When someone first told me of the
Percy Jackson and The Olympians
series - I tuned out everything after the words "Greek Gods".
Percy Jackson and The Olympians
series - I tuned out everything after the words "Greek Gods".
Ya see, I'm not really a mythology kind of girl
- so I figured I'd pass.
But then came an email from my very best friend in college saying, "You gotta check out these books. It's like Harry Potter - but funnier!" Well... I like Harry Potter and I really like funny.
So... now I'm just finishing up the fifth of the Percy Jackson series and must say: Bravo! Bravo to Greek Gods. Bravo to fantasy fiction. Bravo to author Rick Riordan.
Set in modern day New York, readers find out that the Greek Gods are actually alive today. In fact, they live on the top floor of the Empire State Building and have are very modern folks (Apollo pulls the sun with his convertible sports car rather than a chariot), with very complicated family lives. This story line continues for five books with adventure, mystery, and adolescence. It's young hero+mighty quest+I-kinda-sorta-like-that-girl-but-can't-say-it-out-loud all mixed into one.
While the average reading level of the series is about fifth grade, I know children who have been motivated to tackle these books even younger (and plenty of adults who have enjoyed them too). My eight year old is a bit sensitive in the monster department, so as to avoid any Medusa-Cyclops-Minotaur dreams, I think I'll hold off just a bit longer. We’re reading a lot of Greek Mythology books right now - as this will give the Jackson series a learning/reading one/two punch when he does start them.
My husband and I rented the Percy Jackson movie through Redbox and enjoyed it. The story has been altered (of course) but the casting of Grover saves the day! Two thumbs up!
- so I figured I'd pass.
But then came an email from my very best friend in college saying, "You gotta check out these books. It's like Harry Potter - but funnier!" Well... I like Harry Potter and I really like funny.
So... now I'm just finishing up the fifth of the Percy Jackson series and must say: Bravo! Bravo to Greek Gods. Bravo to fantasy fiction. Bravo to author Rick Riordan.
Set in modern day New York, readers find out that the Greek Gods are actually alive today. In fact, they live on the top floor of the Empire State Building and have are very modern folks (Apollo pulls the sun with his convertible sports car rather than a chariot), with very complicated family lives. This story line continues for five books with adventure, mystery, and adolescence. It's young hero+mighty quest+I-kinda-sorta-like-that-girl-but-can't-say-it-out-loud all mixed into one.
While the average reading level of the series is about fifth grade, I know children who have been motivated to tackle these books even younger (and plenty of adults who have enjoyed them too). My eight year old is a bit sensitive in the monster department, so as to avoid any Medusa-Cyclops-Minotaur dreams, I think I'll hold off just a bit longer. We’re reading a lot of Greek Mythology books right now - as this will give the Jackson series a learning/reading one/two punch when he does start them.
My husband and I rented the Percy Jackson movie through Redbox and enjoyed it. The story has been altered (of course) but the casting of Grover saves the day! Two thumbs up!
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