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| The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan |
Besides the ADHD and dyslexia, Percy Jackson thinks he's a pretty normal middle schooler - well, maybe not. Trouble seems to follow him everywhere, and lately the word "trouble" hasn't been sufficient. Case in point: at his boarding school field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan, his math teacher turns into a grotesque winged monster and attacks him. And barely a month later, his mother is killed by a Minotaur and Percy finds himself at Camp Half-Blood, a sanctuary for other not-so-normal kids like him - which just so happen to be the half-mortal children of the Greek gods. Yeah, the gods are still around, and Percy has been introduced to this side of the real world just in time to get on all their bad sides. For Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and, somehow, Percy is the prime suspect. Now it is up to Percy and his two friends, Grover and Annabeth, to clear his name and divert a war by finding the real thief and returning the bolt to its rightful owner.
Now, maybe I'm a bit too old for this book. I mean, Percy is twelve, after all. But I did read this for the first time when I was twelve, during a trip to Costa Rica the winter break of seventh grade. I devoured it in only a couple days, and was then forced to wait a week before we returned to the Bay and I could get to my usual Barnes & Noble and buy the second (which I will review in due time). I reread this series, particularly the first and the last books, every year or so, depending on my inclination, and they never cease to please me. The plot is original and engaging, a thoroughly satisfying adventure. This book is told in Percy's point of view, in first person, and his voice is unique, real, and hilarious. Rick Riordan follows the thoughts of his protagonist with all the wit, sarcasm, and naivete of a typical twelve-year-old, and the book is often laugh-out-loud funny. Riordan, an ex-teacher of both history and English, effortlessly weaves Greek mythology into this easy-and-fun-to-read adventure story. He has made me, at least, into a Greek mythology buff, and because of these books, I am fascinated by all types of mythology. Riordan makes learning fun - that is, if you even notice that you're learning. Hey, even the table of contents is fun to read!
So guys, The Lightning Thief was recently made into a fairly famous movie. It was not good. Do not let that deter you.
I mean, it wasn't bad, and Logan Lerman (the actor who played Percy) is both beautiful and my future husband (#2), but it did not do justice. So many plot elements were twisted, mutilated, and destroyed to the point where it was practically a different story, and a stupid one at that. And the ending! They completely removed the twist that is the driving force of the rest of the series... and I've heard they might make a second! Now, how in the world is that supposed to work?! Sorry. I get riled.
Anyway, the book is way better, and actually has a good storyline.
Basically, I love these books. And endless thanks go to my dear friend Melinda, who introduced me to this series by picking out a book she hadn't read but thought I might like and giving it to me for my birthday many years ago. Thank you, Melinda!
Recommendation: EVERYONE! More specifically, preteens, young teens, teens who aren't too proud to read a preteen book (not many of those, I know), kids who are interested in mythology or need some inspiration in that area, anyone who likes to laugh, etc.
Seriously, though. It's my favorite series for a reason.
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