Like many of the books I wind up falling in love with, I stumbled upon The Lightning Thief by accident. I was wandering around Border's and found this gem on a table with signs saying "If you liked Harry Potter, then you might like these..." They were right.

The concept of the famous gods from ancient mythology still existing and following the path of Western Civilization across the world is genious. And the demigod characters who star in this new series are wonderful! I found myself wishing that I was a member of Camp Halfblood and wondering which cabin I'd be a part of myself. (After careful consideration, I decided I'm clearly a child of Athena.)

One other thing that was really exciting for me when reading this novel was the almost complete accuracy surrounding the old Greek myths. I was a Classics minor in college, so I'm a stickler for detail when it comes to getting those stories right. Mr. Riordan REALLY succeeded and that's not something I can honestly say I've ever found before.

Where do I start?
Alright,first of all,there is great character development and great characters.The story is great,almost everything about this series is great.
For those of you who haven't heard,this is about a tween named Percy Jackson.He has been kicked out of five boarding schools already and Percy has just gotten a letter telling him that he won't be invited back to Yancy Academy,the school that he is currently at.
While on a field trip he has a bizarre encounter with a demon who he knows as his pre-algabra teacher.
Through a whole turn of events Percy winds up at Camp Half-Blood,for all the demigods,or offsprings of the Greek gods.Percy finds out that he is the son of Poseidon.Meanwhile,he makes a friend,Annabeth,and finds out that Zeus is holding Percy as his prime suspect for the stealing of his master lightning bolt.
So Percy and his friends go on a quest to seek the theif and give back to Zeus what is rightfully his.
I reccomend this book to fantasy lovers and,actually,anyone who reads.You won't be dissapointed.

12 year old Percy Jackson has always known he is different - he's been kicked out of several boarding schools, he's dyslexic, and he's never known who his father was. But he is about to find out just how different he is - characters from Greek mythology have entered his life and his best friend Grover is not who Percy thinks he is. Before he knows it, Percy is accused of stealing Zeus's master lightning bolt and has just ten days to find and return it. Percy and his friends Grover and Annabeth embark on a journey to find the lightening bolt that will change all of their lives.

"The Lightning Thief" is a wonderfully creative children's book by Rick Riordan. There are, perhaps inevitably, some similarities to the Harry Potter series - Percy has two close friends, a boy and a girl; he calls himself a half-blood; Annabeth has a baseball hat that makes her invisible when she wears it; only Percy can be the hero of the quest; and the trio even encounters a bunch of spiders. But Riordan is a talented enough writer to make readers forget the Potter comparisons and enjoy the series on its own merits. The concept of Percy battling Greek Gods and Goddesses is a unique one and Riordan does an excellent job of incorporating Greek mythology into the story. Children will no doubt want to know more about mythical characters such as Poseidon, Zeus, Chiron, Charon, Medusa, and more after reading the book. Percy's journey is indeed an epic one and readers will love reading about his dangerous journey across the country. The book is written in the first person from Percy's point of view and Riordan does an excellent job of capturing Percy's voice. The great thing about Percy's character is that while in many ways he is extraordinary because of who his father is and the adventures he has, he is also an ordinary 12 year old boy who struggles in school because of his dyslexia, who is a loyal friend but also gets into fights, and who loves his mother even if he doesn't always obey her. Children of all ages will identify with Percy on some level.

"The Lightning Thief" is the first in the five book "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" series, a series that looks like it will be a lot of fun.

This series of books (still going) is awesome. It's like the Harry Potter series for today's kids. But don't let that discourage you; I read these books and I'm 18. Anyone with ANY interest in mythology SHOULD READ THIS BOOK SERIES. It's an interesting twist on the idea that the Greek gods still exist today and there is a new danger that threatens them and the whole world. I don't want to give the story away but it is so well written and such an interesting story that you have to read it for yourself. YOU HAVE TO!!!

Rick Riordan is a great author and his book The Lightning Thief is one of my favorite books. Two of my favorite qualities in a story are plot twists and suspense. There are many action scenes in this book and all of it leads up to a major plot twist in the end.

In his characters you see a great amount of pride and confidence in themselves. They all have great courage and want to do what's right for each other. In the setting he picks for this book you see an amazing new world, a hybrid of the modern world and ancient Greece. I like how he can explain how the whole world doesn't know that the Greek Gods exist.

Overall this is a fantastic book and series. I hope many people get the chance to read this book as I have. - Thomas Adamson, 12; Sherwood Middle School

. . . which it pretty unusual for me. Most of time, I don't have all day and night to read a book: I've got work, homework/exams, and (here's the notorious one) the Internet. And when I do have some free time, I still can't finish an entire book in one day. The shortest time of finishing a novel is two daysm and that was with Mikhail Lermontov's "A Hero of our Time" and two others that I can't think of at the moment.

But this book, "The Lightning Thief" from the Percy Jackson & The Olympians series, I read just yesterday. And it took me only eight hours to read it straight through! I think it's the first time that's ever happened. What's also surprising to me is the subject matter. I'm not really fascinated with Greek Mythology. Slavic, yes, but Greek, no. So I was a bit puzzled that I was unable to put the book down. Maybe it was Rick Riordan's clever way of giving the myths more modern personalities and appearances. Whatever the reason, I just couldn't put the book down.

Percy Jackson both a hero and an anti-hero. His ADHD and dyslexia are what makes him interesting, and I could almost picture what the boy really looks like. His two friends, Grover and Annabeth, aren't your ordinary sidekicks. Both have had haunted pasts, and they would do anything to make sure that Percy is never hurt nor killed.

Other characters (especially the Greek ones) are worthy of recognition. Aries is a tough one: he's like Bruce Campbell with a sword instead of a chainsaw. Hades will sure scare little kids, but what makes him compelling is that he isn't your ordinary villain: he's got a heart alright. Dionysus sure can be annoying at times, but you know that he's trying to do some good at least. Medusa is one hell of a woman: she can sound innocent while thinking evil thoughts.

The plot twists throughout the novel work and sometimes they don't. I figured out who Percy really was when it cam e to his special powers on a specific element. But the biggest plot twists that are found in the last seventy pages or so are the most unexpected.

The pacing is wild. It goes from New York City to the north side of New York State to St. Louis to Denver and finally to Santa Monica so quickly. And it's a mystery in how you can get so much information about Greek Mythology in that sort of wild flow.

Some parts do tend to drag a bit. The sequences in Camp Half Blood almost bored me, but the pace picked up when something goes wrong in the area.

So, in short, this is one of the greatest children's books of our time. And it's for all ages, not just kids.

A-

This is definitely a must read. I had a lot of fun with it and found looking at the world through Percy was done very well. Things are described as a young boy would see them, which makes for some very interesting descriptions. I especially liked Pery's random thought process and the flow of the writing which complemented the humor in the book. I found my self smiling often and I don't think i ever got annoyed with characters trying too hard to be funny.

On to a few of the disappointing features.

I really enjoy a bit of mystery in the story and with the characters, but I believe that mystery should be built up fairly and smoothly. It seems that one of the author's favorite ways of building up mystery is to start a conversation, then introduce some sort of distraction so that right before something interesting is revealed... its not. Occasionally this is fine, but there are several instances of this in the book (just a little variety please). Though i was happy with the final twist in the end of the book.

Also I really like the greek aspect of the book, but it seems like the author is simply dropping in greek myths here and there to fill plot. I would like to hear more on how things have changed. (it's been several thousand years from the original stories, shouldn't their be new monsters or significant people as well?) I know he name drops a little here and there and for the first book its not really a problem, but i hope that he'll start to come up with a little more original ideas down the road while still maintaining the greek myths and theme.

Overall I'm very excited to continue the series and i would recommend reading the first without hesitation.

I loved "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan very much. It is about a boy named Percy. Percy is a normal kid who struggles in school. He has learning disabilities and ADHD just like me.
Percy is in a boarding school in New York. The class goes on a field trip to the museum. His math teacher tries to kill him. Percy finds a pen that turns into a sword. When Percy used the sword, the teacher vaporized into dust. It is then that Percy realized he is different from other kids.
After that, Percy goes home to see his mother and brother. Percy's real father left him when he was a little boy. On a family vacation, Percy and his mother are chased by a minotaur. Percy thinks his mother is dead and runs toward a tree. The tree leads him to half-blood hill. Soon he is at a camp for half-bloods. Half-bloods are children that have one human parent and one Greek god parent. At camp, he makes two new friends. Annabeth is the daughter of Athena, godess of wisdom. Grover is a satyr. Grover is in a wheelchair when he is with full humans. The three of them spend the summer at the camp training to be like the gods.
The three friends go on a adventure when Percy is accused of stealing Zeus's lightning bolt. They must prove that Percy did not steal it. They travel across the country to Los Angeles. Los Angeles is the entrance to the Underworld. When they get to Los Angeles, they see that there has been an earthquake. The earthquake was caused by Zeus's lightning bolt. The lightning bolt came down and landed in a crack in the earth. Percy picks it up and decides to go to Mt. Olympus to return it to Zeus.
The three friends hold a fundraiser to get money to pay for the flight back to New York. Mt. Olympus is located 600 stories above the Empire State Building. Percy returns the lightning bolt to Zeus. Percy also sees his father, Poseidon, the god of the sea. Poseidon is proud of Percy and his accomplishments.
Through all of this, Percy also has to solve the riddle of the oracle. The oracle states "you shall fail to save what matters most in the end." The oracle has to do with his mother. In the Underworld, Percy decides not to save his mother's life. Instead, he wants to stop the war between the gods. He leaves his mother with Medusa's head so she can make her own decisons. Things turned out well for Percy. His mother is still alive, he prevented a war between the gods, his friends are doing well and Percy has become a hero.
I loved this book because I enjoy Greek mythology. This book made the gods come alive and live in modern day America. It was very easy to read and I can't wait to read the second book in the series. There are four books in the series and the fifth one will be printed next year. Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a great series and I recommend it to any kid who likes adventure stories.

The Lightening Theif was recommended to us by a book store clerk. We purchased the book at the beginning of the summer and it sat in our schoolroom for months. One day my 13 year old son said "I want to read that lightening book we bought at the bookstore." He read the book in about 3 days and begged for the second. The second book came from Amazon on a Friday afternoon and he finished it Saturday night! Again, he was begging for more. When the UPS truck arrived today he ran outside to get the package ripped it open and ran to his room to start reading. It takes a lot to grab a 13 year old boys attention away from xbox, and wii or playing football and basketball outside but this book series has done it!! Thank you Rick Riordan!

The following review is from my 13 year old son: "Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightening Theif is a great book! I liked the book a lot!! It just kept on going with exciting things and right when you think it is going to die down more exciting things happen. It has a great story that is easy to follow after you get through the first two chapters. It is about a boy named Percy Jackson who lives with his Mom and his Stepdad. Percy gets kicked out of school and ends up going on a quest to find Zeus' master bolt which was stolen from Olympus. The Olympians blame Percy for the theft so Percy has to clear his name, and find the theif."

The Lightning Thief has it all: wit, humor, facts, history, and fantasy. I think that's a mix that is rarely used but put to use well by Rick Riordan. I do not think at all that this is a young adult book. Kids all over, from six to twelve, from teenagers to adults, can read it and enjoy it. Percy Jackson is a boy who discovers something big - he is the son of Poseiden. Set in New York City, I believe this is a book that should make the author famous and proud.

My 10-year-old son started reading this series and was enjoying it tremendously, so I thought I'd skim it so we would have a common topic for discussion. Well, I ended up devouring it in record time! It was charming, well written, and had interesting characters. Plus, I've loved mythology ever since I was in school myself, so the whole Olympus/Greek gods tie-in was a major selling point.

The Harry Potter similarities weren't lost on me, but I never felt that Rick Riordan was just taking the cheap and easy way out. Instead, it seems he's giving anyone paying attention a literary "wink".

I'm currently on the third book in the series and I can honestly say that the second book and this one are every bit as enjoyable as the first.

I am a senior citizen--a librarian--a woman-- who could not possibly be interested in the story of a 12-year-old boy whose ADHD behavior causes him to be moved from private school to private school or that he has momentary lapses when strange behavior takes over or that he finally learns that he is a half-blood (no, not a HP half-blood), but the son of a god. No, I could not possibly be interested in such a far-fetched story, but then again I AM interested in this story because--WOW--what a story!!


Percy Jackson (Perseus at that!) learns in this first installment of The Olympians that he is indeed the son of a god and not some little podunk god, but one of the big three--Poseidon, god of all the seas. As a half-blood, he is given a quest: to find Zeus's thunderbolt. Someone has stolen it, giving rise to the book's title: the Lightning Thief.

If all this seems really strange, then you are normal. After all, we thought Greek mythology was dead. How little we knew, when in reality, it is alive and well and operating in the New West---America. The reader gets so caught up in this new telling of the old myths, ahem, stories of the living gods, that it becomes fresh and vibrant again. In fact, Mt. Olympus is now located on the 600th floor of the Empire State Building and accessible only through a special elevator ticket. You must have an appointment to get there.

Percy Jackson's pursuit of the lightning thief is just plain out fun reading. When I had to stop for any period of time, I couldn't wait to get back to the story. If the reader thinks it unrealistic that a 12-year-old is the hero, then put two and two together. Being a hero does not always take brawn--often thinking, intellect, strategy are required to solve a problem. It doesn't hurt that the hero's father is a god who nudges a bit.

The most exciting stop in the quest is coming before this horribly evil presence. I guessed its identity long before it was revealed (as any student of mythology will), so I am giving away no secrets here.

The most fun episodes occur when Ares, god of war, appears as a big ol' motorcycle punk in a black leather jacket. He must wear sunglasses to shield onlookers from his fiery eyes (literally fiery) and his macho, belligerent behavior. Hey! This is the god of war--how did you think he would act? A new piece of information comes out concerning Ares--Yo, are you paying attention?!!--Anyone in his presence suddenly becomes aggressive and must keep a constant check on his temper to prevent untoward behavior! Reader! Stop looking around--I'm right here on this page trying to tell you about Ares!

Does Percy find the thunderbolt? Do you really think I am going to tell you? Whew, that Ares is something else. Glad he is gone for now!

Anyway, quests usually end well, but not without cost, as is true here. Certain things must be addressed. Certain decisions must be made. Ah, this is all so vague. Whatever happens in Book 1, Percy Jackson is ready for whatever awaits in Book 2: "The Sea of Monsters."

The book came in fantastic condition and my Grandson was delighted with his Birthday gift....thanks...

Over the summer, I had to read a book for homework and then write about it. The assignment seemed unappealing until I came upon "Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief." I read a couple pages thinking "Oh, another cheezy kid's fantasy." When I read on, it drew me in. I am not the kind of person who gets excited about reading a book, but this book made me want to read it. I finished the book disappointed that it was over and it made me extemely eager continue the series.
I havn't started the second book yet, but I am looking forward to it.
READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!

Percy Jackson isn't your normal hero: He's intelligent, dyslexic, polite, wry, mature beyond his years, sensible, a natural leader, vulnerable, unforced and a lot of fun to read. That's a really tall order for any kind of book, but it does work. Really well.

Riordan is one of the most skillful authors around today. He fuses classical Greek mythology with a modern-day schema in a fresh take that is safe for all ages and will really appeal to teenagers. While his descriptions are full and exquisite, almost nothing he does is new. And still the reader walks away refreshed and entranced.

In a topsy-turvy thousand-mile-an-hour ride, Percy discovers he's the son of a Greek god, gets mixed up in a plot to start war in Olympus (and Earth), has to learn how to survive as a monster magnet, and deal with the loss of everything normal in his life. This page-turner is suspenseful in a way I haven't experienced before. It's a worthy, fun ride.

Riordan is so faithful to the spirit of the ancient mythology that the reader can sense he's tapped into something special. Just be warned when you start reading--you might want to clear away any loose objects (i.e., anything that would be rattled by an earthquake) before you open the book. You might experience some turbulence during the ride!

Note: Families interested in further reading about Greek Mythology might want to look into Dr. Russell's Classics to Read Aloud to Your Children. This would be a good start for further reading on these ancient stories!

I have a hard time getting my 11 year old to read fiction. He loves non-fiction but getting him to sit down and read a novel is like asking him to scrub the grout between the tiles... except I think he would rather scrub the grout!

When he was younger, he enjoyed the Magic Treehouse series because he could relate to the characters -- they were the same age and they were dealing with subjects that he was interested in: dinosaurs, ancient civilizations etc.

My son's 5th grade teacher started reading this book to their class toward the end of the last year and the entire class was completely enthralled. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your perspective), the teacher only got about half way through the book before the end of the year. My son was hooked and wanted to know how the book ended.

We got this book for him and he finished the latter half in a few hours. So I got him books 2, 3, and 4. He read all 3 of those books within a week. He even turned down watching TV or playing his computer games in order to read -- truly a miracle.

My son is in sixth grade and is considered AG for reading so these books were a pretty easy read for him. He was constantly telling me what was happening and talking about the characters as if they were classmates in school.

My son has never shown an interest in Harry Potter or Spyderwick or other currently popular fantasy series.

When asked what he liked about this series as opposed to so much of the other fantasy that is currently available, he liked the fact that:

1. Percy was about his age and had his struggles in middle school (something my own son is dealing with though he isn't a demi-god!).
2. Greek Mythology -- my son loves the ancient greek civilizations. He had originally wanted to read the Odyssey by Homer for his book report but I talked him out of that.
3. Percy was a "modern kid" which, again, made him more relatable.
4. The style of writing was funny and conversational.

I'm just disappointed that Book 5 will be the last in the series. Now I have to find another set that will capture his attention.

My 12 year old son read this book and passed it on to me. What a fun read. We visited the library the next day for books 2 and 3 and he'd finished both by the next afternoon. The adventure is exciting and the Greek mythology references keep it interesting. Who knew Rick Riordan could write for kids? (and clean up his language) Great books.

Rick Riordan's THE LIGHTNING THIEF is the first in his children's fantasy series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and it sets up a world in which denizens of ancient Greek mythology are alive and well in our contemporary times. I dig Greek mythology, so this book was a no-brainer must-get for me. Halfway thru reading THE LIGHTNING THIEF, I jumped online and ordered the three sequels (and then, of course, I went back to reading).

A bit on the plot now: He's never been quite that ordinary boy, hasn't 12-year-old New Yorker Percy Jackson. Suffering from dyslexia and ADHD and always having peculiar things happen to him, Percy has always felt like an outcast. The schools he's attended have all singled him out for expulsion, and at home he shares an uneasy existence with his abusive dad-in-law. The only bright lights in his life are his supportive mother and his only friend, Grover, who's a bit of a sissy. But, it turns out, there's a reason for all of Percy's woes...

After even more weirdness in his life (including his math teacher's attempt to kill him), Percy Jackson finds his way to Camp Half-Blood (a magical refuge and training ground for fellow demi-gods), where he finally learns that he is the son of the sea god Poseidon and destined, it seems, for big things. He also learns that his best bud Grover is actually a satyr. Percy's tumultuous time at Camp Half-Blood ends abruptly when he's charged with a quest to retrieve Zeus's stolen lightning bolt, a task intended to avert a cataclysmic war among the gods. But the quest comes with a ten day deadline. Ten days, to trek cross-country from New York to Los Angeles, where the Underworld and its god Hades await. Bad for Percy, good for the reader.

There's also a little running subplot centering on Percy being wanted by the police for juvenile delinquency. Percy's also implicated in the disappearance of his mother.

Rick Riordan aims his urban fantasy at a pre-teen audience and hits his mark, but also manages to net older readers. At 375 pages long, THE LIGHTNING THIEF doesn't claim the heft of a Harry Potter novel, or its complexity, inventiveness, or resonance - not yet, anyway. Comparisons to Harry Potter are near inevitable, what with both lead protagonists embroiled in prophecies and heroic destinies. Not to mention, Annabeth - half-mortal daughter of Athena and, with Grover, one of Percy's quest companions - might seem too familiar a character, reminiscent of a certain brainy teenaged witch at Hogwart's. To me, so far, Rowling's stuff is superior, but then, I've only read the first book in Riordan's series. THE LIGHTNING THIEF still qualifies as an entertaining and lighthearted fantasy adventure. I'm not at all surprised that a film series is in the works (I hear, sometime in 2009).

I really enjoyed the sense of fun running thru these pages. Particularly when the author unveils his wicked chapter titles, my favorites being "I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-algebra Teacher," "Three Old Ladies Knit the Socks of Death," and "I Battle My Jerk Relative." And, yet, Riordan instills enough seriousness in Percy's adventures and the epic stakes are treated with enough concern that you can't just dismiss the story as strictly a farcical fantasy romp. I admit, though, that the sequence with the bed & mattress store may be a bit too silly.

I like the conceit of gods dwelling in our midst, and specifically the Greek gods, who, in many ways, seem to be as petulantly human as we regular mortals. Riordan postulates that the gods have always been drawn to where western civilization is at its most potent. And this time around, that's in the States. As such, we get to read about the kids braving the Empire State Building, on which 600th floor the hidden Mt. Olympus is anchored. That the Underworld is now located in Los Angeles seems too perfect for words. Meanwhile, a passing familiarity with Greek mythology is nice and heightens the enjoyment, as Riordan goes to reveal how certain mythological figures have adapted to modern day life.

I'm not yet sold on Percy Jackson, the character. The story is told thru Percy's first person perspective, which means that at times the narrative is streaked thru with attitude and pre-teen anxieties. Percy displays all of a modern kid's characteristics; he's at times hip and sardonic but also abrasive, foolish, hot-headed and exasperating. And I guess that's realistic enough. I think I like the kid, and I certainly can't wait to read more about him. Himself new to the magic around him, Percy makes a good point-of-view character, as he interacts with these folks cut from old legend and as he stumbles onto his demi-godlike abilities. I also dig the magic pen.

Fast paced and with enough moments of Percy and company being beset by monsters, THE LIGHTNING THIEF ends in a way which lets you know that Percy's challenges will only continue to mount. The stage is set in later books for Percy to face off against a foe perhaps even more formidable than the Olympian Gods. Percy Jackson will certainly have a chance to become a great hero. And, really, when your name is short for Perseus, there's a lot to live up to.

I had read the Harry Potter books and like most I was dying to find my next read. I picked up Percy Jackson and was shocked. I ended up enjoying the series MORE then Harry Potter and can't wait till book 5 is release.

Fans of Harry Potter will love this! It may be for children, but I enjoyed this book ALOT!! Good story plot & it will test your knowledge of Greek legends & mythology.

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.