Will I love The Lightning Thief?

As someone who’s moved around a LOT and lived far from family most of my life, I’m a sucker for found family of any kind.

This story is one of the best. I loved reading about all these demi-god children working together and finding their connection through loyalty and depth of friendship.

As someone very familiar with Greek mythology, I really enjoyed the fresh and enjoyably new story with familiar players. 

Percy Jackson and the Olympians is the kind of book that completely pulls you in and refuses to let go. It’s packed with adventure, humor, and some of the most lovable characters we’ve ever met. One moment, we’re laughing at Percy’s sarcasm, and the next, we’re holding our breath as he faces monsters, gods, and impossible challenges.

The way Rick Riordan blends mythology with modern life is pure magic—it makes us feel like we could step outside and stumble into a world of demigods and quests. And the friendships? They’re the kind that sticks with you long after the last… show more.

I was fascinated with how Rick created characters based on the Greek mythology of the Olympian Gods—making them come to life for the reader.

I loved the descriptions of the different scenes/landscapes and how mythical monsters such as Medusa come after Percy when he and his friends are sent on a quest by his father to find the lightning bolt. This well-paced story quickly drew me in and had me turning the pages to see what would happen next.

This is an awesome book that readers aged 8 and up will love (because, honestly, it's one for the adults, too!).

This first book in Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series is great fantasy. Its protagonist, Percy Jackson, has ADHD and dyslexia. These disorders cause him to struggle in school, but that’s no biggie because Percy has a higher calling as the demigod son of Poseidon.

In fact, his ADHD is an asset to him in the new world he finds himself in, as it grants him hyperfocus that’s useful in battle and other areas. It’s for this reason that most demigods in Percy Jackson’s world have ADHD. How’s that for representation?  

This is a book that feels like stepping into an epic adventure while still staying grounded in real-life struggles. I love Percy’s wit and his ability to keep pushing forward, even when the odds are stacked against him.

His dynamics with those around him are relatable, and reading this reminded me of being a kid, when every discovery felt monumental and every mistake felt earth-shattering. It’s funny and heartfelt—a reminder of the resilience we all have.

This book is brain candy. Rick’s writing style immediately pulled me into the story. First-person is hard to do right without going overboard, but Rick set the perfect balance of action and internal voice. It also helps that the relationship between Percy’s stepfather and mine was as close to identical as a fantasy novel can get.

And while I know it’s not the first to do it, this was the first middle-grade book I read where the main character was neurodivergent and dealing with a lot of the same issues that I did and that many of my students do… show more.

This is the first book that really got me into reading and mythology, and it remains one of my all-time favorites. I have learned so much about Greek mythology from it. I like the powers the campers have because of their godly parent. I love the adventure Percy and his friends go on, and every chapter has something new to see or learn.

I love the uniqueness of Percy’s situation and powers as one of the Big 3 and how that puts him on the path of a great prophecy. The camp is like an academy for the summer, teaching… show more.

Okay, yes, I’ll admit. As a grown adult, I reread the Percy Jackson series. I’d like to say it was because of the tv show but the truth is I just thoroughly enjoy the blast from my past.

Percy is an enjoyable little troublemaker. This book is a comfort read for me and I often find myself re-reading it.

My boys read these, and then I read them. The hero is a boy with dyslexia who never fits in and who discovers he can read Greek and is the son of a God.

In modern-day New York City, he battles ancient mythological creatures. Kids learn everything there is to know about mythology and then some while enjoying this engrossing and exciting story. We loved these books.

The Percy Jackson series reminded me of how incredibly fun Greek mythology was, and it widened my world in seeing how stories could be deeply inspired by ancient mythologies, but could also seamlessly relate to young readers.

The pace was fast, the dialogues were hilarious, and the adventure was satisfying. I especially love how many of the gods in the book remained mostly true to their personalities from the original myths, but they were slightly tweaked to fit modern taste.