Percy Jackson Series

Image from Chapters.ca

I had so many good things to say about this series that I wrote an entire blog post about it. I have included below a capsule review, excerpted from my blog post:

While technically intended for an audience slightly older than the 5-to-8-year-olds I usually discuss here, the Percy Jacksonseries by Rick Riordan is a hit with my 8-year-old son and his friends, many of whom began reading it before they hit third grade.

The books are very long and would likely challenge most children in grade 2 or 3, but they make for great read-aloud stories. My son was introduced to the series via the audio book version of the first book, also an excellent option for kids who are interested in the story but cannot manage these hefty books.  The first book in the series, The Lightning Thief, is also available in a graphic novel format, making it more accessible for younger kids.

The series has some mature themes, so I would advise that parents read at least the first book before sharing the series with their children.

The story centres on 12-year-old Percy Jackson, who has ADHD, trouble in school, no relationship with his dad, and is separated from his mother when she appears to be killed in the first book. While I typically rail against these themes–troublesome boy, no dad, no mom–there is a lot more to this story, including Percy’s discovery that he is a demigod (his father is Greek ocean god Poseidon), and his role in saving Olympus from the vengeful Titans.

Percy becomes part of a team of demigods, among whom are many strong, capable female characters. These girls and women play significant roles and figure prominently throughout the series.

As a male role model, Percy is a very good one. He worries about crying and showing emotion or fear in front of others, but the reader is privy to his inner thoughts and sees him admit to being scared, react happily to hugs from his mother, and show empathy for others. He is compassionate and has a sense of justice. In the end, he proves to be incredibly unselfish too.

The series is ostensibly about Percy Jackson, but he is not the singular hero. Through the adventures of Percy, author Rick Riordan shows that heroes do not act alone; they admit when they need help, accept that others may play a bigger role than them, willingly listen to and learn from others, and happily share credit with their friends.

Highly recommended.