REVIEW - A Hero's Journey with a Twist

Rick Riordian’s Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief is a book that gets your attention within the first chapter, and it doesn’t let go. It’s action packed, funny, and it also has a great meaning behind it. The book starts off with a fantasy adventure about a young boy who finds out that he is a demigod, he is the son of Poseidon, the god of the sea. But with a closer look past all of the quests and Greek mythology, it is a story about friendship and finding out where you fit in through all of the chaos.
The story begins when Percy is blamed for stealing Zeus's lightning bolt. To clear his name and prevent a war between gods, he goes on a long, major quest across the country with his friends Annabeth and Grover. On the journey, they face huge monsters, back-stabbings, traps that seem unreal, but Riordian makes them better by mixing old Greek mythology with modern-day America. Seeing the gods and monsters in places like Las Vegas is part of what makes the book so unique and fun.
What really makes this book stand out is the voice of Percy Jackson. He is relatable and imperfect, which makes his courage feel real. He is not just some chosen one who you would think he’d always know what to do, he is a kid who is figuring out things as things go on, which makes his wins even more satisfying. The book has a lot of heartwarming moments about family, especially Percy’s rough relationship with his mother and the new “family” he built with his friends.
If you are into action and mythology, with a hint of humor, Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief is the book for you. It is a book that is just as fun for adults and kids who love a good Greek mythology adventure. It is the first step in a much farther journey.