08/21/06

Reviews: 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.
Lothrop, P. (2005, August 1). [Review of the book The lightning thief by R. Riordan]. School Library Journal. Retrieved from: http://www.slj.com/

What if the old Greek myths were true and not just ancient stories? That is the premise of Rick Riordan's new fantasy, adventure book. Percy, who just found out that he is a "Half- Blood," escapes the wrath of a monster when entering summer camp on Long Island. Only, this is no ordinary summer camp. This is a refuge for all children with a mortal parent and one parent that is a demigod. He discovers that his best friend, Grover, from school is a satyr whose job is to protect Percy from monsters and demons. Together with a new friend, who happens to be the daughter of Athena, Percy and Grover must travel across the United States to locate the thief of Zeus' lightning bolt. Because if Zeus doesn't recover his bolt, there will certainly be war between the gods. Students will enjoy the word sparing between Percy and many gods from Greek mythology, who in this book have managed to keep up with the times in language, dress, and attitude. This is a good read that just might have students looking at Greek mythology with a different perspective.
Lymer, D. (2005, August/September). [Review of the book The lightning thief by R. Riordan]. Library Media Connection. Retrieved from: http://www.librarymediaconnection.com/

Use in library setting: Students can learn about the Greek gods through a research project that leads to storytelling. The students can then get into character and share a story with the class based on the Greek god they researched.