Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi

Percy Jackson has always had a penchant for getting into trouble.  But when his ADHD can’t even explain away what he saw on their school’s field trip, it makes him wonder.  Monsters are after him and his favorite teacher, his best friend, and even his mom seem to know why.  They all have been keeping a huge secret from him; about him!  One that he doesn’t find out until he is forced to go to Half-Blood Hill for summer camp, where the half-mortal children of the Gods go to train.

Percy is only at the camp for a short time before he is sent on a quest, to retrieve Zeus’s stolen lightning bolt and return it to Olympus by the summer solstice, which is only 10 days away!  Otherwise the Gods will go to war, and will most likely eliminate western civilization as we know it!  Percy must rely on his own instincts and on his friends to get through this adventure alive and to have any chance to achieving his goal.

I’m not a big fan of Young Adult titles in general, and I felt  really strange reading what I’ve always considered to be a ‘kid’s” book.  One that my 13 year old has read even!  But it was a decent book anyway, not one that I was blown away by, like many that have read this series, but good enough.  It was easy enough to follow, and it wasn’t boring.

I found Percy to be an entertaining lead.  He had a humor about him that I think kids can really relate to. I’m also a huge fan of mythology and enjoyed how this book introduces our youth to the myths and relationships of the Gods.  It was delivered in such a way that they can easily grasp the concepts, but not be overloaded with details.  The book remains fun for them and gives them reason to keep reading!  And, I don’t know about you, but I am all for books and series that keep kids wanting to come back for more!  And, this is one that parents could easily read along with their kids, as there is enough to keep adults interested as well!