Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Title: Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Author: Rick Riordan

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Publication Year: 2005

Professional Source: New York Times Sunday Book Review

Genre (and subcategory, if appropriate): Movie Book (A book that became a movie)

Audience: Children and young adults

Awards: Hampshire Book Award

Critical Response:

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief is a fantasy novel revolving around the life of twelve-year-old Percy Jackson in his quest to rescue his kidnapped mother and understand his identity as a demigod. The main characters (and many of the other characters in fact) all disabilities of some kind. Many of the kids, such as Percy and Annabeth, have dyslexia and ADHD, which made it hard for them to function well in school. Other characters, such as Grover, are thought of as crippled and need crutches to function in daily life. However, it is revealed that these “disabilities” will turn out to be these characters’ greatest strengths. They find out that each of their disabilities is not really a disability at all. It is simply a side effect of the heightened senses that help them to achieve their goals throughout the story. Young readers, especially those with the same types of disabilities, will find themselves empowered by these characters. They prove that a person does not have to be perfect to do great things.

The young characters in this story are also prone to getting in trouble. Sometimes this is due to their disabilities and other times it is due to godly intervention or other forces outside of their control. In the beginning of the novel Percy explains something that occurred when he was in fifth grade, saying,“ I had this accident with a Revolutionary War cannon. I wasn’t aiming for the school bus, but of course I got expelled anyway.” (2) They are often looked down on and scolded, fitting the sinful child model from the H&T book. Children reading this story will be able to see themselves in these characters as they learn to fix and take responsibility for their mistakes.

This book can easily appeal to young adult audiences as well as adult audiences. The narration appeals directly to adolescents. It is very conversational and lighthearted, with many jokes sprinkled throughout. However, the references that the book makes may be more easily understood by those who are a little older. The book is also subtly didactic. It is filled to the brim with accurate retellings of ancient Greek mythology in bite sized pieces that are easy to understand. These stories are the foundation for a lot of the plot, so it is important for the audience to understand some of these stories. Additionally, the modern take on these stories makes it especially easy for readers to remember.