There’s no question that Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series is a huge hit with tweens and young adults, but what are the books actually about? And are they appropriate for your child? Use this helpful cheat sheet to find out!
What’s the big deal?
There is a good reason this series has managed to dominate the bestseller lists for so long. It’s funny, fast-paced, and highly entertaining. Once kids have started this joy ride, few can resist the urge to finish it.
Who’s (meant to be) reading it?
This series is for tween and young teen readers (ages 10 – 14).
What’s it about?
The five books in this series center on Percy Jackson, a young demigod (half-human/half-god), and his various quests to defeat Kronos and keep the peace between the gods.
Who’s in it?
- Percy Jackson – son of Poseidon (God of the Sea), the main character and narrator of the series [funny, heroic, brave]
- Grover Underwood – a satyr, a Keeper (protector of young demigods), and Percy’s best friend
- Annabeth Chase – daughter of Athena (Goddess of Wisdom) and Percy’s best friend [smart, courageous, fiesty]
- Luke Castellan – son of Hermes (Messenger of the Gods), and servant to Kronos [complex, holds a grudge against the gods]
- Thalia Grace – daughter of Zeus and (initially) the tree that protects Camp Half-Blood from monsters [brave, tenacious]
- Nico di Angelo – son of Hades (God of the Underworld) [gifted, annoying, knowledgeable]
- Tyson – a Cyclops and Percy’s half-brother [childlike, protective of Percy]
- Clarisse La Rue – daughter of Ares (God of War) [contentious, arrogant]
- Rachel Elizabeth Dare – a human that can see through the Mist [artistic, has a crush on Percy]
- Ares – God of War
- Hades – God of the Underworld
- Artemis – Goddess of the Hunt
- Kronos – a Titan and Father of the Gods (trying to escape his prison)
- Demigod – a child of a god and a human
- Mist – what prevents regular humans from seeing monsters and gods clearly
- Camp Half-Blood – a summer camp where the demigods live
- River Styx – a river in the Underworld that can make someone invulnerable
- Great Prophecy – a prophecy stating that a child of one of the Big Three (Zeus, Hades, Poseidon) would cause the rise or fall of Olympus.
What are they doing? *Spoiler Alert*
In The Lightning Thief, Percy learns he’s Poseidon’s son and that he’s been accused of stealing Zeus’s lightning bolt. He, Grover, and Annabeth travel across the United States and visit the Underworld. Hades doesn’t have the lightning bolt, but the kids manage to locate and retrieve it from Ares and expose Luke Castellan as the real lightning thief.
In The Sea of Monsters, Thalia (in tree form) is dying, leaving Camp Half-Blood without protection. Clarisse is sent on a quest to retrieve the Golden Fleece, which will revive the tree. Percy, Tyson, and Annabeth sneak out of camp to save Grover, who has been captured by a cyclops. They manage to save Grover and Clarisse, get the fleece, and restore Thalia to human form.
In The Titan’s Curse, Percy and his friends find Nico and his sister (who are children of Hades), and are rescued from a Minotaur attack by Artemis and her Hunters. Luke, who is searching for the Ophiotaurus (a cow-serpent monster) captures Artemis and Annabeth, but Percy and the others are able to catch up and rescue them. Thalia (now in human form) joins the Hunters of Artemis, leaving Percy as the only possible solution to the Great Prophecy. Nico’s sister dies in battle and he runs away.
In The Battle of the Labyrinth, Percy and his friends enter the Labyrinth to stop Kronos’s army from invading Camp Half-Blood. They get separated, find Nico, set off a volcano, acquire Rachel as a guide, and find Luke’s body in Kronos’s coffin. Eventually, they defeat the army of Kronos, and Daedalus (the craftsman who created the labyrinth) sacrifices himself to destroy the maze.
In The Last Olympian, Percy bathes in the River Styx, leaving only one mortal spot on his body vulnerable. Luke (now possessed by Kronos) has also bathed in the River Styx. The forces of Kronos and Olympus go to battle, with Percy and Luke-Kronos facing off against each other. Luke overcomes the force of Kronos within him and stabs his own mortal spot, which defeats Kronos and saves Mount Olympus. The gods reward the heroes and Percy asks them to claim their children and recognize all demigods, even the minor ones.
What else should parents know?
This series is extremely fun to read. Though the characters are involved in a lot of battles, lose friends, and have to make tough decisions, it’s not dark or gruesome. There is suspense, action, friendship, betrayal, and loyalty.
For avid fans of the series, there are several supplementary books, including companion books and graphic novels. There is also a second series of five books set in the world of Camp Half-Blood called The Heroes of Olympus.
What to ask your kids:
- Is Percy the kind of hero you expected? How does his dyslexia and ADHD affect him?
- In what ways is Thalia like Percy? How are they different?
- Do you think Percy is brave? Would you risk your own safety to save your friends?
- What do you think of the gods in this series? Are they what you expected?
- Which book is your favorite? Why?
- How do Luke’s actions impact everyone else? Are you surprised by his choice in the final battle?
- What do you think will happen in The Heroes of Olympus?