Book Review 16

Bibliography
Riordan, Rick. 2005. The Lightning Thief. New York, New York: Hyperion. ISBN 9780786838653

Plot Summary
In the first book of this fantasy series, readers are introduced to a boy, Percy Jackson, who believes he has ADHD and that is the reason for his erratic behavior and continued lack of success in school. He soon finds out that the real reason for his problems is much less rational, and he is the son of a Greek god with special powers that cause him to be hunted by other mythological creatures. In an attempt to solve a misunderstanding between the gods and keep himself out of danger, Percy must return Zeus’s lightning bolt. This puts him on the path to adventure with other “half bloods” in a quest to clear his name and find out his true identity while trying to defeat the enemies that hunt him along the way.

Critical Analysis
The voice and style Riordan uses throughout this fast-paced novel will appeal to young adults, male or female. Every page is filled with humor, but the pain of Percy’s fatherless childhood seeps through, and the reader cannot help but feel grief when Percy’s mother disappears. Riordan uses his unique voice to make readers feel they are on this adventure with Percy experiencing the ups and downs of his emotions as they come.

Set in New York and then many places in America as Percy and his friends travel, the real life setting gives this fantasy book an authentic feel, as if Percy could be out there right now trying to return Zeus’s lightning bolt. Though the plot is ever twisting, and some background in Greek mythology helps to understand the different characters, Riordan’s writing and storyline make following pretty easy. This book is a page turner that is hard to put down because of the storyline of a young adult trying to find his identity and realizing his lineage is intertwined with the gods. As Medusa and Hades start to pop up in the pages, the reader wants to travel with Percy wherever this adventure is taking him, learning about Greek mythology or receiving a very thorough review along the way.

The characters within the pages are believable, even if they are turning into half horses or are the king of the underworld like Hades. Riordan weaves the Greek mythology into the book flawlessly, but due to the realism of the characters, the audience feels like they are reading a fiction adventure ride instead of a textbook. Percy is likable, yet flawed in his own ways and Grover is the ultimate best friend. The characters motivations are shown throughout the book in clear yet understated ways making them understandable and also complex, a hard combination.

This is not a boy book because of the male protagonist and the lessons within the pages are not gender specific. There are many themes that are touched on in this book, and it would be naïve to assume that since this book is fantasy and enjoyable that there is no moral. Percy learns what greed and pride can do to people, whether it is Luke’s betrayal or the refusal of the three main gods to let the past be once a vow has been broken. Percy also feels a sense of displacement, whether it is at his own home, at his multiple boarding schools, or at Half Blood Hill where not many people are particularly happy to see him. In his search for identity and purpose, Percy learns that even gods are not always heroes and where we fit in the world is as much our decision as our destiny.



Review Excerpts

"This wild romp of a book will intrigue and amuse middle schoolers, whether they know the Greek myths or not." Children’s Literature
"The sardonic tone of the narrator's voice lends a refreshing air of realism to this riotously paced quest tale of heroism that questions the realities of our world, family, friendship and loyalty." Kirkus Reviews

Connections

*Students should read The Sea of Monsters and continue to follow Percy’s adventures. Students can track Percy’s progress throughout the series and chart how he matures.
*Students should read non fiction pieces about Greek gods mentioned in The Lightning Thief. After reading these pieces, they should compare the accuracy of how they were portrayed in The Lightning Thief.