Review: The Sea of Monsters and The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan

Sea of Monsters click for synopsis from Goodreads

Titan's Curse click for synopsis from Goodreads

This is a double review because these books all follow the same basic pattern: Percy is at his latest school, gets kicked out, ends up at Camp Half-Blood, Percy rejoins his friends and they all set out on a quest to thwart whatever the evil Kronos has done this time to take over the world.  This may sound like I don't like these books but I do.  Very much so.  It's just that there isn't a whole lot to them because they are written for a younger audience, but that doesn't diminish them.  Oh no, I read these suckers non stop back to back.

While these books may not have enough meat for an adult brain, the adventure, the snark is adorable.  Seeing all the threads of the story as an adult makes me realize how deficit my ancient mythology knowledge is.  Also, Riordan does throw crafty things in there that me stop and say, "No way" or "That's a cool idea."  The bottom line is these are fun books, and should make children get excited about reading.
These books also have subtle lessons in them, like not picking on others who are different.  All in all these books are fun, adventurous reads, for kids of all ages.

My Ratings for both: 90/100

Both books were borrowed from the library.

© Jenny Girl - 2012 "All Rights Reserved"

Review: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is on the most dangerous quest of his life. With the help of a satyr and a daughter of Athena, Percy must journey across the United States to catch a thief who has stolen the original weapon of mass destruction – Zeus’ master bolt. Along the way, he must face a host of mythological enemies determined to stop him. Most of all, he must come to terms with a father he has never known, and an Oracle that has warned him of betrayal by a friend.


My Thoughts:

I tried to write an ode to Percy Jackson because I adored this book so much, but I am just not that clever.  Plus, you have all probably read and finished this series already.  I am uber late to this party.  So let me just point out what and why I loved this book so much:

• The use of Greek Mythology is interesting and cool; and something many stories do not feature.  At least not the ones I read.
• The gods and goddesses always have children with humans, and I liked how the children of the gods plays out in the books.  
• Humanizing Poseidon that way...I've always liked him the least until now.
• The use of ADHD: why it's special and making it normal for the half-bloods...LOVED it!
• The themes that are in the story for children who read this series. 
• the adventure of it all.  This book was a page turner for me.  I am so sorry I didn't read this sooner, and more sorry I haven't moved on to Book 2.
• Making Percy and his friends likable.  They are young yet mature in some ways.  
• All of the secondary characters, even the baddies, added to the fun of the story and I can't wait to see how they turn up again.

You guys know all this good stuff already.  I just had to add my 50 cents.

The author's website: http://www.rickriordan.com/home.aspx

My Rating: 100/100

Publisher: Hyperion Books
Genre: Teen/YA/Fantasy
Hardback 375 pages
Book Source: borrowed from the library

© Jenny Girl - 2011 "All Rights Reserved"