Product Description

The gods of Olympus are alive in the 21st Century. They still fall in love with mortals and have children who might become great heroes, but most of these children meet horrible fates at the hands of monsters by the age of twelve. Only a few learn the truth of their identity and make it to Half Blood Hill, a Long Island summer camp dedicated to training young demigods. Such is the revelation that launches young Percy Jackson on a quest to help his real father, Poseidon, avert a war among the gods. With the help of Grover the satyr and Annabeth the 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, they face a host of mythological enemies determined to stop them. Most of all, Percy must come to terms with a father he has never known, and an Oracle that has warned him of betrayal by a friend.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #117648 in Books
• Published on: 2005-09-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 384 pages

About the Author
Rick Riordan is a teacher and a writer, and has won many awards for his mystery novels for adults. He says that the idea for Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief first came to him while he was teaching Greek mythology at middle school in San Francisco. But rumour has it that Camp Half Blood actually exists, and Rick spends his summers there recording the adventures of young demigods. Some believe that, to avoid a mass panic among the mortal population, he was forced to swear on the River Styx to present Percy Jackson's story as fiction. Rick lives in Texas (apart from his summers on Half Blood Hill) with his wife and two sons.

Customer Reviews

Rowling has found an opponent
This is a funny read and is absolutely worth shelling out on. With a flavour similar to that of Harry Potter and magic, we are taken into the modern world where the ancient Greek gods actually exist. The story has been laid out nicely and crafted to perfection adding twists and humour along the way.

Percy Jackson faces numerous obstacles along the way leading eventually to the discovery of who his father really is through some uncanny experiences.

I enjoyed this book so much, it started me on the course of reading on plains, trains and automobiles.

Eat your heart out Harry Potter
I bought this book for my son's 11th birthday as a kind of stocking filler. He was not impressed! The book hid under his bed for a while but then he read it. He's hooked! He said it was his best birhday present ever, better even than the PSP (some computerised game). He can't wait for the next installment. Thanks Rick. You have turned my boy into a reader!

the most popular book in my house
I bought this book for my 10 year daughter who loved it sufficiently to encourage her 12 year brother to give it a go. They have both now read all three books. In my daughter's case twice. She even persuaded me to read extracts on holiday to a mixed group of teens and pre-teens - who all have gone on the read the full set. Readily in the grasp of confident young readers with enough twists, turns and dark deeds to keep older children interested. brilliant