A review by theresejanosky
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
5.0
Is a lot of my love for this book tied to nostalgia? Probably yes. Do I still think this is a genuinely good middle grade book? Also yes.
I really do love Percy. I wish there were more characters like him carried over into YA books, rather than the brooding bad boy we constantly see. Percy gets to brood sometimes and still gets to be fun! He's smart and confident but also a little bit dumb and impetuous.
This first book is good, definitely not my favorite of the series, but I think it does a good job of introducing the characters and establishing the plot of the series as a whole. Riordan is good at writing fun action scenes and also at writing softer, sweeter moments between characters that still feel true to the way 12-year-olds behave. Percy and Annabeth mutually crushing on one another and also being annoyed by one another from the start? Delightful. Adorable. I love them.
A side note, every time I reread these, I am shocked all over again at how much the movie said, "Thanks for the idea and title, but we're gonna do something just completely different." I hope the Disney+ show finally gives this series the adaptation it deserves.
I really do love Percy. I wish there were more characters like him carried over into YA books, rather than the brooding bad boy we constantly see. Percy gets to brood sometimes and still gets to be fun! He's smart and confident but also a little bit dumb and impetuous.
This first book is good, definitely not my favorite of the series, but I think it does a good job of introducing the characters and establishing the plot of the series as a whole. Riordan is good at writing fun action scenes and also at writing softer, sweeter moments between characters that still feel true to the way 12-year-olds behave. Percy and Annabeth mutually crushing on one another and also being annoyed by one another from the start? Delightful. Adorable. I love them.
A side note, every time I reread these, I am shocked all over again at how much the movie said, "Thanks for the idea and title, but we're gonna do something just completely different." I hope the Disney+ show finally gives this series the adaptation it deserves.