Module 5 - The Lightning Thief

Book Cover Image

Book Summary

Percy Jackson had no idea that he was special. That all changed when he was 12 years old. His mother took him to a cabin to try to protect him, but that is not enough. He had to move into a Camp Half-Blood where he meets other demigods. Percy goes on a quest that takes him across the country and into the depths of the earth in order to stop a war from breaking out between the Gods.

Written by Rick Riordan

APA Reference of Book

Riordan, R. (2005). The lightning thief. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children.

Impressions

This book brings Greek mythology into a modern context. The book is told from the perspective of Percy, which allows readers to relate to his struggles. Riordan provided enough detail to explain how characters such as Grover the satyr were able to go unnoticed in the human world. The book flows very well and it is written in such a way that allows readers to picture each scene. Even though I have never liked mythology, I found the book very interesting. The characters were painted in a real relatable way that made me feel invested in knowing if Percy would succeed or not. 

Professional Review

Gr 5-9 --An adventure-quest with a hip edge. At first glance, Perseus Jackson seems like a loser (readers meet him at a boarding school for troubled youth), but he's really the son of Poseidon and a mortal woman. As he discovers his heritage, he also loses that mother and falls into mortal danger. The gods (still very active in the 21st-century world) are about to go to war over a lost thunderbolt, so Percy and sidekicks Grover (a young satyr) and Annabeth (daughter of Athena) set out to retrieve it. Many close calls and monster-attacks later, they enter Hades's realm (via L.A.). A virtuoso description of the Underworld is matched by a later account of Olympus (hovering 600 floors above Manhattan). There's lots of zippy review of Greek myth and legend, and characters like Medusa, Procrustes, Charon, and the Eumenides get updates. Some of the Labors of Heracles or Odysseus's adventures are recycled, but nothing seems stale, and the breakneck pace keeps the action from being too predictable. Percy is an ADHD, wise-cracking, first-person narrator. Naturally, his real quest is for his own identity. Along the way, such topics as family, trust, war, the environment, dreams, and perceptions are raised. There is subtle social critique for sophisticated readers who can see it. Although the novel ends with a satisfying conclusion (and at least one surprise), it is clear that the story isn't over. The 12-year-old has matured and is ready for another quest, and the villain is at large. Readers will be eager to follow the young protagonist's next move.

Lothrop,P. D. (2005, Aug.). The lightning thief. School Library Journal, 51(8), 134.

Library Uses

This is a great book for your upper elementary and middle school students who like adventure. It is a good introduction to fantasy books. It has wonderful tie-ins to Greek mythology. Students could compare and contrast the depictions of the gods in classic mythology tales with The Lightning Thief.