Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Slim diversion between Trials of Apollo books just for fans.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In PERCY JACKSON: CAMP HALF-BLOOD CONFIDENTIAL: YOUR REAL GUIDE TO THE DEMIGOD TRAINING CAMP, you can find out how the camp came into being and what the cabins, dining pavilion, and other living spaces are like; visit the magical landmarks; find out why lava flows down the climbing wall and what the curse in Bunker 9 is; and visit the wild places around camp, such as the geysers and the strawberry fields. For kicks, Percy includes snippets of Apollo's original ham-it-up orientation video, complete with variety acts, canned laughter, bad poetry, and Percy's sardonic take on it all.
Is It Any Good?
It doesn't take much to make a Rick Riordan book a big seller, as this slim but entertaining-for-fans volume proves. Pick it up for car trips when it's hard to concentrate on a real story, but don't have high expectations. Readers of the Trials of Apollo series that this volume complements have usually already read the other Percy Jackson series -- plural -- and know all about what's at camp, who they wish their godly parent was, and why they'd love to go there. The laughs at Apollo's showboating are fun, but the fun is over quickly.
For much meatier reads -- that are admittedly way too big for car trips -- try Riordan's excellent and well-researched Percy Jackson's Greek Gods and Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the appeal of Camp Half-Blood Confidential. Did you learn anything new about the camp? Is it fun to imagine you're headed there for the summer?
Many famous people are mentioned as former campers. What do you know about James Dean? Joan of Arc? Napoleon? Frank Lloyd Wright?
Does this book make you look forward to more Trials of Apollo? The first edition contains a preview of The Dark Prophecy. Does that draw you in further?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Disney-Hyperion
- Publication date : May 2, 2017
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 192
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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