Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan Miramax Books, 2005, 377 pp., $7.99 Fantasy, ISBN: 078685629-7
Like a thief in the night, Percy’s destiny is changed in the split of a second.
Percy Jackson is the main character and leads us through the story as the first-person narrator. At first glance, he appears to be a wise-cracking, trouble maker, who lacks self-control, diagnosed with ADHD, who has attended six schools in six years and discovers he is the son of the Greek God, Poseidon. The reader will definitely brush up on their Greek mythology as they embark upon Percy's journey to retrieve Zeus's master bolt.
"I accidentally vaporize my pre-algebra teacher." In this quote, he thinks he’s actually day dreaming. Little does he know? As we continue to read we determine, Percy is unaware of his true identity as a half-blood until his mother is killed in an unusual way. After losing his mother, he ends up at a summer camp for half-bloods. Through a set of unforeseen circumstances he finds himself leading a quest with two friends Annabeth and Grover. Percy is given ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property to prevent a war. They find themselves on a daring road trip from New York to Los Angeles. The group will face a host of enemies who are determined to stop them. According to the author, in order for him 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 failure and betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the Gods themselves.
Teachers might want to incorporate this book into classes where they have boys who are reluctant readers. I think by the main character being a young man the book will welcome them into the world of reading. The age range for this book is 12 to 15.
Interested in other fantasy books you may want to read
J. K. Rowling's, Harry Potter series or Lemony Snicket by
Brett Helquist.
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