In a period of less than two weeks, I received four (4!) recommendations to read Rick Riordan‘s The Lightning Thief (2005, Miramax Books) – two from a mother and son who read it together. The son’s especially excited report was more than enough to send me to the web to place my order. In doing so, I discovered that this book is part of a series that also includes:

• The Sea of Monsters (2006)

• The Titan’s Curse (2007)

• Battle of the Labyrinth (to be released in May, 2008)

Our focus in this issue is on the first two books in the series. 

What a great new twist this series places on dyslexia and Greek mythology! The premise is that in our contemporary world there are Heroes – heroes in the classical sense, offspring of a human parent and a god or goddess of Greek mythology. It seems that these “half bloods” are very dyslexic due to the fact that their brains are “wired” for ancient Greek. In fact, “Searchers” use this trait to locate Heroes, who keep showing up in the contemporary world even though the gods have agreed to curtail their activity with humans. (It seems that even gods can’t always withstand temptation!)

In The Lightning Thief, we are introduced to our hero, both in the classical sense and the literary sense. Percy Jackson is 12 years old and has learning problems because of his dyslexia. As a result, he has been shifted from school to school by his mother and is now at Yancy Academy, a private school for troubled kids in up-state New York. As Percy says in his own words: “Am I a troubled, kid? Yeah, you could say that.” 

At Yancy, Percy finds a mentor in his Latin teacher, Mr. Brunner, who takes a special interest in him for reasons which we find out later. The Lightning Thief basically sets the stage for the rest of the series. Percy comes to understand who he is and learns about his “background,” which in turn provides many answers to other questions. Then, of course, there is a quest – what good hero story doesn’t have a quest? In this case, Zeus’s lightning bolt has been stolen, and somehow Percy and his father (you have to read the book to find out just who that is!) are implicated. So with the help of his new friends, Grover, a satyr; Annabeth, the daughter of a human father; and the goddess Athena, Percy sets out to find and return the lightning bolt before war breaks out among the gods and leads to a catastrophic war on Earth.

The whole concept of the parallel structure between our world and Olympia is very cleverly conceived. The quest turns out to be an interesting and exciting adventure, which itself alone would merit reading this book.

The next book in the series, The Sea of Monsters, is set a year later. Percy has had one of his best years in school and now knows of his background and identity as a “half blood.” He has received special tutoring in the ways of his kind; and he has been to Camp Half Blood, a place for half bloods that is secure from the Furies, who are trying to destroy them. On what he hoped was to be his first successful last day of school, it all begins to happen again. Percy must make a run for his life to Camp Half Blood, where he finds that even its defenses against evil are weakening. Percy and his friends must discover the reason, which sends him off on another quest.

Of the two books, I found The Sea of Monsters to be more exciting, faster moving, and, well, just better written. It seems that Riordan is hitting his stride. I look forward to the next two books in this great series.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians brings new and fun life to Greek mythology. These are well written books; the premise is really interesting; and they are just plain fun reading. Thanks to all my recommenders for turning me on to this series, which I believe will quickly build a large following. The positive bent that it puts on dyslexia may also help students dealing with the same issue. They, too, are heroes.

Happy Reading!

 

Retired from teaching in the Masters of Gifted Studies Program at Mississippi University for Women, Bob Seney is now Professor Emeritus. At conferences, he often presents a session titled “What’s New in Young Adult Literature.” Reach him at bseney@muw.edu.