"The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians" continues to enthrall adolescents and young adults in homes and classrooms throughout the world. Author Rick Riordan has been able to introduce the Olympic gods and their stories to millions of new fans, not an easy feat, as any teacher can testify.
Percy Jackson is a 12-year-old boy with a problem. Things keep happening to him, things that make him feel like he's a trouble magnet. He has a deep sense of responsibility to stand up to bullies, especially when his friends are involved. He just can't seem to avoid getting into trouble when he helps out. To top it all off, his math teacher keeps metamorphosing into a monster. As if this isn't enough, all sorts of mythological creatures begin to stalk him.
The worst part is that no one believes him. Finally he is kicked out of his school.
He finds himself in summer camp, and yet again, trouble seems to find him. He ends up in a sort of Mount Olympus, where Zeus' thunderbolt has been stolen.
Percy discovers that he is actually blood kin to some of the Olympic gods, in essence a demi-god. He finds out quickly that this is not an enviable position to be in, especially when he has encountered the wrath of some of the most powerful gods.
"The Lightning Thief" has won many prestigious awards and has gained a huge following among preteens and teens. Teachers love it because it is a high-interest novel and provides an excellent introduction and pathway into later studies such as "The Iliad," "The Odyssey" and "The Aeneid."
New York Times #1 best-selling writer Rick Riordan is the creator of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series of books, the Kane Chronicles, the Heroes of Olympus. He also wrote the storyline and the first book in the immensely popular 39 Clues series of books for young people.
Riordan was born in San Antonio, Texas in 1964 and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. He earned degrees in both History and English and continued with graduate studies. He taught English in California and Texas for fifteen years before retiring to write full-time. Riordan currently lives in San Antonio with his wife and two sons.
Moving away from his home state of Texas, he says, made him realize how much he appreciates growing up there. He works much of his knowledge about his native South and Central Texas locales into the settings of his works.
Other popular books by Riordan include "The Serpent's Shadow: The Kane Chronicles, Book 3" and "The Mark of Athena."
"The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians" provides over ten hours of listening pleasure, and is narrated by Jesse Bernstein. It can be quickly and easily downloaded in audiobook format from Audiobook Store
"I find "Percy Jackson" a very interesting book. I was 7 when he (Percy Jackson) came out. As I grew he made me realize how much I am into mythological creatures and Greek Gods. I love to read the books and I watched both movies over and over again. He made me wish that these Greek Gods were real and have real Demi-Gods for children. And I really would love to see more of Percy Jackson."
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Ms. Jenkins (5 out of 5 stars)