Don't believe the reviews that call this book a masterpiece or a classic. Where in the world did this over the top hype come from? I bought the first three books based on the overwhelming claims it was so good but the books are absolutely horrible.

Of my four kids, not one finished the books. That speaks volumes for how awful this is. I was the only one to keep going as I was certain there had to be something. There wasn't.

Riordin's writing is sophmoric. At times it seems English is his second language. His reuses the same or similar phrases. He uses many unnecessary modifiers. He adds extraneous words for filler. The dialogue rings false almost in its entirety. To make matters worse, the story is derivative and cliche. Anyone who's read about Hercules and Greek myths knows where the story was taken from, and the concept has been done to death already.

I know it's a matter of taste, but nearly anything would be better than this.

I'm a bit bashful to be in my twenties and so obsessed with a YA book series but this is one of those remarkable series that transcends age and can appeal to both teenagers and those much older.

Once Rowling put the pen down to finish the last chapter in the Harry Potter series many of us probably were wondering what author (even Rowling herself) could rise and fill the fanatical void that Hogwarts created. Thankfully Riordan rose to replace Harry Potter with Percy Jackson.

The formula was set up for us previously and mirrors the Potter series in many ways. An adolescent boy who has always felt different and outcast comes to realize he has powers of mythical proportion (he's a demigod) and has to carry out a prophecy. He goes to a summer camp (like Hogwarts) for other demigods who have been living among mortals just like him and come to train to be heroes similar to the manner in which Hercules himself was. He is of course accompanied by a talented girl (a Hermione substitute) and a loyal but clumsy Chiron (a shoe in for Ron). We even have a Dumbledore character in there (Mr. Brunner, a centaur) that has existed for centuries and dispenses sage advice and direction without interfering directly in the adventures of the adolescent group.

While the formula may be similar the product is magically different. There is a TON of Greek mythology in this book and an adventure and witticism that is purely Riordan. Unlike the Potter series which was completely a world of her own making this series takes an epic twist by combining many of the ancient Greek stories and even incorporates other great pieces of literature such as the Iliad and the Odyssey. It is written in such as way that extremely complicated and sophisticated stories are accessible to a younger audience but provide a deeper appreciation for older readers as well.

For parents, teachers, older siblings this is a great way to connect on some common ground and interest. My younger brother and I are reading this series together and we both love it for many of the same reasons and a bunch of different ones.

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1)

Where do I go after Hogwart's? Well, one place you can go is Camp Half-Blood. The book definitely reminded me of Harry Potter. A young misunderstood kid finds out he is the heir to a fantastic heritage. He is the Son of Poseidon the Sea God. As mentioned this first book really felt quite a bit like it was borrowing from Harry Potter and substituting myth for magic, but the later installments took a different tack and the rest of the series made the this book well worth the read.

this is the best book in history. i love the series 2. its about a boy who has does not know who his father is and all of the gods think he stole a valuable thing . Its kind alike a cooooooooler hp!!!!! but better and some times i some times read it again.

Imagine Disney's Hercules mixed with Harry Potter in a modern setting. Riodan basically did to Greek Mythology what "Shrek" did to fairy tales. I've enjoyed the Greek Mythology and The Lightning Thief is a great blend of that with good action and witty jokes. For kids this book is great as it introduces a theme in a fun and stress-free way. And for someone who has some knowledge in the Greek gods and heroes, it's truly enjoyable to see these characters so much alive in a modern setting.

This book is not without flaws though. Some of the book reads like episodes of Scooby-Do. Not very much character development and many themes in the book are carbon copies of Harry Potter. But don't get me wrong, the entertainment value of the book far overshadows these draw backs. I won't be surprised if this book brings an renaissance of Greek mythology to popular culture.

Bottom line: read this book, it's fun. Or buy it for your kids, they'll love it.

This is an awesome book. All my friends recommended me to it so I tried it and it was awesome, really transforms monsters well like Auntie Em, to Medusa and like Peresues fighting the hydra.

This book begins what is a terrific series for all sorts of older elementary school and Jr high kids. But it's perfect for kids who like books with a sense of humor, description but not too much of it, and enjoy collecting facts about the various Greek Gods and monsters. I enjoy it myself, and I'm just a parent.

I purchased this book for my 12 year old son. He loved it and has continued to read the whole series too. He read each one in a week. This is especially notable because getting him to read has become more and more difficult since he turned 10. So, if a book gets kids to READ, that's a 5 star book to me. I try to read some of my kids books to motivate them to read. I have not (and will not) read his Star Wars books but I did read this book and the rest of the series as well. I love the way Riordan has meshed the mythological gods with our current times and I think kids can relate to Percy on a personal level, with his issues and frustrations. Riordan has done a wonderful job not only entertaining kids but educating them and the best of all, getting them READING!!!

My son has the attention span of a gnat. Nothing unusual, but it makes book choices hard, because he get's bored easily.
One advantage this series has over others is the Greco-Roman god tie-in. My son likes mythology, and I figured he might be interested enough to stay with this book.

I was right. He is ten years old and this series has had him reading all summer. It is fun to watch him figuring out the background conspiracies, and plot twists that are at just the right level of complexity for a boy his age.
I have read the books as well, and they are very fun. I especially like the underlying idea that those ADHD, dyslexic, hyperactive square pegs in society might just be something more. I figure it resonates with his own knowledge of his hyperactivity.

I highly recommend this series. It may be solely responsible for my boy catching the reading bug.

For any fan of the Greek & Roman myths this teen fantasy is a fun read with enough action in it to make even the most reluctant reader stand up and cheer. I really took to our smart-mouth hero, Percy, and plan to read the rest of the series as well. For an adult take on this genre, try Orphans of Chaos.

This book was for my ten year old son, who read it in two days and said it was very good. I have not read it myself.

I love the Greek Mythology It's a great change from fairy stories. Its a diffrent kind of magic. I have read all the books in this series except the 4th book I still getting to that one.

I read this book (and Sea of Monsters) to my 8 and 9 year old kids and they loved it. My 8 year old is also dyslexic and I think having a hero with a learning disability is empowering to him.

We're starting Book 3 this week, but so far the series has been really engaging and always leaves the kids asking for more! And to be honest, I want to read it every night as well. There's excitement, mystery, suspense, attempted murder, and even a bit of a crush woven in there...what's not to love?

this book is one of the funniest and most entertaining books i have ever read!!!! the idea of it is interesting and the style in which it is written is gripping, clever, and easy to read. its a hilarious and contemporary take on the famous myths we all know and love. the characters are strong and well-rounded. the plot is filled to the brim with twists and turns bound to keep you reading into the wee hours of the morning!!!! i recomend this witty novel to anyone with a sense of humor and a preference ot Greek mytology. will spark new interest into the next generation of mythbusters!!! ;-)

This is the first in the series, and I am so glad that I had the next 2 available! I enjoyed the book so much that I starte the second book just minutes after I finished the first one.

I'm like a lot of people who finished the Harry Potter series and needed something new for a daily dose of magic. After expressing to a friend on how much I love to read (but YA usually because they're quick and to the point) and in passing mentioned how I love mythology, loaned me this book. A week later, I ordered the rest of the series intrigued on what crazy shenanigans Percy Jackson would get into next.

The book kept me on my toes the whole way through and just when you think it is wrapping up, a new surprise comes your way. The character development of the main character is wonderful. I wanted to link him to Harry (dark hair, green eyes) but no, Percy is much more better than Harry. He's got attitude (a New Yorker through and through)and spunk which makes Harry fade into the background.

I recommend it for everyone who likes fantasy, regardless of age. It's a really fun book and I can't wait for the other three to get here.

I was amazed at the author's ideas in this book. Interesting details that really fit in the book not like some other books that have boring details that don't matter and don't mean anything. I am at a loss of how to express how great this book was. No words that come to mind seem to be good enough. READ THIS BOOK! I started the 2nd book "The Sea of Monsters" the next day. Can't wait to see the exciting twists and turns Percy goes through next.

The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan is a favorite of most of my 6th grade students. They are so involved in enjoying the realism of the characters that they do not even realize that they are learning about Greek mythology at the same time! I, too, have thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel (and the 3 that follow) as well as using it with my Literature classes.

The book is great. If you like greek mythology you'll like this. It's all about the sons and daughters of the gods and humans. Percy has his life changed completely. The ending has a real twist that you wont believe and leaves you hanging.

What initially attracted me to this book was the whole concept of the ancient Greek gods living in modern day NYC...sorta reminded me of a YA version of Neil Gaiman's American Gods.

But what ultimately turned me off was the fact that it's pretty much a Harry Potter rip-off, right down to the character archetypes. The misunderstood "chosen one" Percy, goofy nerd Grover and smart and straight-laced Annabeth are EXACTLY like Harry, Ron and Hermione respectively, Ares' kids are EXACTLY like the Slytherins, etc. The author is clearly trying to milk the HP cashcow.

Don't get me wrong, it's a well-written book and is full of action, and I appreciated the fact that the author touched upon many topics important to kid's lives these days, such as the loss of a parent, enduring the anguish of having to switch schools and putting up with mentally abusive step-parents. And all those mythology aficionados out there will definitely get a kick out of this series...I however, considered it too much of a rip-off and couldn't finish it. Perhaps I would have liked it better had I not already read American Gods and Harry Potter, the two books this book clearly borrows heavily from. But I have, so I didn't.

Although I did not read this book myself, I bought it for my Grandson (a bright and curious 9 year old). He loves it!

The good humor and mischievous nature of the book is revealed in chapter headings such as, "I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-algebra Teacher", "Grover Unexpectedly Loses His Pants", and "A God Buys Us Cheeseburgers."

He enjoyed J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series and then Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi's Spiderwick Chronicles, so I though though this would be an appropriate selection for his interests. He is enjoying this series as well.

Not only is he identifying with the protagonist in the story, Percy Jackson, he is also becoming familiar with Greek Mythology. An added bonus is you can download an extensive teachers guide from Rick Riordan's site. The guide is a nice support for Moms who home school their children and is a fun way for all children to explore the characters and mythology found in the book.

WARNING! SOME MILD SPOILERS BELOW!!





For me, "The Lightning Thief" wasn't too original. Plot wise, it takes many of the components of "Harry Potter" (Percy=Harry, Annabeth=Hermione, Grover=Ron, Chiron=Dumbledore, Clarisse= Draco, Camp Half Blood=Hogwarts, Kronos=Voldemort, etc), tossed with a bit of Neil Gaiman's "American Gods" (ie, the idea of mythological gods living in America in modern times, their world kind of hidden from mortal eyes). Anyone who has read Hamilton's "Mythology" or has a working knowledge of Greek mythology will recognize some of the characters long before it's revealed (it's pretty obvious who Percy's real dad is, for example). for kids new to Greek mythology, this book is a great introduction to some of these myths (it does a decent job of touching upon some of the lesser known ones, such as the story of Arachne and how Medusa was transformed).

There were some issues/annoyances I had with this book:

-the pace was rushed. I loved it was fast paced, but it was almost to fast paced. Percy seems to only be in camp for a few days; indeed the entire book takes place in the span of less than 2 weeks. I suppose kids like these ultra fast paced books, but it doesn't leave much time to know the other characters and so a lot of them turn out rather flat (Percy is by far the most well rounded character.)

-the know-it-all attitudes of the other campers are starting to aggravate me. They roll their eyes and laugh when Percy asks a question, as if he should somehow know this. This sets up a delayed explanation that is then delivered by Annabeth. it's evident in the next book as well and quite irritating after a while

-the actions of the characters are really silly, even for a YA fantasy book. the main trio fall into ridiculous, obvious traps, the villains are mostly inept, and in the end, a character basically commits murder (and this is handled in a nonchalant way).

-as an adult, I like reading young adult and children's books, but this is a book that just didn't appeal to me on an adult level. it was a bit too "cute" and simple. I can't really explain why I feel this way, but I've read other YA fantasy books that felt more adult than this book, more gritty and believable.

overall, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to a child since it is a great way of introducing them to mythology, but I just don't feel like this book lives up to other YA series like "Chronicles of Narnia". "His Dark Materials", and of course "Harry Potter". the premise is interesting, and Percy is a fantastic and funny character/narrator, but that alone doesn't make up for the fairly weak plot, which is basically just a revolving door of characters from mythology (I'll be interested to see how this is kept out through a 4+ book series)

This is a fast moving and very entertaining book in the "fantasy exists in the modern world" genre. However, as pointed out by others it is VERY similar to the Potter series - a young man with no parents who finds out he has a special background and magical powers, leaves home to get special education at a secret magical institution, has a male and a female friend, finds out he's "special" even in his new world, etc. Like Potter, the story is framed by the school year except it inverses the timing - in this case Percy leaves home to go to a magical SUMMER CAMP and RETURNS for the school year. At any rate Riordan's writing style is very different from Rowlings and includes much more humor (Hades rant about the costs of maintaining the Underworld is a scream: "Don't get me started on Chadron! He's been impossible ever since he discovered Italian suits!"). The book is more lightweight than HP but in all honesty I believe it is better written and frankly more entertaining, and I definitely recommend it.

Several aspects of this book can be found, to a certain extent, in other stories. Percy learns that a world he thought was only from ancient mythological tales is indeed very much real and present, and that he is part of those "mythologies" now. He's got to learn about a new world and his place in it. He must face the fact that he's got to help save the world. And he gains a few friends to help him along the way.
That said, a good deal of the concepts are pretty standard for many tales, and are pretty necessary for this type of book. So, while at times I felt a little like I'd read these things before, I don't really think that should (or did) take too much away from the story.
The uniqueness of the story is helped greatly by the fact that it isn't a fantasy story like I typically consider fantasy - instead it focuses on mythology, dealing with titans and gods and heros.
I think the author did a pretty good job of making the characters 3-dimensional, and the plot multi-faceted. I did think that certain traits and decisions could have stood a little more exploration or explanation, but overall I felt things fit together well.
The only thing that really bothered me was the lightness that certain deaths were taken with. While the gravity of killing someone (no matter how bad) is touched upon, I didn't feel that it was explored quite enough.
All in all it's a pretty fun read, and I'm sure even more fun if you have a better understanding of gods and titans, etc., than I do - though now I must admit I'm curious to do some research!

"The Lightning Thief" is a creative book that introduces the elements of Greek mythology in an exciting modern story. Percy is a great hero who struggles to figure out who he is and how he fits into the world around him. It is a little more complicated for him than most kids, being the son of greek god and all.
This is a great book to introduce to kids, especially in the classroom. The classic mythological themes and characters that are the basis of the book provide a great launching pad to study the really Greek myths. The kids couldn't stop reading and asked to read the second of the series as soon as they finished "The Lighting Thief"
This is a fun book that is the beginning of a really enjoyable series.

It was recommended by a 7th graders that the school get this series! So I will read it this summer. He wants the 2nd book in the series which I have also ordered.

My son, 13 years old, is loving this series! I was worried it might be too "young" for him. He says it's better than Harry Potter (which he also liked a lot). I never thought he would ask to stay up late so he could continue reading! It's difficult to find interesting and appropriate material for my teenager. I recommend this for parents facing the same challenge.

In my opinion The Lightning Thief is one of the best books that I have read. The plot is really interesting and exciting. There are also a lot of funny situations that Percy and his friends get into. If you like Greek mythology and a good book this is the book for you. The book is about a kid named Percy, who is the son of Zeus and a mortal. He goes to a summer camp for other kids like him, called halfbloods. He is sent to recover Zeus' lightning bolts that have been stolen. His quest takes him across the country and he finds himself in many life or death situations with ancient Greek monsters. Will Percy be able to find the lightning bolts in time, find out in The Lightning Thief.

this book is the second best book that i have ever read. the first is the new and latest book in this series called The battle of the labyrinth. it has imaginative characters and one of the best plots ever. theres my ten cents. by the way READ THIS BOOK

Really enjoy this book. It has a lot of adventure and a ton of really interesting mythology tie-ins. Everyone I know that has read it - from middle school kids to their teachers - has really enjoyed it.

This is totally the best book ever. Beautifully written, deep, thoughtful, I can't think of all the words to describe it. Good for the entire family. If you like this book (which EVERYBODY should) read the next books in the series (these are in order): The Sea of Monsters, The Titan's Curse, and The Battle of the Labyrinth. There's going to be five books total. As much as I love Harry Potter books, Rick Riordan's current four beat J.K. Rowling's seven any day!

Imagine Mount Olympus on the six-hundredth floor of the Empire State Building, the Underworld in Los Angles, and a mysterious camp/training ground for kids with one Olympian parent on Long Island. You will never view the world the same. Percy Jackson is the stereotypical class-troublemaker-kicked-out-of-every-school-he-ever-attended-ADHD-poster-child-with-dyslexia. He is also not supposed to exist; the modern day son of the Greek God Poseidon who swore not to have anymore kids with mortals. Oops. The Lightning Thief starts on his alternative school's (school for kids who are rich and got kicked out of other schools) field trip to a museum. The first chapter is titled "I Accidentally Vaporize my Pre-Algebra Teacher". Oops again. From there, he has too make his way to Camp Half Blood, and oh yeah, save the world from Krono's (the head titan's) evil clutches. Really, it will sound like a book about normal kids in my opinion. There are rivalries, human statue gardens, mattress stores, killing lessons, and a God-level war that sticks kids in the middle. As odd as this may seem, I find it very easy to relate to. Kids are friends, even though their parents think they shouldn't be. Percy never sees his dad, like so many American kids. Children try to prove themselves to their Olympian parents. Adults have hard times getting along and stick kids in the middle when it isn't fair. I give this book two thumbs up. It takes a historical and humorous plot, and inserts real-life right down the middle. Hint to parents: This book will greatly increase your child's knowledge of Greek mythology.

I bought this book because I like fantasy and I LOVE Harry Potter, thought it might be a new twist. Right away I discovered it's sort of a rip-off of HP mixed with Chronicles of Narnia.

It's very fast-paced with little character development and it sort of tosses you right in the middle of everything which can be a little confusing. And if you know your mythology well (or took Latin, which I did!), the turn of events in the book is REALLY predictable.

It's interesting enough of a tale, I'd recommend it to vanquish boredom if nothing else, but if you're looking for something to dive into and fall in love with, this isn't the place!

"The Lightning Thief" was a great book. I got so absorbed in it, that I found myself awake in the middle of the night reading it. The story involves Percy Jackson (main character/Son of Poseidon), and his two best friends, Grover, the satyr, and Annabeth, Daughter of Athena. The three of them are sent on a quest to go retrieve Zeus's "Master Bolt", by the Summer Solstice. If they don't return it by then, Zeus will go to war with Poseidon, which would be really, REALLY bad.

This book is great. It would be good for any person to read above 10 years of age. The story line is hard to get at first but when you get through half of the book then you can really get a good meaning of the book. I could not stop reading it so once in a while you need to put it down and just relax for a second. Overall I would give this book a 6 star review but amazon only goes up to 5 so I hope that you can enjoy this book as much as I did.

My son was lucky enough to have Rick Riordan come to his class. He was so excited, he made me buy all of the books in this series. He got them all autographed! These stories are well written and keep you entertained again and again. We usually fight over who will the read the next book first. We highly recommend these books.

This book was really good. I'm sixteen and I loved it and I'm very picky when it comes to fantasy series. It has its slow moments every once in awhile, but not many books don't. Very interesting and original story, A LOT of suprises. It's also very funny, I laughed out loud a few times. If you like Harry Potter like I do, you'll absolutely LOVE this series.

I just finished reading this with my 12 year old niece and we had such fun. The author writes in a humorous tone, especially the chapter titles. Amy was studying Greek gods in school at the same time, so she figured out what the characters would do as we encountered them.

I just ordered the next two in the series.... can't wait!

I borrowed this book from the library after I heard it won an award. I was planning to read it to my 7 yr old son and at first I was worried about finishing it in the allotted two weeks. However, both of us enjoyed the story so much, we finished it in just 2 days! My son even opted to skip watching TV to listen to the book. My mother who was visiting and doesn't normally like fantasy books also liked it and often sat with us to listen to the story. My husband heard bits of it in the car and then snuck off with the book after my son went to bed so he could read the entire book himself.

The story is very funny and moves quickly. It really gets your imagination going picturing the characters and their adventures.

Although it seemed to start out a bit slow, the book became a lot more better as I read through. A very interesting read, and highly reccommended.

Like Harry Potter, Percy Jackson is fast action and magic, but set in the U.S. My son couldn't put it down. As a teacher, I can see using it in Junior High. It covers the Greek gods well, plus good vocab and U.S. Geography---all worked in without slowing down the story line. Awesome!

This book was recommended to me by the owner of a new and used book store she read it and was addicted! Well I have to say when I sat down and read this I was amazed I have always loved the myths about the Gods and Goddesses of Mount Olympus and all the heros and monsters and this book has all of them and more so if you love mythology or even just love a good adventure here you will not be disappointed! I could not put this book down and read it cover to cover you will not be disappointed

This is an excellent book for any age. My 9 years old daughter, who loves to read, but was intimidated by big books just couldn't put it down. The author cleverly weaved Greek mythology into modern day and makes the story believable. This book has it all, magic, adventure, courage and valor. I highly recommend this book.

This book is another one of those amazing books which takes place nowadays, but reveals something crazy that's happening--in this case, the Greek gods are still alive!!! Percy Jackson finds out he is a halfblood (What's this? Read the book!) He goes through adventures, and this as good as the first three books of Maximum Ride, Harry Potter, The Ranger's Apprentice, and many others... So, quick! Order this book and read it!!!

The five-star rating is my 12-year-old son's view of this book. We listened to it together and, while I only liked it compared to his loving it, I would certainly recommend it for kids to read or families to share. Much about the book is standard fare, reasonably well presented: outcast kid discovers he has special powers in magical world and, together with two friends (a boy and a girl) must undertake a dangerous adventure to save the world, figuring things out that the adults overlooked along the way. Of course, so many books follow that particular line for a reason, and this book is well-enough executed to make it a success.

What makes the book special is the introduction of greek mythology. The kids are the products of a mortal parent and a greek god parent--giving them special powers related to their immortal parent--and the book is chock full of greek mythology in the midst of the modern world, from Medusa's statuary shop to Hades beneath L.A.. While at times one is reminded of an episode of Cheers in which Dr. Crane introduces a maniac, killer clown to keep the rest of the patrons interested in his retelling of A Tale of Two Cities, I felt the mythological side significantly enriched the book. Both my son and I were constantly going to Google to refresh our recollection about various ancient myths, and it helped to keep fresh the story's familiar pathway

Ok I've read this book 7 times. I just never get tired of it! When im board I just pick up this book. To me its like a movie, I can read it when ever and still be entertained by it. BEST BOOK!! I recomend it to readers of all ages!

This book held the attention of my whole family!! The kids loved it so much they asked to go to the Art Institute and see Greek stuff... then they wanted to eat Greek food. It's a GREAT book! Page turner...

My kids (8, 7, 5, 3) loved this book. We're on to the third in the series and they know so much more Greek mythology now. They role-play all the characters and want to learn ancient Greek. It was a good switch from the American Girl books we've read and the Magic Treehouse books, has really strong female and male characters. Loved that Percy has dyslexia and ADD, he's the hero! Also really appreciated that the two main chacters are a girl and a boy, working together. With both boys and girls in the house, I wanted to send the author some cookies as a thank you.... :)

My son got the first book for Christmas and absolutely loved it. He had finished all three of the books by the end of March. It is so fun to find books that gets your kids reading.

Fabulous Greek Mythology Reading! While I realize my home schooled 11 year old may be a rarity in the speed from which he reads. These books by Rick Riordan have inspired within our son the keen interest in Greek Mythology and he will just be entering into 5th grade (by public school standards) this fall! Now this is the same kid who read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7) in less than 3 days! While his interests are in fantasy these mythology books by Rick Riordan have ventured him out into a new realm of wanting to know all about Greek Mythology and have made my work harder as I now need to find teachings on the subject for the classroom. Obviously Rick Riordan knows how to entice our young readers into learning and for that he gets HIGH PRAISE from this teacher/mom! And he can't publish the books fast enough for our avid reader!