Book Review: PJO #1

Title: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Author: Rick Riodan

Blurb:

Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school…again. And that’s the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy’s Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he’s angered a few of them. Zeus’s master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.

Now, Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zues’s stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed in his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief, he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

If you were ever to ask me what my favorite book is, it would be Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. I read it back when I was in middle school, where I was basically the same age as the character. I got to grow up with him, which was an incredible experience. I have re-read the books many times, but never have I done so as a full grown adult. So now, as a 26 year old, I decided to take a trip down memory lane to see if it held up to my expectations (especially now that the show came out).

Did it stand up to the hype my childhood mind has for it?

Heck yeah, it does!

It is such a ride. This relatable, stubborn child is running through life like a chicken with its head cut off, and I am here for it. Percy is the most enjoyable character to watch stumble through Greek monsters and Gods in modern days. I believe that you can put Percy in any situation, and he’d make it entertaining. Rick Riodan wrote the books, and it almost feels like he wrote the events around the character. Percy is a driving force in his own life, even though there’s a prophecy hanging over him. Not to mention the amazing side characters that he’s surrounded by. The best thing about it, though, is the fact that they truly do feel like 12 year old kids. I’m so used to reading books about kids who act way too old for their ages. This is refreshing.

5 out of 5 Stars

Definitely stands up to the hype.