Percy Jackson never asked to be the son of a Greek God. In fact, it’s caused him nothing but trouble. He was living the normal life of a twelve-year-old boy, playing basketball, skateboarding and going to school, when he accidentally vaporised his maths teacher and was revealed to be a demigod. Rushed by his mother to a camp set up to protect half-bloods like him, he soon discovers that a civil war is about to break about between the gods – one that would mean catastrophe for the whole planet. Pitched into a world of terrifying monsters and endless battles, Percy gets embroiled in the craziest situations: being accused of stealing Zeus’ lightning bolt, travelling to the underworld and fighting monster after monster in his quest to save the world from destruction.
Percy’s adventures with his friends from Camp Half-Blood – Grover Underwood, the satyr, and Annabeth Chase, the daughter of Athena, – are thrilling, action-packed and filled with humour and fantastic creatures. Percy is brave, loyal and sarcastic making him a perfect hero and a favourite with readers and critics alike. Readers selected book one Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief as the winner of the Red House Children’s Book Award in 2006 and in 2010 it was adapted into a blockbuster film franchise starring Logan Lerman.
American author Rick Riordan was inspired to write the books when telling bedtime stories to his own son who was obsessed with Greek myths. When he had run out of real myths, Riordan started to make some up and Percy Jackson was born. His books have brought many young readers to mythology with their modern twists and dry humour and he has gone on to write series using Norse (Magnus Chase) and Egyptian (the Kane Chronicles) mythology as well as Greek.
The Percy Jackson books are great for reading alone from 9 upwards or for sharing together: parents will love these books as much as younger readers, as the countless adult fans will attest. They are fast-paced and easy to follow but with lots to get your teeth into. Percy is a hero that many young readers will relate to, his struggle with ADHD and dyslexia proving that it’s not bad to be different –that can be what makes you creative and extraordinary.
Start with book 1 Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief and you’ll race through the whole series in no time. The books can also be read as stand-alones but you’ll get the most out of them by reading them in order.
If you can’t get enough of all things Percy Jackson check out Rick Riordan’s series explaining the real stories behind the Greek myths and more adventures in Camp Half-Blood in the Heroes of Olympus series where new arrivals are pitched into more terrifying battles.
All the Percy Jackson books in order:
Book 1: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (2005)
Book 2: Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters (2006)
Book 3: Percy Jackson and the Titan’s Curse (2007)
Book 4: Percy Jackson and the Battle of the Labyrinth (2008)
Book 5: Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian (2009)
Percy Jackson: The Demigod Files (2009)
