Book Review of Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

Book Review
The hero, 12-year-old Percy Jackson, is far from your ordinary, everyday sixth-grader. He is unaware of the fact that he is a half blood, otherwise known as a demigod. He is a twelve year old boy diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia, who has been expelled from several schools. After a trip to the Metropolitian Museum of Art where a Fury that disguises as their math teacher tried to attack Percy. Mr Brunner tosses a ballpoint pen to Percy that transformed into a bronze sword. Using the sword, Percy manages to defeat the fury. Now that it was summer, Percy goes on a trip with his mother, Sally to the beach in Montauk. In the middle of the night his friend Grover, who is revealed to be a satyr and Percy’s protector, comes. Grover urges Sally to take Percy to a certain camp for his own protection. As they drive towards camp, they are attacked by a menacing looking Minotaur which grabs Percy's mother by her throat. She dissolves into a golden shower of light, while Grover and Percy narrowly escape. Percy wakes up and discovers that he has arrived in Camp Half-Blood, a secretive training ground for demigods like himself. Thereafter, Percy is moved into the Hermes cabin under the care of Luke, the Cabin counselor until he is claimed by his father or mother in Olympus. During a Capture the Flag game, Percy is attacked by the children of Ares. He heals when he steps into the adjoining river and is revealed as the son of Poseidon when Poseidon's trident appears above his head. Poseidon had broken an oath taken with Hades and Zeus after World War II of not having any more children since their children were too powerful. Percy is then granted a quest to find Zeus's master bolt in order to prevent a war between the gods. Chiron believes Hades has stolen the master bolt in an attempt to create chaos in Mount Olympus. However, Zeus, who discovers that Poseidon had broken his oath, believes Poseidon had Percy steal the masterbolt. Percy, who has ten days before summer solstice to find the master bolt, is given magic shoes by Luke before leaving. Percy, accompanied by Annabeth and Grover, decide to travel west to reach the entrance to the Underworld in Los Angeles. They encounter several Greek monsters, even Medusa where she tried turning our heroes into statues. Percy uses Riptide and slashes off Medusa’s head. He then sends a package containing Medusa’s head to his father, Poseidon. Along the way, they meet the God of War, Ares, who tells Percy that his mother is alive. As they approach the pit of Tartarus, Luke’s shoes try to pull Grover into it, but he manages to slip free his hooves. Percy confronts Hades who also believes Percy stole the Master Bolt as well as his Helm of Darkness, which is an object that allows him to become a shadow. This lets him sneak up on his opponents. Percy realizes that Ares has tricked him when he discovers the bolt in his backpack. He flees from the Underworld, forced to leave his mother. Percy then challenges the god of war, Ares to a duel. Percy eventually emerges victorious defeating Ares by hurting his heel. Ares gives Percy the Helm of Darkness which Percy returns to Hades. Percy reaches New York City to give the master bolt to Zeus at the top of the Empire State Building where Olympus is now located. Zeus accepts the master bolt and is on his way to personally purify the thunderbolt. Thereafter Poseidon explains to Percy what had happened to Kronos and that he is very much alive still conscious in his eternal pain and still hungering for power. Percy has this feeling that Kronos is healing and that someday he will be back. Poseidon informs Percy that his mother has returned. Just as Percy was about to Olympus, Poseidon calls him and he could see that there was a fiery kind of pride in his eyes. He praises Percy that he has done well on his quest and that no matter what always remember that he was the true son of the Sea God. When Percy, Annabeth and Grover return alive to Half-Blood Hill after their quest, they were being treated like heroes. On the last Day of camp, he meets Luke who offers Percy some last-minute sword practice down in the woods. While in the woods, Luke reveals that he was the one that stole the master bolt for Kronos as well as Hades Helm of Darkness during the winter-solstice when they went to Olympus. He now serves Kronos as he has shown Luke that his talents are being wasted. He calls out a poisonous scorpion which stings and nearly kills Percy. Chiron cures him and Percy leaves Camp-Half-Blood as he believes that he will be able to survive till next summer. He then requests Argus to take him to cabin three so that he can pack his bags for home.

Favourite Character of the Book
My Favourite character of the book would have to be Luke Castellan, son of Hermes the god of thieves. This particular character catches my attention because in the beginning of the book, he is the camp counselor of the Hermes Cabin in Camp Half-Blood and he is the one that takes care of Percy while he is staying there. When Percy has been claimed by Poseidon and sent on a quest to retrieve the masterbolt, Luke gives Percy flying shoes as he believes that they will prove useful in his quest. Percy gives the shoes to Grover. However, when they were in the underworld, the flying shoes seemed to be pulling Grover into the pits of Tartarus. Grover has hooves instead of feet, therefore he was able to break free. They did not suspect a thing except that the shoes were defective. When the quest is over and it being the last day of camp,Luke who offers Percy some last-minute sword practice down in the woods. He now has a new sword called backbiter which is made of half celestial bronze and half steel which has the ability to kill mortals and demigods. Now this is where the twist of the story happens, while in the woods, Luke reveals that he was the one that stole the masterbolt for Kronos, the evil titan king, as well as Hades Helm of Darkness during the winter-solstice when they went to Olympus. He now serves Kronos as he has shown Luke that his talents are being wasted. He calls out a poisonous scorpion which stings and nearly kills Percy. Luke is a person where no one believed would have stolen the masterbolt and now serves Kronos. In the beginning, he acts as if he is Percy's ally but it turns out that he is a traitor.

Unique Selling Point of the Book
This is a book about Greek mythology which I thought was all about gods and mystical creatures and it would be boring to the extend that I fall asleep reading it. Turns out, I was mistaken. The very moment I started reading the book, I could not help myself but continue reading till the end. Rick Riordan has depicted the concept of Greek mythology so well that it is enticing and his books have the power to grip people to finish reading the book. This is a book that has the potential to go beyond what is expected of it. Therefore, I believe that this is a book suitable for all ages to read, so you'd better go to the library and borrow it or go to popular to purchase it. This is a book that is definitely worthy of your time, money and effort reading so go and check it out now.