The Lightning Thief Review

Sunday, February 7, 2010

I had to forgo the "In My Mailbox" party this week because, thinking about it last night, I realized I actually have posts planned all this week, and I would be unable to post my review for The Lightning Thief if I didn't do it today. So, sorry friends! You'll have to make do with this instead!


Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school...again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.

Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.
Taken from GoodReads.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan follows the unlikely hero, Percy Jackson, as he gets kicked out of another school because he's "unmanageable." Percy isn't your typical hero, suffering from ADHD and dyslexia, finding his temper gets the best of him because he is very misunderstood. After being kicked out of his final school though, a series of events leads to Percy attending Camp Half Blood, a school for demi-gods, of which Percy is one. Half god and half human, he is accompanied by his satyr friend, Grover. When someone steals Zeus' master lightning bolt, Percy is immediately suspected, and he, Grover, and a daughter of Athena, Annabeth, must find the missing bolt within ten days, or a devastating war will break out on Mount Olympus.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I heard a lot of great things about it, but I wasn't sure if I should read it because I thought it looked like a little kid book. Then, I remembered that was exactly how I felt about Harry Potter, and we all know how I feel about HP these days. I was right - to an extent. The Lightning Thief is a very easy read, but it was also one of those books I just couldn't put down. The writing is fluid, and catching, and there is action on every single page. Even written so kids can read it, I could feel Percy's wants and desires. I hated his stepfather. I loved his mother.

Most of all though, I love that Rick Riordan didn't make just another sweet, beautiful little hero. His hero was inherently and understandably flawed. I thought it was refreshing to read about a hero I could actually relate to. His struggles and the way he dealt with them were very real, and very human. Oh yeah, and there's tons of mythology in this book, so it's educational, too! I would recommend this book to absolutely everyone. To kids who cannot read yet - read it to them! Do a good deed! This book is a definite 5 out of 5, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

Below, I've posted one of the movie trailers (the best I've seen yet). It looks pretty great, though I'm pretty sure that's Hogwarts in the background, just manipulated to look a smidge different. Methinks the director cut corners ;)

18 comments:

  1. I thought the same thing before I read it, that they were little kids books. So glad I changed my mind too! I started the third but never finished it, I really need to finish the series. My brother borrowed my copies of 1-3 and he read them in two days then went and bought the last two and read them in two days! I love when people find something new that they love! Great review! :)

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  2. Its a great book and I need to put up my own review..I am so bad about that. I do want to see the movie but I can tell from the trailer that I have seen that it is not going to be a lot like the book, but then that is why books are always better. :)

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  3. I brought this one yesterday as I really wanted to read it before going to see the film. I'm really looking forward to it now I've read your review :o)

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  4. I'm so glad you liked it!! Now on to SEA OF MONSTERS!
    Ohh and don't even get me started on that Chris Columbus! Methinks he's never even *read* the books! *coughs* Annabeth and Grover!
    :D

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  5. I'm loving that movie trailer; it looks awesome! And I feel the same way, about the series being kid-like, but I have a feeling I'm gonna change my mind here soon! Awesome review!

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  6. Oh, I did think it was a very young kiddy book. Thanks for the review!

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  7. I saw this at the store and also thought it looked like a kid's book, but now I'll have to read it!

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  8. thanks for the review. I'll check it out.

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  9. Thank you for participating in The Saturday Network!

    And great review! I read this one a few years back, and I haven't read it again because it does seem like a "kid" book, though I now might have to reconsider, hm. As for the trailer, I can't wait to watch the movie! I didn't notice it looked like Hogwarts though, lol, and I might have to stare at it more closely... ;)

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  10. Wow, a 5 out of 5. Definitely a must read then :P

    I love flawed heroes. And yeah, it seemed like a kid book to me too. But I guess I'm going to have to try it out, for there are many reviews out there saying great things. Oooh and Percy Jackson in the movie looks kind of cute. Haha.

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  11. Thanks for the review, I've seen this book around so much but never really knew what it was about. It sounds really good!

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  12. I can not wait to read and see this one.

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  13. My son and I have read this book 3 times. I really, really like it, and I am looking forward to the movie release this weekend!

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  14. I cannot wait to read this book myself! It is expected to arrive in just couple more days *squeee*!

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  15. Great review. I've read the first two books in the series and I've really enjoyed them. I feel like Riordan did a great job creating Percy and his world and I am looking forward to following his adventures. I'm also excited to see the film and hope it's a good adaptation.

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  16. I hope you don't mind but I've just reviewed this & have included a link to your post :o)

    http://bookreviewsbysarah.blogspot.com/2010/02/review-percy-jackson-and-lightning.html

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  17. stopping by from Read My Review. I haven't read this or seen the movie yet. But the movie is definitely on my To Be Seen list. If for not other reason than that I have a thing for Pierce Brosnan...

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  18. Stopping by from Read my Review!! I've seent eh movie, but didn't love it!! Maybe I have read to many real Greek myths to appreciate the way Rick Riordan changed them!! I'm a new follower!!

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