book review percy jackson and the lightning thief

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THE LIGHTNING THIEF

From the percy jackson and the olympians series , vol. 1.

by Rick Riordan ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 1, 2005

The sardonic tone of the narrator’s voice lends a refreshing air of realism to this riotously paced quest tale of heroism...

Edgar Award–winning Riordan leaves the adult world of mystery to begin a fantasy series for younger readers. 

Twelve-year-old Percy (full name, Perseus) Jackson has attended six schools in six years. Officially diagnosed with ADHD, his lack of self-control gets him in trouble again and again. What if it isn’t his fault? What if all the outrageous incidents that get him kicked out of school are the result of his being a “half-blood,” the product of a relationship between a human and a Greek god? Could it be true that his math teacher Mrs. Dodds transformed into a shriveled hag with bat wings, a Fury, and was trying to kill him? Did he really vanquish her with a pen that turned into a sword? One need not be an expert in Greek mythology to enjoy Percy’s journey to retrieve Zeus’s master bolt from the Underworld, but those who are familiar with the deities and demi-gods will have many an ah-ha moment. Along the way, Percy and his cohort run into Medusa, Cerberus and Pan, among others. 

Pub Date: July 1, 2005

ISBN: 0-7868-5629-7

Page Count: 384

Publisher: Hyperion

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2005

CHILDREN'S ACTION & ADVENTURE FICTION | CHILDREN'S SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY

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HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX

From the harry potter series , vol. 5.

by J.K. Rowling ; illustrated by Mary GrandPré ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 1, 2003

The Potternaut rolls on, picking up more size than speed but propelling 15-year-old Harry through more hard tests of character and magical ability. Rowling again displays her ability to create both likable and genuinely scary characters, most notable among the latter being a pair of Dementors who accost Harry in a dark alley in the opening chapter. Even more horrible, Ministry of Magic functionary Dolores Umbridge descends upon Hogwarts with a tinkly laugh, a taste in office decor that runs to kitten paintings, and the authority, soon exercised, to torture students, kick Harry off the Quidditch team, fire teachers, and even to challenge Dumbledore himself. Afflicted with sudden fits of adolescent rage, Harry also has worries, from upcoming exams and recurrent eerie dreams to the steadfast refusal of the Magical World's bureaucracy to believe that Voldemort has returned. Steadfast allies remain, including Hermione, whose role here is largely limited to Chief Explainer, and a ragtag secret order of adults formed to protect him from dangers, which they characteristically keep to themselves until he finds out about them the hard way. Constructed, like Goblet of Fire , of multiple, weakly connected plot lines and rousing, often hilarious set pieces, all set against a richly imagined backdrop, this involves its characters once again in plenty of adventures while moving them a step closer to maturity. And it's still impossible to predict how it's all going to turn out.

Pub Date: July 1, 2003

ISBN: 9780439358064

Page Count: 896

Publisher: Levine/Scholastic

Review Posted Online: Nov. 2, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2003

CHILDREN'S SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY

by J.K. Rowling & illustrated by Mary GrandPré

by J.K. Rowling ; illustrated by Mary GrandPré

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by J.K. Rowling ; illustrated by Jim Field

by J.K. Rowling

by J.K. Rowling ; illustrated by Minalima

SEEN & HEARD

AKIKO ON THE PLANET SMOO

by Mark Crilley ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 8, 2000

Opening episodes of a comic-book series created by an American teacher in Japan take a leap into chapter-book format, with only partial success. Resembling—in occasional illustrations—a button-eyed, juvenile Olive Oyl, Akiko, 10, is persuaded by a pair of aliens named Bip and Bop to climb out her high-rise bedroom’s window for a trip to M&M-shaped Planet Smoo, where Prince Fropstoppit has been kidnapped by widely feared villainness Alia Rellaport. Along with an assortment of contentious sidekicks, including brainy Mr. Beeba, Akiko battles Sky Pirates and video-game-style monsters in prolonged scenes of cartoony violence, displaying resilience, courage, and leadership ability, but not getting very far in her rescue attempt; in fact, the story cuts off so abruptly, with so little of the quest completed, and at a lull in the action to boot, that readers expecting a self-contained (forget complete) story are likely to feel cheated. (Fiction. 10-12)

Pub Date: Feb. 8, 2000

ISBN: 0-385-32724-2

Page Count: 162

Publisher: Delacorte

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 1999

GENERAL GRAPHIC NOVELS & COMICS | CHILDREN'S SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY

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by Mark Crilley ; illustrated by Mark Crilley

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Book Review: ‘Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief’

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Do you remember that feeling when you watched a movie that you really liked, and later you found out it was based on a really popular book? That’s what happened to me after I watched Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief . After taking a long time to find time to get myself into this universe and read books, the perfect occasion appeared with the upcoming Disney+ series.

Before I started reading it, I thought that it was a book for younger readers, but I was wrong. As soon as I started, I was trying to find time every day to finish it quickly. Maybe it wasn’t created specifically for me, but I can gladly say that Rick Riordan gained another fan of his stories.

[Warning: Spoilers from Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief movie and book are below !]

Percy Jackson is just a kid, destined to do great things

The Percy Jackson books are set in a world full of demigods, gods, and other stuff from Greek mythology. Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief begins as a tale that resonates not just with the young, but with readers of all ages. As I navigated through the labyrinth of adventures with Percy and his companions Annabeth and Grover, I felt like a kid again.  

Percy Jackson is a twelve-year-old boy from New York City with dyslexia and ADHD who embarks on a life-changing journey. When he goes on a seemingly ordinary school trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, his life takes a mythical turn, changing his future forever. During the visit to the museum, Percy’s teacher, Mrs. Dodds, transforms into a mythical creature called Erinye and attacks him. She accuses him of stealing the Thunder of Zeus and demands that he give it to her.

Thankfully for Percy, another teacher, Mr. Brunner, saves Percy’s life. He gives Percy a magical sword-pen to defend against the supernatural threats that surround him. After everything that happened, Percy’s mother Sally takes him to Long Island. Additionally, his friend Grover discloses his true identity as a satyr and warns Percy of impending danger. They travel to Camp Half-Blood where Percy will be trained. On the way, they get attacked by a minotaur who makes Sally disappear into thin air.

Percy manages to slay the monstrous creature with one of its horns. After this, he faints. This was the pivotal moment for me in the whole book because it was the first moment where Percy had to fight for his life. What also makes it interesting is that it was also the moment when I had to take a break. When I watched the movie for the first time, it wasn’t that emotional scene, but in the book, it felt different.

When he wakes up, he gets to meet other demigods, also learning that he is Poseidon’s son. He meets Luke, son of Hermes, and Annabeth, daughter of Athena. As Percy settles into this new camp life, he learns more about his heritage. What shocks Percy is that Mr. Brunner is actually Chiron, a centaur mentor, and one of the leaders/teachers at the camp.

He explains that the existence of Percy is a violation of an oath among Poseidon, Zeus, and Hades. They promised to not father any more children, because they may become a danger, trying to claim the power of Gods. Percy finds out that Zeus’ Lightning was indeed stolen, and he must find it and bring it back to him. Percy, accompanied by Annabeth and Grover, faces a lot of mythical challenges on the quest to receive the lost Lightning.

They face villains from Greek mythology such as Medusa or Chimera. Not to spoil too much for people who haven’t read the book or seen the movie, but their journey unfolds in many unexpected ways. Their quest leads them to Hades, who accuses Percy of stealing the Lightning and threatens to kill Percy’s mother (because he kidnapped her) unless he gives him the Lightning. Sounds like Percy has to find it before his mother’s life is claimed by Hades!

The huge potential of Rick Riordan’s books and comparisons with the movie

For me, the whole adventure and Percy’s odyssey lie in their ability to evolve these kids into heroes. Letting them experience what it’s like to save the world. While our hero, Percy, has a hard time accepting his true destiny and powers, it’s encouraging to go through this journey alongside him. I believe that Percy’s age was a deliberate choice by Riordan who made it a crucial aspect of the narrative. In the book, he’s a twelve-year-old, who gets thrown into the chaos of Greek mythology while becoming the one who has to stop a war between Gods on Earth.

Comparing The Lightning Thief book with the movie, it’s more developed and at least for me a better way to tell this story. Don’t get me wrong, I like the first Percy Jackson movie, but the book is a perfect example of why it’s better to make this story a series rather than a movie. The moments where we see Percy’s humor, his childishness mixed with maturity, is something I couldn’t imagine seeing in a 2-hour movie. The one-liners, the development of our protagonist, and the evolving friendship are the elements that make the book a better story than the one on the screen.

Other characters like Annabeth deserve praise for their depth and show of intellect in the book. In the movie, she becomes a pretty girl who tries to go over the warrior princess stereotype. She lost the essence of her strategic brilliance and of everything that made her Athena’s daughter. In the book, there is more room for her to show her skills and prove she’s not just another pretty face. I feel that this change in her writing compared to the source material, robbed Annabeth of her place as the Athena among the demigods.

If I had to say something good about the movie, I’d say that the visuals are its better part. The Hydra scene, the Lotus Hotel escapade, and Percy’s duel with Luke are visually stunning. Even now after all these years, I think that they deserve praise (but I’d prefer to see the original fight from the book, instead of the clash with Luke). However, those visuals and effects come at the cost of narrative and writing in the script. The plot is cut and changed, important details are removed, and character development is too quick. It left me with a visually impressive yet narratively lacking experience.

Final thoughts on Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief is a book that is a treasure that transcends all ages, making it a book for everyone. It tells an amazing story that doesn’t feel too immature, or childish. The movie, while visually impressive, falls short of capturing the essence of the source material. Each version has its positives and negatives (with the book having more positive things), and appreciating one doesn’t remove the value of the other. 

My Rating: 9/10

Whether you’re a demigod in training or just a regular mortal, the book invites you to a world full of monsters, gods, and iconic moments being an easter egg to mythology moments. It’s a story that proves age is just a number, and the magic of mythology, adventure, and good teenage drama is timeless.

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan is available now!  Let us know on social media @mycosmiccircus or in The Cosmic Circus Discord if you plan on reading the book before the new series’ arrival on Disney+!

Guide to the World of Percy Jackson

Book Review: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson and The Olympians  is the Adaptation We’ve Been Waiting For

Wiktor Reinfuss

Big fan of all sorts of pop culture stuff. I also enjoy ambitious cinema. Games, music and graphics are all within my interests. I have a great fondness for the Arrowverse series, especially The Flash.

Wiktor Reinfuss has 148 posts and counting. See all posts by Wiktor Reinfuss

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Parents' guide to, the lightning thief: percy jackson and the olympians, book 1.

• Common Sense Says
• Parents Say 60 Reviews
• Kids Say 477 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

By Matt Berman , based on child development research. How do we rate?

Greek myths meet fast-paced adventure in boy-demigod tale.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Lightning Thief is the first book by Rick Riordan in a long-running saga that includes five books in the main series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, five books in a spinoff series, The Heroes of Olympus, and five books in another spinoff series, The Trials of Apollo. Once kids…

Why Age 9+?

Coke, Diet Coke, Barbara Walters, Oreos, Camaro, the Hilary Duff song "So Yester

Fights with monsters get hairy, with some injuries, but when the monsters die th

Percy's stepfather smokes cigars and drinks lots of beer. A taxi driver also smo

Much talk of gods having affairs with mortals and their resulting kids, the demi

Any Positive Content?

Many references to characters in Greek mythology and their stories: the major go

Teamwork and friendship. Resilience, resourcefulness, and bravery in the face of

Percy starts out as a failing student who's been kicked out of many schools for

Main characters read White. Good neurodiverse representation: All kids with one

Parents need to know that The Lightning Thief is the first book by Rick Riordan in a long-running saga that includes five books in the main series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians , five books in a spinoff series, The Heroes of Olympus , and five books in another spinoff series, The Trials of Apollo . Once kids get started with The Lightning Thief, they often blow through all three series. They're that popular. The best time for kids to get rolling is fourth or fifth grade. That's when most kids are ready for a main character like Percy Jackson. He's a sardonically funny 12-year-old with dyslexia and ADHD who is not so great with authority. In The Lightning Thief he finds out his absent father is a Greek god (Greek gods still inhabit the modern world and have affairs with mortals) and that he has powers of his own as a demigod. On a quest, his more heroic qualities come through. He's resilient, resourceful, and brave in the face of danger. There's a lot of mythology to keep straight and some tense monster fights. Usually the monsters turn to dust (though one is beheaded as a trophy), and the demigods get magically healed. There's other action violence as well, especially car accidents and exploding vehicles, and talk of animal abuse and spousal abuse. Percy's mom goes to the Underworld and is heavily mourned. Kids will learn a lot about the Greek idea of the Underworld.

Products & Purchases

Coke, Diet Coke, Barbara Walters, Oreos, Camaro, the Hilary Duff song "So Yesterday."

Violence & Scariness

Fights with monsters get hairy, with some injuries, but when the monsters die they fade to dust (except for one, who's beheaded). When demigods get hurt, they can be magically healed. Percy's mom goes to the Underworld and is heavily mourned. Bullying at Camp Half-Blood involving toilets ends badly for the bullies. A car wreck, an exploding bus and police cars, and sword fighting. Talk of domestic abuse and a son realizing his mother had been abused. A ride in a truck with caged animals who have been neglected and abused. Poisoned insect bites and torture by being stretched on beds. Much imagery and discussion of death in the Underworld, with talk of how people died and how they lived and where they would end up as a result.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Percy's stepfather smokes cigars and drinks lots of beer. A taxi driver also smokes a cigar, and a surfer mentions mushrooms.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Much talk of gods having affairs with mortals and their resulting kids, the demigods. Plus, talk of Ares and Aphrodite's affair and wood nymphs having a lot of practice running from lovesick gods.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Educational Value

Many references to characters in Greek mythology and their stories: the major gods, the Titans, Echidna, Procrustes, chimeras, Arachne, Chiron, Charon, Cerberus, and more. Also shows the Greek vision of the Underworld; the entrance is in Hollywood, but the layout below is the same, with Elysium, the Fields of Asphodel, and the Fields of Punishment. Kids can follow the quest's cross-country trip on a map with stops in St. Louis, Denver, Las Vegas, and Venice Beach. Some descriptions of what it's like to have dyslexia and ADHD.

Positive Messages

Teamwork and friendship. Resilience, resourcefulness, and bravery in the face of danger. A reminder to not let video games take over your lives when Percy visits the Lotus Casino.

Positive Role Models

Percy starts out as a failing student who's been kicked out of many schools for being disruptive. He has dyslexia and ADHD and uses his differences to justify his behavior—even admitting to getting a Tom Sawyer essay for school off the internet once. When he has a chance to prove himself, he's brave, resilient, and incredibly resourceful—he tricks his way out of some sticky situations with vengeful Greek characters. He also adores his mom and would do anything for her.

Diverse Representations

Main characters read White. Good neurodiverse representation: All kids with one god parent (Percy and all other Camp Half-Blood campers) have dyslexia and ADHD. Also, girl characters are the smartest (Annabeth) and the most battle-ready (Clarisse). Half-Bloods including Percy are always raised by the one non-god parent, and Percy has a stepdad. Percy's family is low-income and lives in a downtown New York City apartment.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update .

Where to Read

Parent and kid reviews.

• Parents say (60)
• Kids say (477)

Based on 60 parent reviews

Entertainment with a Grain of Salt

What's the story.

In THE LIGHTNING THIEF, strange things keep happening around Percy Jackson. His boarding school teacher turns into a monster, attacks him on a field trip, and then disappears, and no one remembers she was ever there. "Who's Mrs. Dodds?" they all ask. Then he overhears his best friend Grover talking to his favorite teacher about the danger he's in and how they need to protect him. When Percy heads home to Manhattan for the summer holidays, he and his mom decide to take a trip to the coast. A terrible storm kicks up in the night, and his friend Grover appears, banging on the door, telling Percy he has to flee. His mom drives them to a camp she knows, one Percy's absent father told her about, but not fast enough. A Minotaur attacks and tries to tear the car and Percy to shreds. Percy wakes up much later in the strangest place he's ever been: Camp Half-Blood. It's where kids like him can train and be safe from monsters. That's when Percy learns his father was a Greek god, and Greek gods still exist and hold sway in the world. And right now the gods are warring, and Percy's very existence may be partly to blame.

Is It Any Good?

This high-adventure series start imagines Greek mythology in the modern world through the eyes of a sardonically funny 12-year-old who many kids know and love. Percy Jackson's origin story and first quest as a hero combine in The Lightning Thief . He goes from the worst kid in a school for delinquents with the worst—and smelliest—stepdad ever to full-fledged hero in less than 400 pages, and readers will be rooting for him the whole way. While his friend Annabeth has the brains, it's Percy's wits that get them out of the most scrapes—and that really handy ability to breathe and heal under water. Some of his ploys seem beyond the maturity of a 12-year-old to conjure—like in the water park, and in Hades' kingdom, and in the waterbed store—but kids probably won't notice.

The plot is more complex than you'd expect for a humor-tinged fantasy. It's hard to decide who the enemy really is and who they are working for until the very end. And some of the plotting is meant to build the five-part series, so there's still much readers don't know. Kids who read on will be rewarded with a series that is consistently well written and entertaining.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about Percy's learning differences in The Lightning Thief. How do his dyslexia and ADHD come in handy as a demigod? For kids with dyslexia and/or ADHD, how often do you see yourself in main characters? Did author Rick Riordan describe what it's like to be dyslexic or have ADHD well? How are your experiences different?

What happened to kids at the Lotus Casino? Do you ever lose track of time when you're playing video games and having fun? How do they try to lure Percy back to the casino? Does gaming ever feel as addictive to you?

Will you read more in this series? And the follow-up series? Why do you think Percy Jackson books are so popular?

Book Details

• Author : Rick Riordan
• Genre : Fantasy
• Topics : Magic and Fantasy , Superheroes , Adventures , Friendship , Middle School , Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires , Ocean Creatures
• Character Strengths : Courage , Teamwork
• Book type : Fiction
• Publisher : Hyperion Books for Children
• Publication date : September 11, 2005
• Number of pages : 377
• Last updated : July 20, 2018

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

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The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1 | Book Review

Book Review of  The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1 The Children’s Book Review

The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1

Written by Rick Riordan

Ages: 9+ | 377 Pages

Publisher: Disney Hyperion Books | ISBN-13: 978-1368051477

What to Expect: Fantasy, Mythology, Adventure, and Mystery

Rick Riordan’s inspiration for  The Lightning Thief  (now also a major motion picture)   began from stories based on Greek myths that he used to make up for his son, who was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia. Riordan had taught Greek mythology to middle school students so he could recall many of the myths to tell his son. When he ran out of myths to share, his son asked him to create new stories using the characters from the Greek myths. And so, Percy Jackson was born.

The Lightning Thief  is the first captivating book from the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. This novel follows Percy, a twelve-year-old boy with dyslexia and ADHD, as he navigates through a world of Greek gods and monsters. Through his journey, he discovers his true identity and learns the importance of loyalty and friendship.

Percy Jackson is about to get pulled into a dangerous, exhilarating scene where the action never subsides. When he goes on a field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and stands up for a friend who is being bullied, his life changes forever. He ends up on a perilous mission across the United States to prevent a major war between the gods—Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades—by catching a thief who has stolen Zeus’ thunderbolt. With the help of a demigod and a satyr, Percy must defeat many mythological monsters that will stop at nothing to keep him from his task.

From start to end, the whole story will have your heart racing, leaving you desperate for the next book. Exciting, gritty, and funny are just a few words that describe this fantastical action-adventure novel that combines the world as we know it with Greek Mythology. Written in a style that is easy to follow, with a clear and engaging plot that will appeal to kids and adults alike, the well-developed characters are relatable, making it easy for readers to connect with them and become invested in their journey.

The Lightning Thief  is an excellent read that is highly entertaining. It not only provides a thrilling adventure for readers but also teaches valuable life lessons that promote personal growth and self-discovery—highly recommended to anyone looking for a fun and insightful read.

Buy the Book

About the author.

Rick Riordan is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, the Kane Chronicles, and the Heroes of Olympus. He is also the author of the multi-award-winning Tres Navarre mystery series for adults.

For fifteen years, Rick taught English and history at public and private middle schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Texas. In 2002, Saint Mary’s Hall honored him with the school’s first Master Teacher Award.

While teaching full time, Riordan began writing mystery novels for grownups. His Tres Navarre series went on to win the top three national awards in the mystery genre – the Edgar, the Anthony and the Shamus. Riordan turned to children’s fiction when he started The Lightning Thief as a bedtime story for his oldest son.

Today over 35 million copies of his Percy Jackson, Kane Chronicles, and Heroes of Olympus books are in print in the United States, and rights have been sold into more than 35 countries. Rick is also the author of The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones, another #1 New York Times bestseller.

Rick Riordan now writes full-time. He lives in Boston with his wife and two sons.

What to Read Next if You Love The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1

• The Sea of Monsters , by Rick Riordan
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone , by J. K. Rowling
• The City of Ember , by Jeanne DuPrau
• Artemis Fowl , by Eoin Colfer

Bianca Schulze reviewed  The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1 . Discover more books like  The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1 by reading our reviews and articles tagged with Fantasy , Mythology , Adventure , and Mystery .

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Bianca Schulze is the founder of The Children’s Book Review. She is a reader, reviewer, mother and children’s book lover. She also has a decade’s worth of experience working with children in the great outdoors. Combined with her love of books and experience as a children’s specialist bookseller, the goal is to share her passion for children’s literature to grow readers. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, she now lives with her husband and three children near Boulder, Colorado.

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Book Review: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan  

Book Review: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

By Savannah Logan  

Rick Riordan’s The Lightning Thief , the first book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, is an unforgettable adventure that blends Greek mythology with modern-day challenges in the most exciting way. Following 12-year-old Percy Jackson as he discovers he’s no ordinary kid but a demigod, this book is a thrilling rollercoaster of action, humor, and heartwarming friendships.  

What makes The Lightning Thief truly special is how it taps into the struggles that school-age kids often face—feeling different, finding your place in the world, and learning about personal strengths. Percy’s journey from being a boy with ADHD and dyslexia to becoming a hero who battles monsters and gods alike is not only relatable but inspiring. The adventure unfolds at a breakneck pace, with Riordan expertly weaving in Greek myths in a way that’s both educational and wildly entertaining.  

Riordan’s clever use of mythology makes this series a perfect way for kids to learn about ancient stories without even realizing it. The humorous tone, quick wit, and endearing characters like Grover and Annabeth make the book easy to fall in love with, and Percy’s voice is so genuine that readers will feel like they’ve gained a new friend.  

The Lightning Thief is the kind of book that will ignite the imaginations of young readers. If you know any school-age kids, this series is a must-suggest. It not only encourages reading but also fosters curiosity about history, mythology, and the idea that even the most unlikely heroes have great destinies. Percy Jackson’s world is a place where kids will want to linger, and as they grow alongside him through the series, they’ll learn powerful lessons about friendship, courage, and self-acceptance.  

I highly recommend The Lightning Thief as a great gift for any young reader. It’s the start of a magical adventure they won’t want to miss!  

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