| Percy Jackson is like and young teenager living in | | | | after he arrives at Camp Half-Blood however things |
| New York, except for the fact that his father is the | | | | start to fall apart. Percy is accused of stealing the |
| Greek God, Poseidon. Being the son of the lord of | | | | God Zeus' master lightning bolt. After he proclaims his |
| the ocean and of earthquakes has some great | | | | innocence his is given 10 days to prove it and return |
| advantages, like the ability to manipulate and control | | | | the bolt to Mount Olympus. |
| water. The downside of this is that since he has | | | | Like any first book in an ongoing series, The Lightning |
| come of age his is now a prime target for the | | | | Thief has to not only have a compelling story but it |
| enemies of Greek Gods, namely any monster from | | | | must also set up the characters and more |
| Greek Mythology that you can think of. And they | | | | importantly the world which the characters inhabit as |
| are all pretty scary. | | | | engaging and ultimately convincing. Riordan does so |
| Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick | | | | deftly. |
| Riordan is the first in a series of 5 books called Percy | | | | The premise that Greek Gods are alive (so to speak) |
| Jackson and the Olympians. It centers around Percy | | | | and living in New York City, is delivered with great |
| and his discovery that he is a half-blood, or demigod, | | | | conviction and pacing. The story concludes |
| the son of a human and a god. He discovers that | | | | wonderfully, offering a whiplash ending which will not |
| there are others that share this trait and they gather | | | | only get young readers back for more but perhaps |
| together in a place called Camp Half Blood. | | | | also get them interested in the mythology behind the |
| Percy meets with fellow demigods, centaurs, satyrs | | | | story. |
| and other very-much-alive creatures of Ancient | | | | A highly recommended read for tweens, teens and |
| Greek Myth and even manages to rub shoulders with | | | | adult readers. The movie adaptation comes out early |
| a few gods and a rather intimidating prophecy. Soon | | | | February so check that out too. |