Friday, August 10, 2012

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
by Rick Riordan
Hyperion Books for Children, 2005

GENRE: Mythic Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure

HONORS: New York Times Notable Book of 2005, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, and VOYA Top Shelf Fiction List for 2005

REVIEW: After learning that he is a demigod, meaning the offspring of a Greek God, Percy Jackson is transferred to Camp Half-blood – a summer camp for demigods. Percy soon learns that Zeus’s powerful Lightning Bolt has been stolen, and that he is the main suspect. Along with a Satyr named Grover and a daughter of Athena named Annabeth, the three embark on the adventure of a lifetime to prevent a war of the Gods and clear Percy’s name.

OPINION: This is the book that got me excited about mythic fiction. I really liked the concept of drawing from existing mythologies and making them viable for existence in the modern world. It was interesting, exciting and nearly believable!

IDEAS: A Greek God Challenge would be a really fun tie-in program to see if teens/tweens have the smarts of Athena, mastery of the water like Poseidon or of the air like Zeus. Or more simply, it could be used in a Greek or Mythic Fiction themed display.

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