PERCY JACKSON COMPLETE SERIES IN ONE FILE

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

Written from Percy's point of view in choppy, attitude-filled prose, there are two levels of fun in THE LIGHTING THIEF. One is the fast-paced quest of a young hero and his friends to save the world. The characters aren't emotionally involving, but nonetheless this part is exciting, suspenseful, and very satisfying. Children who don't know much mythology can still enjoy the breakneck adventure on its own.

For those who do know Greek myths, or those inspired to learn about them, there's another level of fun here -- laughing at the wicked ways the author has updated the gods and monsters for the 21st century. Ares is a cross between a Hell's Angel and a professional wrestler, a math teacher is a harpy in disguise, and demigods can communicate by IMing -- Iris messaging (you'll have to read it to get the details on that one). A fun read for anyone, and a great read-aloud for a class studying mythology

Percy Jackson And The Sea Of Monsters

The Percy Jackson series continues to be pure fun, with the author doing nearly everything right to produce a book that few kids will be able to resist. At the most basic level, he keeps the action percolating, the pacing flawless, and manages to give the reader the impression of a violent action-adventure without a lot of the kind of violence that worries parents. There's no swearing or drinking or sex, yet Percy's slightly sardonic voice makes it totally cool. Unlike far too many fantasies these days, it's not overlong, which means it doesn't sag in the middle, and it won't intimidate less avid readers.

But because of its roots in Greek myth, even the more avid readers will find plenty to chew on. The book is filled with clever references to major and minor Greek characters, stories, and monsters, all updated in often hilarious ways for the 21st century. For kids who know their way around D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths, half the fun is making the connections. Who are those three crazy ladies driving the taxicab out to the camp? Perhaps their squabbling over an eyeball is a hint, not only to who they are, but to what story is about to be reenacted. Great fun for everyone.

From the Book:

I couldn't see what was chasing him, but I could hear it muttering and cursing. The ground shook as it got closer. Grover dashed around a street corner and faltered. He'd run into a dead-end courtyard full of shops. No time to back up. The nearest door had been blown open by the storm. The sign above the darkened display window read: ST. AUGUSTINE BRIDAL BOUTIQUE.

Grover dashed inside. He dove behind a rack of wedding dresses.

The monster's shadow passed in front of the shop. I could smell the thing—a sickening combination of wet sheep wool and rotten meat and that weird sour body odor only monsters have, like a skunk that's been living off Mexican food.

Percy Jackson and The Titan's Curse

Rick Riordan shows how formula fiction should be done. Each novel in the series so far follows the same basic path: Percy goes on a quest that usually involves both rescuing someone close to him and at the same time accomplishing some task for the gods. All of these stories are part of an overarching story arc that involves the reawakening of the evil titan Kronos and a coming second apocalyptic battle between the gods and titans, presumably in book 5.

This kind of predictability is appealing to middle-grade readers, who like the comfort factor. So it is up to the author to keep it interesting and fresh. This Riordan does with a now practically trademarked blend of action that seems more violent than it is, witty humor that doesn't pander, and a wealth of hilarious modern takes on classical myths, all told by an appealingly loyal and self-deprecating hero. So far the author has been predictable in one other way as well -- the fun and the quality are both consistently high.

From the Book:

The driver got out, smiling. He looked about seventeen or eighteen, and for a second I had the uneasy feeling it was Luke, my old enemy. This guy had the same sandy hair and outdoorsy good looks. But it wasn't Luke. This guy was taller, with no scar on his face like Luke's. His smile was brighter and more playful (Luke didn't do much more than scowl and sneer these days). The Maserati driver wore jeans and loafers and a sleeveless T-shirt.

"Wow," Thalia muttered. "Apollo is hot."

"He's the sun god," I said.

"That's not what I meant."

Percy Jackson and The Battle Of The Labyrinth

As the denouement to this five-book story arc approaches, BOOK 4 veers from the formula of the first three, growing larger in scope, darker (though still with plenty of humor), and more powerful. The story is on the rails now, gathering speed and excitement as it gets closer to the coming apocalypse. Author Rick Riordan is also delving deeper into the mythological underpinnings of the world he has created, a world in which the gods, heroes, monsters, and locales of Greek mythology have moved with the heart of Western civilization to the U.S., and updated for the 21st century.

The most fascinating of these updates is Riordan's concept of the Labyrinth, which now spans the entire country underground, with entrances and exits scattered from coast to coast. At its heart is the brilliant inventor Daedalus, who has found a way to preserve his life but lost his soul, at least for a time. This entry also mines more philosophical ground than previously (though never at the expense of the action), such as the natures of the gods and what it means to act in their names. Up until now the series has been great fun, but little more. Now as it begins to grow, like the Labyrinth, larger and deeper and more complex, it's even more fun.

From the Book:

The last thing I wanted to do on my summer break was blow up another school. But there I was Monday morning, the first week of June, sitting in my mom's car in front of Goode High School on East 81st.

Goode was this big brownstone building overlooking the East River. A bunch of BMWs and Lincoln Town Cars were parked out front. Staring up at the fancy stone archway, I wondered how long it would take me to get kicked out of this place.

"Just relax." My mom didn't sound relaxed. "It's only an orientation tour. And remember, dear, this is Paul's school. So try not to ... you know."

"Destroy it?"

Percy Jackson and The Last Olympian

The series thunders to an epic conclusion in this volume, and it's hard to imagine how it could possibly be more satisfying. Everything is amped up here -- the action and violence, to be sure, but also the friendships and relationships, the ethical dilemmas, the scope, and even the delving into the more arcane corners of Greek mythology. And Percy, the delightfully humorous and self-deprecating teen protagonist, comes charging fully into his own as a true hero, one who's fully in command of his powers but is also caring, concerned about others (including his enemies sometimes), and willing to let others be heroes, too, even at his own expense.

Amidst all the exciting action, with gigantic battles that ravage the United States and shake New York to its foundations, it's Percy's growth -- both heroically and personally and echoed by growth in many of the other characters (even the gods) -- that makes this book so tremendously satisfying for fans. Up until now, the books have been top-notch formula fiction. But with this concluding chapter, author Rick Riordan raises the whole series into that timeless realm of children's fantasy fiction that's likely to last well beyond its current popularity.

From the Book:

Inside, a row of yellow turbines the size of grain silos churned and hummed. Pressure gauges and computer terminals lined the opposite wall. A telkhine was hunched over a console, but he was so involved with his work, he didn't notice us. He was about five feet tall, with slick black seal fur and stubby little feet. He had the head of a Doberman, but his clawed hands were almost human. He growled and muttered as he tapped on his keyboard. Maybe he was messaging his friends on uglyface.com.

I stepped forward, and he tensed, probably smelling something was wrong. He leaped sideways toward a big red alarm button, but I blocked his path. He hissed and lunged at me, but one slice of Riptide, and he exploded into dust.

"One down," Beckendorf said. "About five thousand to go." He tossed me a jar of thick green liquid -- Greek fire, one of the most dangerous magical substances in the world. Then he threw me another essential tool of demigod heroes -- duct tape.