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The best boy-centric middle grade urban fantasy mythology-based series out there. Author is Rick Riordan.
I read this series through books borrowed from my local public library. Support your library!
Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series
- The Lightning Thief
- The Sea of Monsters
- The Titan’s Curse
- The Battle of the Labyrinth
- The Last Olympian
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BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON for THE LIGHTNING THIEF
Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can’t seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse-Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him.
MY REVIEW for THE LIGHTNING THIEF
This is the sixth or seventh fantasy book I read this year. I’m more of a science fiction reader, but friends had recommended things over the years so I did a bit of catch up.
Wow, there is a reason why this book took off and gained the following it has. Two sentences and it just sucks you in. The world is real with family drama and school, and fantastic with monsters and gods. Mr. Riordan words things with a thousand quotes that just captures encases you in the world – from Percy smiling and affirming “I am impertinent” to Annabeth explaining “Monsters don’t die, Percy. They can be killed. But they don’t die.”
The lightning thief is funny and poignant, action-packed and character driven, has one foot in reality and the other in mythology.
Definitely lived up to its hype for me.
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BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON for THE SEA OF MONSTERS
After a summer spent trying to prevent a catastrophic war among the Greek gods, Percy Jackson finds his seventh-grade school year unnervingly quiet. His biggest problem is dealing with his new friend, Tyson—a six-foot-three, mentally challenged homeless kid who follows Percy everywhere, making it hard for Percy to have any “normal” friends. But things don’t stay quiet for long…
MY REVIEW for THE SEA OF MONSTERS
Percy Jackson returns in an action-packed adventure. With the world established, the author is able to drown every page with the maximum adventure, plunging deep into mythology to fill a sea’s worth of monsters.
For young or first-time readers of Greek-inspired stories, the monsters likely appear as imaginative creations. For long-time readers and mythology explorers, Nobody does it better. Hints and interpretations bring a fresh story to old stand-bys.
Jump in – the waters are fine.
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BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON for THE TITAN’S CURSE
When the goddess Artemis goes missing, she is believed to have been kidnapped. And now it’s up to Percy and his friends to find out what happened. Who is powerful enough to kidnap a goddess?
MY REVIEW for THE TITAN’S CURSE
A half-blood life isn’t easy. Percy continues to investigate, fight, and survive, while maturing towards hopeful adulthood or at least prophecy age of 16. At fourteen, his relationship with Annabeth continues to evolve. Next up, learning to dance; something the Son of Poseidon should be able to master, like waves dancing on a shore. But is still a middle schooler, so it will take time.
The Titan’s Curse has everything from the first two books: friendship, humor, struggle, mentorship, betrayal, questions, magic, creatures, family. The nature of the quest is similar to book one, with a trip from Coast to Coast. I preferred the Sea of Monsters (book 2) as it places Percy in his water element and he really shines. I should note that this is the first book of the series to make me cry. Well done Mr. Riordan.
TL/DR – Book 3 is another great addition to the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.
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BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON for THE BATTLE OF THE LABYRINTH
Percy Jackson isn’t expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears on campus, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to diabolical. In this latest installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near.
MY REVIEW for THE BATTLE OF THE LABYRINTH
So far my least favorite of the series, The Battle of the Labyrinth had the least amount of humor, the action isn’t quite over the top (though still there), and the hijinks isn’t quite as far-flung even when traveling across America (running around underground just isn’t as “in the location” as traveling by car or boat). That isn’t to say it isn’t amazing; it’s just when the OMG factor is normally 10 out of 10, this is “just” a 9.
Fourteen going on fifteen Percy Jackson starts facing emotions as well as monsters – three ladies attract his head and his heart, all worthy of love in their own ways. He has to deal with his mother actually having a good guy in his life, other than his father, and figure out how to respect both of the men. Percy discovers heroes don’t always stay heroes, gods don’t always stay gods, and villains have reasons for their villainy.
Where before campers have died, they have nearly always been “before now”. War is coming and the first real battle comes to camp. Shrouds are used. The series is escalating.
Life is complicated and the Labyrinth leads us through the maze of changes as Percy nears the sixteenth year of his life.
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BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON for THE LAST OLYMPIAN
All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of victory are grim. Kronos’s army is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan’s power only grows. While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it’s up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time.
MY REVIEW for THE LAST OLYMPIAN
The fifth book of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians delivers the series. There are twists of fates left to go off on their own yarns, but the buildup of the prophecy has been delivered. The final battle is huge and wide-ranging, friendships are tested, and everything comes at a cost. I love how mythology is used to provide weapons to both the good and bad sides of the conflict, and how both sides of the conflict are both good and bad.
Amazing worldbuilding, amazing characters, amazing action, well-crafted plot.
This is one of the best series for middle-grade of this age.