Parents' Guide to

The Sea of Monsters: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 2

By Carrie R. Wheadon, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Monsters invade Camp Half-Blood in exciting sequel.

Book Rick Riordan Fantasy 2006
The Sea of Monsters: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 2 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 10+

Based on 14 parent reviews

alyssa_is_a_ jock
alyssa_is_a_ jock Adult
May 1, 2016
age 12+

The sae of monster

This book was about how a group of teenage boys and girl went on a mission to find a cure for thalia so the border that keeped camp of half bloods will be safe will be gone for ever and all the monsters in the greek mythology will be able to go into the school and kill the last of the greek gods children. While going into this mission one the demigods luck captured grover that lead to percey finding his half brother that is a cyclopes. While that missions continues on luck releases cronus and the prophecy of one of the childs of the three main god has to kill and cronus while doing so he or she will either die or live. One of the central conflicts of the story is how percy and annabeth and tyson have to go on a mission to find their best friend grover and have to find luke before he releases cronus . i thought this book was alright because i'm personally not a huge fan of this book but i also don't like to read so i think it was a good book. I will recommend this book to kids or teens that like history as their favorite subject.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
hybridauth_user 371
hybridauth_user 371 Parent
February 27, 2016
age 12+

The Sea of Monsters

Camp half blood was in danger. Percy was having dreams of Grover being captured. Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson disobeyed Mr.D and went to save Grover. Clarisse brought the golden fleece back and they brought Grover back. The tree that was Thalia turned into a human. Percy struggled against Luke about Thalia the tree being poisoned. In the book it said that Luke had poisoned the tree of Thalia to destroy Camp Half Blood. The theme is don't judge on how someone looks judge them on how they act. In the book there is a cyclops called Tyson and he was described like big monster but Tyson acted like hero. Tyson saved Percy and his friends from Polyphemus the cyclops. I thought the book was good because Tyson risked his life to save his friends. Tyson put his friends first than his life. Tyson saved everyone from the big mean cyclops. I also thought the book was good because everyone helped each other to save Grover even though some people didn't want to save him. Everyone in Camp Half Blood wanted to save Grover. I would recommend this book to other people because it talks about how friends help each other in the good or bad times. In the book it said that when the camp was in danger the people in the camp were sure that the camp was going to be saved with the golden fleece. I will also recommend this book to other people because it talks about never giving up on saving one of your friends. In the book Percy never gave up on saving Grover. I choose the age 12 and up because it talks about monsters attacking other people. Kids that are in 12 and up are not going to get scared. Kids in 12 are going to understand why the monsters are attacking the people. I also choose the age 12 and up because they will understand how the gods are connected to the tree of Thalia. Thalia is the daughter of Zeus. I choose 5 stars because the book shows people how to work together. Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson work together to save Grover. Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson worked together to get the golden fleece. I also choose 5 stars because it shows to never give up on someone. Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson never gave up on looking for Grover. I choose great role models because Percy is a great role model. Percy saved Grover from the cyclops and brought back the fleece. I also choose great role models because Tyson is one of the great role models. Tyson helped save Grover by fighting the cyclops. I choose great messages because it shows you to be confident. Percy was confident to succeed on his adventure to save Grover. Another great message is to fight for what is right. Tyson fought the cyclops to bring back Grover and the fleece. Tyson fought for what was right for him. I choose educational value because the book talks about the Greek gods. In social studies you learn about the Greek gods. The Greek gods are educational value you will learn. I didn't choose too much violence, too much sex, too much swearing, too much consumerism, too much drinking, drugs, smoking because the book didn't have any of those things.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
See all 14 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In THE SEA OF MONSTERS: PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS, BOOK 2, Percy makes it to his last day of the school year and he's excited to go back to Camp Half-Blood the next day. Then everything goes wrong. Laistrygonians (man-eating giants) join the dodge ball game and the fight that ensues puts flaming holes in the gymnasium. His friend Annabeth arrives in time to whisk Percy and his school friend Tyson off to camp in a cab driven by the Fates. The creepy old ladies drive like maniacs through New York with their shared eyeball and dump them in the middle of a battle with fierce mechanical bulls. This is how Percy discovers that camp isn't the safe-haven it used to be. The enchanted tree protecting the boundaries has been poisoned and the monsters are pouring in. The only thing that can save the camp is a quest. And because the quest will lead them straight into the dreaded Sea of Monsters, Percy, son of the sea god, would be the perfect one for the job. So, of course, Clarisse, Ares' daughter and Percy's least-favorite demigod camper, is chosen to go instead.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (14 ):
Kids say (100 ):

Young demigod heroes fight mythological creatures in this thrilling, fresh, and funny seafaring quest. It's full steam ahead in this sequel to The Lightning Thief, which will launch many more Percy Jackson sequels and spin-off series. The journey through monster-infested waters will remind the older classics fans of Odysseus' quest -- same monsters, Sirens, and man-hating sorceress -- but without all the pathos and 10 years of wandering. Instead of 10 years, Percy and Annabeth have mere days to save their friend Grover and return to camp with a certain magical object of lore. And then there's the added complication that they're banned from leaving camp at all -- this is Percy's rival Clarisse's quest, and crossing any child of Ares is always a bad idea. But when Percy gets a surprise visit from Hermes and some magical parting gifts, he knows there was no question he would be going.

While this story could have stuck to monster madness action, it has a heart, too. Percy has to accomplish something almost more difficult for a middle schooler than fighting a giant cyclops: staying loyal to someone uncool in the face of peer ridicule. Author Rick Riordan, a former middle school teacher, really gets the social monsters kids this age must deal with and how sometimes they have to make the wrong choices in order to learn. He also writes about Percy and Annabeth's friendship with a true understanding for the awkwardness of first crushes. After The Sea of Monsters, readers are sure to want more of both the wild mythical monsters and relatable characters. Luckily for them there's a lot more to come in the world of Percy Jackson.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Percy's relationship with Tyson in The Sea of Monsters. Why is it so hard for him to be friends with someone not considered cool? Why do half-blood campers laugh at him when he's with Tyson? How does Percy react at first? How does he feel about himself? How does he react after the quest? Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation? What did you do?

  • What is hubris? Annabeth says it's her "fatal flaw" after listening to the Siren song. Would you choose to do what Annabeth did and listen to the Sirens to know your own weaknesses? What would you do with the information if you did?

  • What do you think of the series so far? What have you learned about Greek mythology? Will you read more of this series? What about the other spin-off series? Why do you think there are so many Percy Jackson books out there? What do kids love about them?

Book Details

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