The Lightning Thief, Book One of Percy Jackson & The Olympians by Rick Riordan
I read The Lightning Thief, Book One of Percy Jackson & The Olympians by Rick Riordan as part of my reading for my Children’s Literature Book Club this past month. This young adult book is normally not the type of book that I would pick up on my own, but I found it to be fun and engaging. I can see why it’s all the rage, especially amongst boys. Who wouldn’t want want to read about Percy Jackson’s adventures amongst the gods of Mount Olympus? When I began reading, I hadn’t read any reviews nor did I know that it had anything to do with Greek mythology or gods and found that it was a pleasant surprise when I found out. And of course, here I am ruining it for you by telling you that. But let’s be honest, I was probably the last one to know that about this book.
From the publisher:
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.
Fun book. And a very creative way to teach Greek mythology. If I had tried to learn how all the gods were related to each other by reading this book, rather than studying charts I probably would have had a lot more interest in the Greek mythology unit in school. The story was very fast moving. There was never a lack of adventure, nor humor in The Lightning Thief. A great series for all ages.
I’m sure I’ll pick up the other books in the series at some point, although I admit that I need a little break from Greek gods for just a moment. I’m looking forward to the movie that is coming out early 2010 directed by Chris Columbus.
Listen to the first chapter of The Lightening Thief as read by Rick Riordan. Visit Rick Riordan’s website and blog. The other books in the series are The Sea of Monsters, The Titan’s Curse, The Battle of the Labyrinth, and book five coming out in May of this year is The Last Olympian.
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Category: Book Reviews, Fiction, Young Adult
Tags: book club, book to movie, children's literature book club selection, fantasy, I-L Title, Q-T Author
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Oh I just love this book!!! I can’t believe you hadn’t read it til now. Oh well, if I had known, I’d probably have been insisting you read it at every opportunity.
I had the chance to hear Rick Riordan speak a few years ago–when there were two books not four–and at that time he was very skeptical of the movie. I don’t know if I’m brave enough to chance it. Can any movie be as good?
on January 30th, 2009 at 9:52 amI love the Percy Jackson books. They just keep getting better and better as the series goes on. I cannot wait for the last one. Thanks for the tip on when it is coming out.
on January 30th, 2009 at 10:33 amThe quirky humor is my favorite – can’t wait for the next book! AND a movie? Hm…that should be interesting…
on January 30th, 2009 at 10:40 amI LOVE this series!! You should keep reading them. I’m also stoked to hear there is a movie coming out!
on January 30th, 2009 at 12:04 pmI was just telling my roommate the other day that I learned more Greek mythology from this series than I did studying it in college. Keep reading, the series only gets better!
on January 30th, 2009 at 1:03 pmOh, I didn’t know they were making a movie out of this one! I’m really going to have to get reading then. It’s been sitting on my TBR shelf for a while now.
on January 30th, 2009 at 3:45 pmThis book sounds cool. My daughter just finished a Greek Mythology unit at school. She loves reading at home about things she learned about in school.
on January 30th, 2009 at 11:35 pmI keep seeing this one at Target and have been tempted to pick it up. You just sold me on it, so next time will buy it. Thanks for the great review.
on January 31st, 2009 at 11:38 amThis has almost come home with me the last three times I’ve been at the bookstore, but there’s always something else that’s called my name just a *leeeetle* bit louder. It sounds really good, though… maybe I’ll spring for it with the tail end of my Christmas giftcards.
on January 31st, 2009 at 12:46 pmI recommend this series quite a bit at my job. I’m excited to hear it’s going to be a movie – I had no idea.
on January 31st, 2009 at 8:10 pmI recently mooched this book but had no idea it was about the Gods on Mt. Olympus. I’d better read it before the movie.
on January 31st, 2009 at 10:06 pmI hated this book. Reading it as a Brit, it seemed over-Americanised and the way the dialogue was written annoyed me immensely. I finished it because I had to (it was nominated for a local book award and I was part of the voting panel), but I certainly won’t be reading any of his others.
He won the award in the end, which meant I got to go and see him talk, and I must admit that he was a lot better in person than he was on paper. I thought it was great that he started writing the book for his son who I think had dyslexia.
on February 6th, 2009 at 3:47 amI’ve heard good things about this one! I read my first Riordan book earlier this week, Maze of Bones the first book in the 39 Clues series. Very good!!! I’ll have to get this one, I’ve been fascinated with Greek and Roman mythology for as long as I can remember.
on February 6th, 2009 at 6:37 pmI gave birth to two huge Rick Riordan fans.
Nona and Jimmy think this is the greatest author ever.
on February 8th, 2009 at 12:27 pmThe whole series is a great series and i loved reading the books, they were really great! i’ve never liked to read but i loved reading this series and learning more about the greek beliefes. this book was filled with lots of action and is relly fun to read! rick riordan is a really great author and this series is amasing!
on March 1st, 2009 at 8:20 pmi hope there will be a movie if there isnt one already one!
on March 1st, 2009 at 8:21 pmwhen i read this book i thoght it waz alsome
on March 7th, 2009 at 2:34 pmi exspecilly like the park where Percy ends up at a boot camp called Half-Blooded. i like the part when weveryone finds out the Percy”s father is Perseus jakeson is his father and his father is the father of the sea.and is father is part human and part something else.
what was the point of the book #1?
on March 18th, 2009 at 8:42 pmwell??
on March 18th, 2009 at 8:45 pmTeresa – The point? Well, for one, it’s just fun. It sets up all of the characters and has a fun challenge that they must overcome.
on March 19th, 2009 at 2:14 amOMG!I literally just finished Lightning Theif and the book really fowllows our studies in 6th grade.I would really recemnd you read it.
-Tai Teague
p.s Rick Riordon geius
6
on May 2nd, 2009 at 8:00 pmI just read the first book and it was soooooo good! I must get my hands on the next one, and I can’t wait until the movie comes out. They better not mess it up!
on May 8th, 2009 at 6:33 amI love the lightning theif! Infact I loved it soo much I got hooked and had to read the rest of the series. I just recently read the Last Olympian and it was amazing! I hope it is not the last book though. I hear there is a movie coming out. I cant wait. Thank you for listening to my obsessiveness of the series.
on May 11th, 2009 at 9:55 pmOMFG! the books got me hooked and they rock! but i saw a trailer and the moveie will make my eyes bleed!!. grover is gunna be black!!! and the actor who plays grover is like 20 years old!!! omg!
on May 28th, 2009 at 4:00 pmyo alex dude u got it all rong! percy jakson is the son of posiden the sea god omg how old r u like 5!
on May 28th, 2009 at 4:05 pmwell ijust started reading your frist book it is so adventurous and thrilling. i frist knew about yor book when i was reading rebeca caduill.
on June 13th, 2009 at 10:50 amDude right when i heard the title of the book i knew it was gonna be good and when i got to chapter 15 omg i just lost it man XD
on August 18th, 2009 at 9:53 amHello i love this series i hope the 2nd series will be as kool as the 1st series some how mr.rick thought it was a good idea to have a series with egyptoligy like greekmytholigy i wish him luck and wish to meet this briliant man in person someday mabey when im out of 8th grade
lol!
on October 16th, 2009 at 6:18 pm