"The Lightning Thief" (2005) by Rick Riordan REVIEW

Here's how it went down: boy finds book, boy reads book, boy falls in love with book, boy finds out book is a series, boy reads entire series, boy continues onto spin-off series, final book in spin-off series is released, and boy decides to reread the entire series before reading the finale. Yes, this is my second time reading this book, and I rarely read books a second time.

Twelve year old Percy Jackson is struggling to make things right in his life. He's got dyslexia and ADHD, causing him problems when studying for school. At home, he's got to deal with his idiot of a stepfather. Oh, and monsters that seem similar to his Greek Mythology homework are appearing and coming after him. The only thing good in his life that he never wants to let go is his loving mother. However, when Percy and his mother take a trip to the beach, they are soon chased by another monster from the Greek myths. The monster kills his mother, and Percy barely makes it alive to a special camp for people like him, a camp called Camp Half-Blood. There Percy discovers he's not actually normal, but instead he is half human and half god and the Greek myths are real. All too soon, though, Zeus, god of the skies, blames Percy for the disappearance of his relic, the master bolt. To prove his innocence and bring balance to Olympus, Percy must embark on a quest with best friends Grover and Annabeth to find the master bolt, find the friend who will betray him, and come to terms with the father that left him.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1: The Lightning Thief is easily one of my favorite books. The writing flows together nicely, the pacing is fast and gripping, and, being told through the eyes of sarcastic Percy Jackson, the narrative is hilarious. Rick Riordan perfectly blends Greek mythology with the modern world, even including pop culture references for comedic effect at the perfect moments. The action sequences are detailed and fast, making sure you don't want to put the book down. Also, in my opinion, this book has one of the most satisfying conclusions I have read.

With a great concept, plot, writing, and characters, this first installment to the Percy Jackson series is a must read to not only its target audience (8-12 year olds), but for everyone of all ages! Seriously, this is one of my top picks in children's literature. It's a shame that the movies don't want to follow them.

5/5 Stars

You can order the boxed set of the series from Amazon right here!