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The Lightning Thief

Book 1 in the series:Percy Jackson and the Olympians

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In "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan, readers follow the adventures of Percy Jackson, a demigod who discovers his true identity as the son of Poseidon. Along with his friends Grover and Annabeth, Percy navigates a world filled with Greek mythology, monsters, and gods. The book combines humor, action, and a coming-of-age journey as Percy embarks on a quest to prevent a war between Zeus and Poseidon, ultimately leading to a heartwarming bond of friendship and self-discovery.

The storyline of "The Lightning Thief" is fast-paced, engaging, and filled with adventure, making it a thrilling read for both children and adults. Riordan's writing style seamlessly weaves Greek myths into a modern setting, introducing readers to a world where gods, monsters, and demigods coexist. Through Percy's dyslexia, ADHD, and heroic journey, the book explores themes of identity, friendship, and the power of teamwork in the face of perilous challenges.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, relatable, and represent a diverse group of demigods, each with their unique strengths and personalities.

Writing/Prose:

Rick Riordan's writing style is fast-paced, humorous, and accessible, making it enjoyable for middle-grade readers while incorporating elements of Greek mythology.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative follows Percy Jackson as he learns of his demigod heritage, is accused of theft, and embarks on a quest with friends to clear his name and prevent a war among the gods.

Setting:

The setting shifts from modern-day America to mythical locations tied to Greek mythology, creating an engaging backdrop for the adventure.

Pacing:

The pacing is brisk, filled with rapid-fire action and engaging cliffhangers that maintain a high level of reader interest throughout.
But if you recognize yourself in these pages—if you feel something stirring inside—stop reading immediately. You might be one of us. And once you know that, it’s only a matter of time before they sens...

Notes:

The Lightning Thief is the first book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.
Percy Jackson is twelve years old and is diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia.
The story incorporates Greek mythology into a modern setting.
Percy discovers he is the son of Poseidon, the god of the sea.
The novel explores themes of identity, friendship, and family.
Percy goes on a quest to find Zeus's stolen lightning bolt to prevent a war among the gods.
The characters include Grover, a satyr, and Annabeth, a daughter of Athena.
Medusa and Ares are among the mythological creatures encountered on Percy's quest.
The book is praised for making Greek mythology accessible and entertaining for young readers.
The narrative is witty and has a first-person point of view, enhancing the reader's connection to Percy.

From The Publisher:

Percy Jackson has ADHD, dyslexia, and a taste for trouble, so he's stuck going to a private school in upstate New York for hard-to-handle kids. If he doesn't get his life into shape, this could be the sixth school he's expelled from.

Then one day, Percy's world is turned upside down. His math teacher turns into a terrifying monster who tries to kill him, he finds out his best friend is half human and half goat, and he discovers the truth behind the father he never knew: his father is the Greek god Poseidon.

Now Percy is on his way to yet another school, a training camp for half-bloods on Long Island, where he finds himself at the center of a fierce battle between Poseidon, Zeus, and Hades. If he can find Zeus's missing lightning bolt within ten days, disaster will be averted. But can he do it?

Follow Percy's mythic adventures as he travels from this world to the Underworld to Mount Olympus in a heart-pounding modern odyssey that was a #1 New York Times bestseller.

Ratings (995)

Incredible (202)
Loved It (396)
Liked It (260)
It Was OK (106)
Did Not Like (28)
Hated It (3)

Reader Stats (1524):

Read It (1056)
Currently Reading (3)
Want To Read (189)
Did Not Finish (15)
Not Interested (261)

26 comment(s)

Liked It
3 days

The premise of the story is interesting and has great world building.

 
Liked It
6 days

Good YA. I love the message behind it. The application of the circumstances of the myths to modern settings is unexpectedly smooth.

 
Loved It
3 weeks

This book was basically a Harry Potter copycat, but who cares? Love Harry Potter, love the copycats, I say. And even though there were a million plot points that were similar to the Potter, I still found myself breezing through this book with a big smile on my face.

I enjoyed the mythology and the whole 'son-of-a-Greek-god' angle. The characters were fun and realistic (as realistic as demi-gods can be.) I'm hooked!

 
Liked It
3 weeks

Very YA. Good for kids under 14.

 
Loved It
1 month

This is a good Young Adult book. It is written from the main character point of view, and the style lends itself to a teenager 'talking' to the reading about the events that are happening.

I am not a fan of first person, but it seems that this is a staple in the young adult fantasy realm - I will just have to suck it up buttercup.

The story is fast paced, and this is a definite book for the younger generation in terms of language and pacing. I like a bit more with my fantasy novels, but this fits the bill for what it is supposed to be.

I will not continue this series personally, only because the writing leaves much to my desire, but that is not to say that this is not good, this is just not for me. But for those looking for a modern take on Greek Mythology, this is the book for you.

 
Loved It
1 month

I love the Greek mythology in a little bit of like I have a crush on someone, but I don’t want to admit it I just iT

 
Incredible
1 month

I can't believe I didn't read this sooner!

 
Incredible
2 months

this book raised me

 
Loved It
2 months

I should have read this series years ago! Felt as if I was there on the quest while I was reading. The ending seemed disappointing though but a good lead into the second book.

 
Loved It
2 months

*This was a reread

Overall Score: 4.5

Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Having read the entire first series with these characters, I do know that they get better. Taken as a whole for the series, they're fantastic. Easily five stars. For the first book, however, they do sometimes feel a bit two dimensional. They aren't as explored as I would have liked. Percy is very singularly focused and therefore doesn't give a whole lot of attention towards anyone else. That being said, Percy has good reasons to be singularly focused. That decision just doesn't do the side characters the justice they deserve.

Worldbuilding: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Although Riordan might not be able to take full credit for creating the world, he does absolutely get five stars for seamlessly merging the modern world with an ancient one. There's a lot of attention to detail regarding the myths and how those myths are still relevant to today. It's an excellent foundation for an excellent series that follows.

Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It's...chaotic, but in a good way. There's a lot going on but doing so lends towards the frustration and urgency that the whole situation lends to. It's especially interesting on a reread to notice the hints and clues towards the big reveal at the end.

Writing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Once again, having read future books I know this gets better. This is earlier writing. It's not as good as it gets later. There's some points where you can tell that Riordan isn't fully comfortable in the world he's just creating and it shows because the story has a few too many threads. That being said, it's still good writing and there's not a great deal of points where you want to put the book down. And it only goes up from here.

 
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About the Author:

Rick Riordan is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Percy Jackson and the Olympians series and the Heroes of Olympus series for children and the multi-award-winning Tres Navarre mystery series for adults. For fifteen years, Riordan taught English and history at public and…

 
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