The Percy Jackson Books

Book 1 The Lightning Thief
Synopsis: 
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 Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on 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.

Editorial Reviews:
At the outset of this fast-paced tale by Rick Riordan (Hyperion/Miramax, 2005), it would seem that Percy Jackson is just another New York kid diagnosed with ADHD, who has good intentions, a nasty stepfather, and a long line of schools that have rejected him. The revelation of his status as half-blood offspring of one of the Greek gods is nicely packaged, and it's easy to believe that Mount Olympus, in modern times, has migrated to the 600th floor of the Empire State Building (the center of Western civilization) while the door to Hades can be found at DOA Recording Studio, somewhere in LA. With his new friends, a disguised satyr, and the half-blood daughter of Athena, Percy sets out across the country to rectify a feud between Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon. Along the way they must cope with the Furies, Medusa, motorcycle thug Aires, and various other immortals. Although some of Jesse Bernstein's accents fail (the monster from Georgia, for instance, has no Southern trace in her voice), he does a fine job of keeping the main characters' tones and accents distinguishable. He convincingly portrays Percy, voicing just the right amount of prepubescent confusion, ironic wit, and the ebbing and waning of concern for himself and those around him. Mythology fans will love this take and kids who haven't been inculcated with the Classical canon will learn aspects of it here while having no trouble following a rollicking good–and modern–adventure.–Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

My 2 cents:  The start of a great series!  These books are quick reads and hard to put down!  They reminded me a lot of the first 3 books of the Harry Potter series, before things got really heavy in that series.  The Lightning Thief is nonstop action, which is great for kids, and all the fun mythology references are great fun for all ages!  


Book 2 The Sea of Monsters
Editorial Reviews:
In this sequel (Miramax Books, 2006) to Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief (Hyperion, 2005; Listening Library, 2005) 13-year-old Percy is just finishing up his school year and is looking forward to another great summer at Camp Half-Blood with all the other demigods. But even before school ends, things start happening, and soon Percy is at camp along with Tyson, a homeless kid adopted by Percy's school. At camp, Percy not only discovers that Tyson is a Cyclops and a son of Poseidon, which makes him Percy's half-brother, but also that the camp is in trouble. There's a quest to rescue Percy's friend, Grover the satyr, and to retrieve the Golden Fleece. The plot zips along with plenty of action; lots of mythological monsters, titans, and gods; and a leavening of humor. Jesse Bernstein does a good job of giving Percy a youthful voice in this first-person narrative, while at the same time creating appropriate voices for the other characters. Listeners who have not read or listened to the first book in the projected trilogy will want to do so before the next installment is published.–Sarah Flowers, Santa Clara County Library, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
My 2 cents:  Remember reading Odysseus in school?  If not, you will as soon as you start reading this installment of the Percy Jackson series!  Because I LOVED Odysseus, I loved this book as well!  It was a great follow up to the first book.

Book 3 The Titan's Curse
Editorial Reviews:
In this installment, Riordan continues to enliven ancient mythology with wit, contemporary staging, and teenage heroics. Percy Jackson is now 14, a bit older and wiser, yet still entangled with the Fates. Friends, monsters, dysfunctional gods, and the romantic stirrings of all things natural and mythological are encountered. His good friend, if oft-time rival, Annabeth (daughter of Athena) is missing, as is Artemis, goddess of the hunt. Joined by best buddy Grover-the-goat-boy and an argumentative array of accomplices, Percy sets off to fulfill, and hopefully foil, the foreboding prophecy of the Oracle. Plagued by ominous dreams, thwarted by hideous monsters, and challenged by conflicting partnerships, the search party's success hinges on unlikely unity. The droll pitch is teen-perfect, as when Apollo heats up the scene by arriving in his fire-red Maserati, wearing jeans, a sleeveless T-shirt, and loafers. 'Wow,' Thalia muttered, 'Apollo is hot.' 'He's the sun god,' I said. 'That's not what I meant.' Intricate prophecies and relationships are neatly braided into the adventurous plot. Teachers will cheer for Percy Jackson and the Olympians as they inspire students to embrace Greek mythology and score the ultimate Herculean challenge: getting kids to read. All in all, a winner of Olympic proportions and a surefire read-aloud.–Alison Follos, North Country School, Lake Placid, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved My 2 cents:  This is where the series really takes off.  I had so wished Hollywood would have kept the movies going, even after The Lightning Thief, just for this book!  This is where the drama starts to unfold, and by the end we are left to wonder what just does that stinking prophecy mean?  Or, I should say, WHO?  

Book 4 The Battle of the Labyrinth
Editorial Review:
The battle starts, literally, with an explosion and doesn't let up. After Percy destroys the high school band room battling monsters called empousai who have taken on the form of cheerleaders, he has to hide out at Camp Half-Blood. There, Grover's searcher's license is going to be revoked unless he can find the god Pan in seven days. An entrance to the Labyrinth has been discovered, which means that Luke, the half-blood turned bad, can bypass the magical protections and invade the camp. Annabeth insists that she must follow a quest to locate Daedalus's workshop before Luke does. Percy is disturbed by visions of Nico, the son of Hades, who is summoning forth the spirits of the dead with McDonalds Happy Meals. Percy, Grover, and Percy's Cyclops half-brother follow Annabeth into the maze not knowing if they will ever find their way out. Riordan cleverly personifies the Labyrinth as a sort of living organism that changes at will, and that traverses the whole of the United States. Kids will devour Riordan's subtle satire of their world, such as a Sphinx in the Labyrinth whose questions hilariously parody standardized testing. The secret of Pan is revealed with a bittersweet outcome that also sends an eco-friendly message. Like many series, the "Percy Jackson" books are beginning to show the strain of familiarity and repetition. However, the overarching story line remains compelling, and the cliff-hanger ending will leave readers breathless in anticipation of the fifth and final volume.—Tim Wadham, Maricopa County Library District, Phoenix, AZ
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
My 2 cents:  WOW!  That was all I could think by the time I got to the end of this book!  I think "Labyrinth" is my fave book in the series!  Of course the mythological story of Daedalus and his labyrinth is intriguing in its own right.   I loved this book and read it all in one sitting! 

Book 5 The Last Olympian
Synopsis:
All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of victory are grim. Kronos’s army is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan’s power only grows. While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded.  Now it’s up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time.  In this momentous final book in the New York Times best-selling series, the long-awaited prophecy surrounding Percy’s sixteenth birthday unfolds. And as the battle for Western civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate.

Editorial Reviews:
“The clash of modern and classical worlds is both exciting and entertaining.” —The New York Times Book Review
”Riordan masterfully orchestrates the huge cast of characters and manages a coherent, powerful tale at once exciting, philosophical and tear-jerking. The best-selling series’ legions of fans will cheer their heroes on and rejoice in such a compelling conclusion to the saga.”— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

My 2 cents:   The series finale does not disappoint!  Again, the story is non stop action (great for kids) with most of the book being a big battle in the middle of Manhattan.  The ending is superb, and finally the prophecy and all the characters and their actions make sense!  Its a nice, neat ending but there is a lot of room left for more adventures and sequels!

 All in all, I give the whole series 5 stars!  If you have children that really aren't big readers (like mine where a couple of years ago!) I wholeheartedly recommend this series!  It will keep them engaged, plus they get to learn a little mythology along the way!  A great action packed adventure series! 

Matched by Ally Condie

Editorial Review:  In a story that is at once evocative of Lois Lowry's The Giver (Houghton, 1993), George Orwell's 1984, and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, Condie introduces readers to the “perfect” Society. Cassia Reyes is a model student, daughter, and citizen. How could she not be when the Society has everything planned and functioning perfectly? All of her needs are met: food, shelter, education, career training, and even her future husband are selected by officials who know what is best for each individual by studying statistical data and probable odds. She even knows when she will die, on her 80th birthday, just as the Society dictates. At her Match Banquet she is paired with Xander, her best friend and certainly her soul mate. But when a computer error shows her the face of Ky, an Aberration, instead of Xander, cracks begin to appear in the Society's facade of perfection. A series of events also shakes her dedication to Xander and puts her future in jeopardy. Cassia exhibits some characteristics of Winston Smith and Lenina Crowne in her silent rebellion against societal control and in her illicit friendship with Ky but ultimately, and more satisfyingly, she is more like Lowry's Jonas. Her awakening and development are realistically portrayed, and supporting characters like Cassia's parents and her grandfather add depth to the story. The biggest flaw is that the story is not finished. Fans of the Giver will devour this book and impatiently demand the next installment.–Anthony C. Doyle, Livingston High School, CA. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.

My thoughts:  This book was AMAZING!  The new trend for teen fiction seems to be a dystopian society (ie The Hunger Games) which is a nice switch from vampire and werewolves!  Not that I mind vampire fiction, but its nice to read something new!
 Cassia is one of my favorite characters to date.  She is very intelligent but also very realistic.  At the beginning of the book, everyone (including Cassia) is happy and seems perfectly content to let the Society rule their lives.  Gives new meaning to the phrase, "Ignorance is bliss".  As the story moves on, it starts to become clear that not everything is as perfect and happy as the Society would have its citizens believe.  By the end, its almost mind blowing!  Its not really clear what even real and who is really in charge!  The story is told in a fantastic way.  Great new author, and she is planning a sequel, "Crossed" which will release in November.  I can't wait!  5 out of 5 stars for me!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Synopsis:  In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlaying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one girl and one boy between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. But Katniss has also resolved to outwit the creators of the games. To do that she will have to be the last person standing at the end of the deadly ordeal, and that will take every ounce of strength and cunning she has.

Reviews:  "{The Hunger Games} is a violent, jarring, speed-rap of a novel that generates nearly constant suspense... I couldn't stop reading." - Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly "I was so obsessed with this book I had to take it with me out to dinner and hide it under the edge of the table so I wouldn't have to stop reading... The Hunger Games is amazing." - Stephenie Meyer "{B}rilliantly plotted and perfectly paced." - John Green, New York Times Book Review "{A} plot-driven blend of suspense, science fiction, and romance." - USA Today "Enthralling, imaginative and creepy." - Los Angeles Times "{A} superb tale" - Booklist, starred review "Readers will wait eagerly to learn more." - Publishers Weekly, starred review

My Review:  I was just like Stephen King, I couldn't stop reading!  There is so much in this short novel, its stunning.  Katniss is an amazing character, who definitely has her faults but whom you can't help rooting for.  She is the typical American rebellion, but also picks her battles. Her main focus is survival for herself and her sister.  Love doesn't seem to even occur to her until very late in the game.  I loved the realism in this, I think the "tributes" (contestants) are very realistic, and if you threw 24 teenagers into a pit and told them the last man standing is the winner, the events in the book wouldn't be far off!  At times sick and sadistic, and other times hopeful and heartwarming, I definitely recommend this read!  5 stars from me!

The Alchemyst and The Magician by Michael Scott

Synopsis:  (The Alchemyst)  Twin 15-year-old siblings Sophie and Josh Newman take summer jobs in San Francisco across the street from one another: she at a coffee shop, he at a bookstore owned by Nick and Perry Fleming. In the vey first chapter, armed goons garbed in black with "dead-looking skin and... marble eyes" (actually Golems) storm the bookshop, take Perry hostage and swipe a rare Book (but not before Josh snatches its two most important pages). The stolen volume is the Codex, an ancient text of magical wisdom. Nick Fleming is really Nicholas Flamel, the 14th-century alchemist who could turn base metal into gold, and make a potion that ensures immortality. Sophie and Josh learn that they are mentioned in the Codex's prophecies: "The two that are one will come either to save or to destroy the world." Mayhem ensues, as Irish author Scott draws on a wide knowledge of world mythology to stage a battle between the Dark Elders and their hired gun—Dr. John Dee—against the forces of good, led by Flamel and the twins (Sophie's powers are "awakened" by the goddess Hekate, who'd been living in an elaborate treehouse north of San Francisco). Not only do they need the Codex back to stop Dee and company, but the immortality potion must be brewed afresh every month. Time is running out, literally, for the Flamels. Proceeding at a breakneck pace, and populated by the likes of werewolves and vampires, the novel ends on a precipice, presumably to be picked up in volume two. (Publisher's Weekly)

Review-- This book is absolutely amazing!  The characters are all fascinating, the plot moves along at a rapid pace, and it is full of all kinds of history and mythology!  What's interesting to me is that Flamel is not the "good guy".  The twins are actually the heroes of the story, and the characters you are rooting for.  While Flamel is not evil, it is hard to know at times what his objectives are.  He puts the twins in harm's way many a time, and Josh especially does not trust him.  Or his he like Snape in Harry Potter, and we just don't get to see what's really going on?   5 stars from me!


 Synopsis: (The Magician)  
Flamel and company return in this fast-paced follow-up to The Alchemyst (Delacorte, 2007). The immortal human Nicholas Flamel; Scathach, the veggie vampire warrior; and the mortal twins of legend, Josh and Sophie, are still on the run from the malicious Dr. John Dee. Flamel retains two of the pages of the legendary Book of Abraham, and Dee will do anything to get them. After hopping a ley line to Paris, our heroes barely escape the machinations of Dee's partner in crime, Niccolò Machiavelli. While finding shelter with fellow immortals (Joan of Arc turns out to be a particularly helpful ally), Josh attempts to deal with the fact that his twin sister is now incredibly powerful. Having had her powers "awakened," Sophie's new abilities make him surprisingly jealous—a fact that Dee may find useful. Scott tapers down the sheer breadth of gods, goddesses, legends, and myths already introduced in his first novel, which is a bit of a relief. Even though the plot moves forward at breakneck speed, the author is careful not to lose sight of his characters' struggles or inner demons. Fans of the previous novel will certainly find much to love, root for, and fear in this successful second installment.—Elizabeth Bird, New York Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review:  Even better than the first!  We get a little more character development in this one, especially for Flamel and new interesting character come to light.  The plot is still action packed, and the book is very hard to put down!  The trip to the Paris Catacombs is fascination!  5 star again!

Fallen--Very suprising read!

"Fallen"  by Lauren Kate

 My Facebook book club and been talking about this book for some time, so I finally decided to read it.  I'm not going to tell you much about the plot, because I don't want to give away what mythical creatures this series is about.  I actually hadn't heard yet, so it was a fantastic surprise for me!

This story reminded me a lot of "Twilight."  Its a forbidden love story across time.  Her name is Luce Price, and she's a juvenile deliquient sent away to a boarding school for troubled kids, Swork & Cross Boarding School.  His name is Daniel Grigori, and he seems to want nothing to do with Luce.  But Luce is strangely drawn to Daniel, and she can't figure out why.

Luce is a fascinating character, just like Bella Swan was.  She thinks she is going crazy, because from the time she was little, she sees these shadows that no one else seems to see.  When there is a fire at her school and her boyfriend is killed, she is the prime suspect.  But Luce can't remember anything but the "shadows."  So she is sent away to this "school" which is really more of a prison for kids with classes.


This book is an amazing thriller, and you just can't turn the pages fast enough!  I finished it in a day!  5 stars from me!