Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief || A Book Review

Hello, everybody!

I'm going to try something new today!

I recently read the book The Lightning Thief, part of the Percy Jackson series, written by Rick Riordan (now, that's a tongue twister!). I know I'm a little late, considering it was originally published in 2005 (okay, maybe a lot late...), but I'm really glad I read it! It was an amazing book that took me out of this world, and into present-time New York City, where Percy and his two friends scampered around, trying to find out who stole Zeus' lightning bolt.

An interesting thing that happened is that I actually watched the movie before reading the book, and actually really enjoyed it. I always think you should watch the movies before the book, otherwise you won't enjoy the movie. Because, oh my gosh, when I read the book I was disgusted with the movie. 😭😫😣So if you actually want to enjoy the movie, just watch the movie first.

!!! SPOILERS AHEAD (not the ending, though!) !!!

12-year-old Percy is a troubled kid. He has ADHD and dyslexia, which doesn't make his teachers like him any better. He has trouble controlling his temper against annoying kids like Nancy Bobofit, an annoying redhead who always gets a kick out of annoying Percy's best and only friend, Grover Underwood.

My first impression on the book was positive. Unlike some books, this one sucked me in immediately, and all I wanted to to do was keep turning pages. Percy seemed like a kind character, and I liked how he was always out to help his scrawny friend, Grover. Everything was well described, and I could picture exactly what was going on. I sympathized towards Mr. Brunner, Percy's Greek Mythology teacher, who was his only teacher who seemed fair, and genuinely cared about Percy.

The book was set in modern New York City, I find. People wear modern clothing (t-shirts, jeans), and they don't use any old words or slang. Percy goes to a modern school, with modern kids and bullies, and modern teachers. Nothing seems old-fashioned. Percy attends a boarding school called Yancy Academy.

While Percy and his mom are at Montauk beach, their favorite place to go, they're forced to flee, along with Grover. Percy's mom gets strangled by a minotaur, which results in her evaporating in a spasm of light. Percy goes over Half-Blood Hill, which is a camp for Half-Bloods. Percy finds out he's half human... half god. Half Greek God. Mr. Brunner is actually a centaur, and he hides his horse part of himself in his wheelchair. Percy finds out Grover is a satyr, and has goat legs. Percy meets a blonde girl his age, who's named Annabeth Chase, who seems snobby at first, but as they go on their quest to find out who stole the Lightning Bolt, he finds out she's a smart and clever girl.

Medusa, Percy, and Annabeth

There are a few parts I found redundant. For example, at first, they wander into a woman's house (Chapter 11), nicknamed Aunty Em's Gone Emporium. It's a classic Hansel and Gretel story, since they're lured in by the smell of cheeseburgers. Long story short, they find out she's Medusa, chop her head off, mailing it to the Greek Gods, and flee.

But then, they wander into another building. The Lotus Hotel and Casino (Page 258). I was surprised that after their mishaps with Medusa they'd trust another overly friendly person, but there they were, having the times of their life playing in the arcade and relaxing in the hotel beds. It turns out, once you go in there, you don't want to come back out, and time is distorted. What seemed like a few hours for them was actually five days. Of course, Percy and Annabeth get out, dragging Grover who doesn't want to leave.

And then another thing like that happens while they're in Las Vegas. While outrunning rich street kids, they dart into Crusty's Water Bed Palace (Chapter 17). They heard the gang kids running outside, and their muffled voices getting quieter. Crusty, the owner of the shop, appears behind them. At least seven feet, he seemed friendly at first, but then he trapped Grover and Annabeth in water beds and tried to stretch them out to make them fit. They find out he's Procrustes, a shady character in Greek Mythology. Percy tricks old Procrustes into going into his own water bed, and traps him there. After making him evaporate into dust, he frees his friends, and they escape.

Grover, Percy, and Annabeth

Doesn't this all seem a little redundant? I feel like they should've learned not to trust people from the first Medusa encounter, but then they went into a casino, and then they trusted Crusty. I would've liked if they were forced in a bit more, because they seem a little too naive.

Also, near the beginning, I feel like the author keeps throwing things we didn't know in our faces. A curtain moving, a mysterious cabin, why certain things happen. I felt a little frustrated and impatient when that happened.

Anyway, I still really enjoyed the book, and think that you should give it a read! I found the plot twist at the end very refreshing, and I never would've though it. I can't wait to read the second one, and hopefully write a review as well. Rick Riordan is a talented author!

Have a nice day!