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Mar 24, 2021
Published in June 2005 and written by Rick Riordan, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief is infinitely better than its movie. I’ve been meaning to read it for a while now, but finally got to it after a bunch of friends demanded me to. After reading it, the book did not disappoint. It uses enough Greek mythology to give readers an idea of the purpose behind the plot, but also create enough room for new concepts. Though a bold claim, Percy Jackson could have been the successor to Harry Potter if not for the movie adaptations. The Lightning Thief is about Percy Jackson, a 12-year-old boy who is always trouble. To be safe from danger and monsters, he travels to Camp Half-Blood, a sacred area where demigods can live peacefully. Along the way, however, he loses his mother to Hades, god of the underworld. Once there, Percy discovers he is the son of Poseidon, both a good and bad thing. He hones his god-like abilities to retrieve Zeus’ lightning bolt and rescue his mother, alongside Annabeth and Grover. My favourite aspect of this book, other than modernized Greek mythology, are the characters. For example, Percy Jackson is one of the most likeable and relatable protagonists I have read in a while. Combined with his sarcastic demeanour and impulsive actions, he just wants to be a good kid. Not only does he have ADHD and dyslexia, but so does all of the other half-bloods. The other protagonists and side-characters are just as interesting and relatable. Reading this book was amazing and it wasn't a mistake. To anyone who enjoys the prospect of an action-packed adventure novel with a hint of Greek myths: you'll probably like this too.