Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Huge gift book of Percy-narrated Greek myths is tons of fun.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 12 parent reviews
Based on 36 kid reviews
Kids say this book is entertaining and educational, filled with engaging stories about Greek mythology, but parents should be cautious due to its mature themes including violence, incest, and sexual references. Many emphasize that while it is a fun read for middle schoolers and older, it is not suitable for younger children, making it best for kids aged 10 and above who can understand the complex subjects presented.
- mature themes
- educational value
- age recommendation
- engaging storytelling
- humor mixed with seriousness
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
After exploring how the Greeks thought the world began in a chapter entitled "The Beginning and Stuff," the Titans appear, followed by the Olympians, who rage a battle royale for dominance. Then each of the 12 major Greek gods gets his or her own chapter. Percy refuses to start with Zeus, claiming he has a big enough ego already, so he goes with the order in which the gods were born. Each chapter includes full-color illustrations and Percy's take on each god's origins, what they're most known for, and stories of them interacting with mortals, looking for love, and smiting those who wronged them.
Is It Any Good?
PERCY JACKSON'S GREEK GODS is thorough, easy to read, and high on entertainment value. Readers get to enjoy Percy's sardonic and somewhat goofy voice, and, as with all Percy books, the humor in the chapter titles alone draws you in. "Hermes Goes to Juvie" and "Ares, the Manly Man's Manly Man" are two greats.
The illustrations by John Rocco also are fabulous, especially the full-page ones in the gift-book size. This is not a book you get on iTunes or in paperback; spring for the hardcover.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what they learned and what they knew before, either by reading the Percy Jackson series or other books.
Big fans of the Percy books may even remember where they heard certain myths before. In which Percy book does Arachne show up? What about Nyx? The Fates?
What do you think about Percy Jackson as a narrator? How does he give some stories a modern twist? Is the book easier to read that way?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : John Rocco
- Genre : Folklore
- Topics : Fantasy ( Fairy Tales ) , Animals ( Ocean Creatures )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Disney-Hyperion
- Publication date : August 19, 2014
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 336
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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