A review by jessicaludden
The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“Look, I didn’t want to be a half-blood.”
This is my first time rereading this series since I was 10 years old and I loved it just as much as I did then! It was so much fun getting back into this series and the world of Percy Jackson. I typically don’t reread books because I like the element of not knowing things when I go into a book, but it’s been so long since I’ve read this series that I really don’t remember a lot. I also couldn’t help but compare it to the movie and wow they really did change a lot. There were so many details I forgot about because my brain held on to what happened in the movie instead. One of the main things I rediscovered was how powerful Percy is. They really water that down in the movies! Not only can he control water, but he can breathe underwater, stay completely dry underwater, be healed by water, and communicate with horses. He literally fought a god, THE god of war, and won?! Are you joking? Luke’s betrayal hurt so much more in the books than the movies. We actually get to see a lot more of their friendship and hear how much Percy looked up to him, so it hurts a lot more when Luke tries to kill Percy. I loved getting to read about the trio again. I remember Grover being funny, but I forgot how awkward he can be sometimes. Like, yeah he’s comedic relief, but he’s also so worried about protecting Percy because he’s such a loyal friend. I love Annabeth as much as I did before. She’s just as smart as I remember her being, but I also forgot how much sadness and frustration she has because of her relationship with her father. I’m SO excited to see her and Percy fall in love again. I don’t remember exactly how it happened. They were kinda just always in love in my memory, so I’m super excited to get all the small details of them falling in love. I already love their friendship and I can’t wait for the friendly teasing to turn into something more. Overall, I loved reliving my childhood. I can’t wait to keep reading and I can’t wait to watch the TV series when it finally comes out.
Favorite Quotes:
“‘You drool when you sleep.’”
“‘You talk in your sleep.’”
“‘Athena always has a plan.’”
“‘I’ve been waiting a long time for a quest, seaweed brain.’”
“‘I suppose you have a plan, wise girl?’”
“‘We’re a team, right?’”
“She seemed resigned to the fact that I had a major talent for ticking off the gods.”
“I don’t know why, but I found it funny. Just the idea of Annabeth trying to sit quietly and draw all day.”
“Great, I thought. We just blowtorched a national monument.”
“Annabeth seemed to understand. She gripped my hand as the gates got closer. ‘On my mark,’ I said. ‘No! On my mark!’”
“‘It’s not luck that you found Thalia and me, Grover You’ve for the biggest heart of any satyr ever. You’re a natural searcher. That’s why you’ll be the one who finds Pan.’”
“‘I don’t know what my mom will do. I just know I’ll fight next to you… because you’re me friend, Seaweed Brain. Any more stupid questions?’”
“‘I have brought you a hero’s fate, and a hero’s fate is never happy. It is never anything but tragic.’”
“‘Whatever else you do, know that you are mine. You are a true son of the Sea God.’”
“‘You idiot,’ Annabeth said, which is how I knew she was overjoyed to see me conscious.”
This is my first time rereading this series since I was 10 years old and I loved it just as much as I did then! It was so much fun getting back into this series and the world of Percy Jackson. I typically don’t reread books because I like the element of not knowing things when I go into a book, but it’s been so long since I’ve read this series that I really don’t remember a lot. I also couldn’t help but compare it to the movie and wow they really did change a lot. There were so many details I forgot about because my brain held on to what happened in the movie instead. One of the main things I rediscovered was how powerful Percy is. They really water that down in the movies! Not only can he control water, but he can breathe underwater, stay completely dry underwater, be healed by water, and communicate with horses. He literally fought a god, THE god of war, and won?! Are you joking? Luke’s betrayal hurt so much more in the books than the movies. We actually get to see a lot more of their friendship and hear how much Percy looked up to him, so it hurts a lot more when Luke tries to kill Percy. I loved getting to read about the trio again. I remember Grover being funny, but I forgot how awkward he can be sometimes. Like, yeah he’s comedic relief, but he’s also so worried about protecting Percy because he’s such a loyal friend. I love Annabeth as much as I did before. She’s just as smart as I remember her being, but I also forgot how much sadness and frustration she has because of her relationship with her father. I’m SO excited to see her and Percy fall in love again. I don’t remember exactly how it happened. They were kinda just always in love in my memory, so I’m super excited to get all the small details of them falling in love. I already love their friendship and I can’t wait for the friendly teasing to turn into something more. Overall, I loved reliving my childhood. I can’t wait to keep reading and I can’t wait to watch the TV series when it finally comes out.
Favorite Quotes:
“‘You drool when you sleep.’”
“‘You talk in your sleep.’”
“‘Athena always has a plan.’”
“‘I’ve been waiting a long time for a quest, seaweed brain.’”
“‘I suppose you have a plan, wise girl?’”
“‘We’re a team, right?’”
“She seemed resigned to the fact that I had a major talent for ticking off the gods.”
“I don’t know why, but I found it funny. Just the idea of Annabeth trying to sit quietly and draw all day.”
“Great, I thought. We just blowtorched a national monument.”
“Annabeth seemed to understand. She gripped my hand as the gates got closer. ‘On my mark,’ I said. ‘No! On my mark!’”
“‘It’s not luck that you found Thalia and me, Grover You’ve for the biggest heart of any satyr ever. You’re a natural searcher. That’s why you’ll be the one who finds Pan.’”
“‘I don’t know what my mom will do. I just know I’ll fight next to you… because you’re me friend, Seaweed Brain. Any more stupid questions?’”
“‘I have brought you a hero’s fate, and a hero’s fate is never happy. It is never anything but tragic.’”
“‘Whatever else you do, know that you are mine. You are a true son of the Sea God.’”
“‘You idiot,’ Annabeth said, which is how I knew she was overjoyed to see me conscious.”
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Car accident, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Child abuse, and Death