Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

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Rick Riordan: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010, Hyperion Books)

Published Dec. 14, 2010 by Hyperion Books.

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4 stars (2 reviews)

Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is on the most dangerous quest of his life. With the help of a satyr and a daughter of Athena, Percy must journey across the United States to catch a thief who has stolen the original weapon of mass destruction—Zeus’ master bolt. Along the way, he must face a host of mythological enemies determined to stop him. Most of all, he must come to terms with a father he has never known, and an Oracle that has warned him of betrayal by a friend.

20 editions

reviewed The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1)

Review of 'The Lightning Thief' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

This middle grade book would have been one of my absolute favorites in my youth, and I loved it now too. I love Greek mythology, and this is basically Greek mythology meets modern urban fantasy.

Perseus Jackson, short Percy, is a problem student who can never settle down anywhere. His mother lives with his detestable step-father in New York, and he gets moved from boarding school to boarding school. But one day something changes, when his math teacher turns into a Fury and tries to attack him. He eventually finds out that he is actually a demi-god, the offspring of Poseidon with his mortal mother, and that there's a whole camp full of children like him.

But war is brewing amongst the three major gods Zeus, Poseidon and Hades because Zeus' bolt was stolen, and Percy is sent on a quest with Grover the Satyr, and Athena's daughter Annabeth, to …