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Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school . . . again. No matter how hard he tries, he can't seem to stay out of trouble. But can he really be expected to stand by and watch while a bully picks on his scrawny best friend? Or not defend himself against his pre-algebra teacher when she turns into a monster and tries to kill him? Of course, no one believes Percy about the monster incident; he's not even sure he believes himself.

Until the Minotaur chases him to summer camp.

Suddenly, mythical creatures seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. The gods of Mount Olympus, he's coming to realize, are very much alive in the twenty-first century. 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 has just ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property, and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. On a daring road trip from their summer camp in New York to the gates of the Underworld in Los Angeles, Percy and his friends–one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena–will face a host of enemies determined to stop them. 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 failure and betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

User Reviews about The Lightning Thief (Movie Tie-in Edition) (Percy Jackson and the Olympians)

I found it nearly impossible to put down this book! It was a wonderful read, and the devious plot was brilliant. I strongly recommend this book to anyone, especially those out there who love tales of powerful gods and mysterious beasts from ancient greek stories.

-- A totally fabulous read!

This book has NO comparison to Harry Potter even though the story line seems too similar. There were a few chapters that I felt were too far fetched but it was enjoyable. I felt like the story lacked detail and was rushed too soon leaving the reader with a less then close connection with the main characters. I wish the beginning plot line would have been more informative so that the characters would be easier to connect with. I will continue to read the other books in the series. -- Pretty Good Book

It's no Harry Potter, but, that said, it definitely has it's own niche for children's lit that is also adult-friendly. I really love that the hero, and all heroes by this account, are misfits with society-labelled "disorders," ADHD & dyslexia. And it brings ancient Greek mythology to a younger, typically uninterested generation. It's a good read for any age. -- A suprising look at heroes

Having always maintained an interest in literature for young people, I have from time to time had my interest especially and surprisingly piqued by a particular book. So it was with The Lightning Thief.

The eleven year old grandson of a friend was totally immersed in his book, oblivious to the chatter from lots of family and friends around him. I asked to see what he was reading and he reluctantly handed it over. Literally within seconds I was pulled into the story, so much so that later I downloaded it to my Kindle so I could read it at my leisure.

Basically, the story is that a young boy learns that he is half human, half descendant of an ancient Greek god. The story is important, yes, but Riordan's skill at blending the modern with the ancient is truly amazing. Everything is plausible, believable. Nowhere did I say, "Aw, that just doesn't work!"

Another practical level of the story that is valuable is the idea that a dyslexic young boy from a dysfunctional family can draw from within himself the strength to deal with adversity. Highly recommended for the quality of writing, the fascinating story, and the lesson it teaches. -- Never too old to enjoy a children's book!