The Lightning Thief - Rick Riordan

Also reviewed by Kari and Mindy.

Summary: What if the gods of Olympus were alive in the 21^st Century? What if they still fell in love with mortals and had children who might become great heroes -- like Theseus, Jason and Hercules?

What if you were one of those children?

Such is the discovery that launches twelve-year-old Percy Jackson on the most dangerous quest of his life. With the help of a satyr and a daughter of Athena, Percy must journey across the United States to catch a thief who has stolen the original weapon of mass destruction – Zeus’ master bolt. Along the way, he must face a host of mythological enemies determined to stop him. Most of all, he must come to terms with a father he has never known, and an Oracle that has warned him of betrayal by a friend.

Summary and cover photo from www.rickriordan.com/children.htm

My Review: Percy Jackson is a half-blood - born the son of a Greek God and a human mother. As the book opens, the truth about his heritage is unknown to Percy. This is the story of Percy's self-discovery regarding his lineage, his powers, and his fit in the world. As he becomes acquainted with himself, he is sent on a quest to save the world.

This story was creative, exciting and very suspenseful at times. I can see why preteens are so enthusiastic about these novels and I have to applaud any author that arouses reading enjoyment in young people. There was an added benefit of a Greek methodology lesson woven within the story.

While I enjoyed the story, it won't make my favorites list . There were times when I was pulled into Percy's world. But at other times, I was just lost in all the fantasy jargon unique to this story. I found that the thread tying this story to the real world was weak, at times frayed, and more than once completely broke. It's as if the author got a bit lazy while writing this novel. A few more pages of detail would have added an additional dimension to the story, bringing more reality to the characters.

This is just the first of five books in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. A movie is also set to debut next month. While I won't be running out to add these books to my personal library, I have to admit that I do plan on seeing the film as well as reading the rest of the saga... eventually.

My Rating: 3.5 Stars for me, 4+ stars for any young adult

To sum it up: An exciting adventure series perfect for the 10+ crowd.