The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1
Common Sense Note
Parents should know that the premise of the story is that Greek gods have affairs with mortal women and the resulting children are demigods. You'll find fantasy violence including swordplay and monsters. Percy's mom is apparently killed in front of him and his stepfather, who drinks to excess, used to hit his mother.
Families can talk about the references to Greek gods and myths. Finding and identifying the references can be a fun parent/child game. Issues such as urban sprawl and environmental destruction are also raised.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Matt Berman
Written from Percy's point of view in choppy, attitude-filled prose, there are two levels of fun here. One is the fastpaced adventure/quest of a young hero and his friends to save the world. This part is exciting and suspenseful, and, though the characters aren't emotionally involving, very satisfying nonetheless. Action and humor keep the pages turning as the three young heroes race across the U.S., beset by mythological monsters all the way, to find the entrance to the Underworld (in L.A., where else?) before war breaks out. Children who don't know much mythology can still enjoy the breakneck adventure on its own.
For those who do know Greek myths though, or for those inspired to go find out about them, there's another level of fun here -- spotting the references and laughing at the wicked ways the author has updated the gods and monsters for the 21st century: Ares is a cross between a Hell's Angel and a professional wrestler, a math teacher is a harpy in disguise, and demigods can communicate by IMing -- Iris messaging (you'll have to read it to get the details on that one). A fun read for anyone, and a great read-aloud for a class studying mythology.
From The Book
Absolute terror ran through my body. I did the only thing that came naturally: I swung the sword.
The metal blade hit her shoulder and passed clean through her body as if she were made of water. Hisss!
Mrs. Dodds was a sandcastle in a power fan. She exploded into yellow powder, vaporized on the spot, leaving nothing but the smell of sulfur and a dying screech and a chill of evil in the air, as if those two glowing red eyes were still watching me.
Plot Summary:
Percy Jackson, dyslexic and hotheaded, has been kicked out of yet another school. But stranger things are happening around him, and soon he finds himself at Camp Half Blood, a refuge and training ground for children of the Greek gods, who are still around and causing trouble for humans. He discovers that his dyslexia is caused by his brain being hardwired for Greek, and his hotheadedness is because, well, he's a hero.
All too soon he discovers which god is his father, and that he is a pawn in a titanic battle between the gods that may ignite World War III. Accompanied by a daughter of Athena and a young Satyr, Percy is sent to retrieve Zeus' lightning bolt from Hades, who supposedly stole it. But things are even more complicated than he and the gods imagined, and there are dangerous plots afoot.
Related Books:
Modern Myths:
The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling
The Oracle Doll by Catherine Dexter
The Eyes of Kid Midas by Neal Shusterman
The Boxes by William Sleator
| Content | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS | adults | kids | ||
Sexual ContentGods have affairs with mortal women. |
 |
|
|
|
ViolenceFantasy violence, swordplay, monsters. Percy's mom is apparently killed in front of him. His stepfather has hit her in the past. |
 |
|
|
|
Language |
|
|
|
|
Message |
|
|
|
|
Social BehaviorPlagiarizing mentioned. |
 |
|
|
|
CommercialismSeveral products and restaurants mentioned. |
 |
|
|
|
Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoPercy's stepfather smokes cigars and drinks beer to excess. |
|
|
|
|
