Want a NOOK? Explore Now
The series grew out of a sequence of bedtime stories Riordan invented for his son Haley -- who, at eight, had just been diagnosed with learning disabilities. Although Haley was having trouble in school, he loved the Greek myths and asked his dad to tell him some stories about the gods and heroes. Riordan ran through the standards from mythology, then began to invent new tales featuring some of the same characters and introducing a brave boy hero enough like Haley to make things interesting!
Haley begged his father to write the stories down, and in 2005, The Lightning Thief was published to excellent reviews. It was an instant hit with preteens, who loved the concept of a kid much like themselves -- i.e., embroiled in the everyday problems of school, family, and relationships -- embarking on heroic quests, soothing vengeful gods, and battling monsters.
In addition to Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Riordan also writes books for adults, most notably a series of high-octane Tex-Mex thrillers featuring private investigator Jackson "Tres" Navarre, a complicated loner with an offbeat pedigree. (Tres -- pronounced "Trace" -- is a tai chi master with a Ph.D. in medieval literature who turns to detective work when he is unable to find a teaching job!) The first novel in the series, 1997's Big Red Tequila, scooped the Anthony and Shamus Awards, two of the three most prestigious prizes for Mystery & Crime fiction. Riordan completed the trifecta when his sequel, The Widower's Two-Step, won the coveted Edgar Award in 1999.
Between the two series, Riordan remains incredibly busy. For several years, he balanced writing with teaching English to middle school students. Reluctantly, he has left teaching (a career he thoroughly enjoyed) in order to write full-time, but he still harbors hopes that someday he'll return to the classroom. Meanwhile, he makes frequent visits to schools and enjoys meeting young readers on his book tours.
Love for Percy Jackson is sweeping readers everywhere -- and not just teens. Other authors love him as well, and they have something to say about him! DEMIGODS AND MONSTERS is a book of essays penned by other authors covering all things Percy Jackson.
Jenny Han gives godly parental report cards and asks if you could pick one parent out of the god realm, who would you choose? Rosemary Clement-Moore writes a lesson in recognizing monsters, for beginners, of course. Ellen Steiber attempts to answer why Dionysus isn't a poor choice for the director of Camp Half Blood. Nigel Rodgers writes a glossary of "Who's Who?" in Greek Mythology.
Cameron Dokey, Paul Collins, Carolyn MacCullough, Elizabeth M. Rees, Sarah Beth Hurst, Elizabeth E. Wein, Kathi Appelt, and Sophie Masson also write essays that are humorous, clever, odd, and just plain great.
Percy Jackson fans will love this book.
25 out of 33 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 27, 2011
Best book of all times are the p j books only second to harry potter but dont get me wrong i mean the percy jackson books are to die for ( even though if you were dead you wouldnt be able to read ) so if i were you i would ( if i had the money ) buy this book and any other percy jackson books! I totally recommend them!
11 out of 14 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 29, 2012
Hi everyone is my brother Apollo bugging you? If so ill tell my mom on him. Athena wants me to tell you that she is impressed by all the offerings she's been getting. (P.s. send more olives) Persephone still sends her regards from the underworld. Well i'll talk later when i'm done wuth my hunting trip
-Artemis, goddess of the moon
10 out of 20 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 15, 2011
AM I A DEMIGOD???????????????????????(HOP I AM OH AND GREAT BOOK LIKE BRST BOOK EVER
8 out of 19 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.8369613
Posted June 7, 2011
This book probably is a little slow and not at all like the whole series, but I would still get it is I were you.
8 out of 16 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 19, 2012
I havent read this book yet but ive read a little bit of the sneak peak thing so i would recommend this book
6 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 26, 2011
Two words awsome book!
5 out of 10 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.9882099
Posted September 23, 2011
Hilarious, I felt like I was entering another world!
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.9349122
Posted October 3, 2011
This book is so awsome.WHOEVER doesnt like this book has some serious problems.To bad there isnt another one of these books. Its like mc donalds Im lovin it.:)
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 7, 2011
A great book about greek mythology but not like the Percy Jackson saga
4 out of 13 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 13, 2012
I am daughter of Athena (sister of Annabeth=]) and may i say Camp Halfblood is awesome. This guide has been very helpful and i have learned alot from Percy.Cyclopes attacking AH!!BYE and HHHHEEEELLLLPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 19, 2011
its very good for kids who read the percy jacson series
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 22, 2012
Thy reviews on this very book are inaccurate. This is not a chatboard and shall not be used as one. You should all be a
shamed for dishonoring the gods, and using terrible grammer. Thee should be warned, as I was apprenticed by the Great Huntress herself, my tracking skills are admirable. Beware my wrath, and that of the gods. None of you are decended from the deities, and shall not claim so.
- A
2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 29, 2012
Umm no offense to harry potter fans but p j beats harry potter books by A LOT compared to percy harry potter books suck at least thts wat i think :I But i do like th harry potter movies... kinda......
2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 12, 2012
I am ao the run from my home and gaya took me to the doors of death!!!!!!! She promisted that if i helped here then i would not die!!!!! I have seven days ttttttto anser!!! Gota go monster calling me!!!!!!hhhhhhhheeeeeeellllllpppppp!!!!!!!
2 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 12, 2012
I love percy jackson and all books by rick riodan tho my fav is percy jackson and thats including the lost hero and son of neptune cant waitfor his next book to come out mark of athena im soo excited ive read the entire series 5 times since the middle of the summer of 2011 omg the best book ever
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 17, 2012
I OBSESSED with percy jackson books i cried at the ed of the son of neptune because the endin was so good also because i want the next book to com out so much. SHOULD I BUY IT
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 26, 2011
Totally awesom
2 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 11, 2012
Okay so technically we're all demi-gods, but we're not "desended" from greek gods, because there is no such greek gods. Just 1 god. :P
Love the books rick makes, but they're fiction.
Peace.
__
____| |_____
|_____ _____|
| |
| |
|_|
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 13, 2012
Hey so whts up
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Overview
The #1 New York Times bestselling Percy Jackson series-including The Lightning Thief, The Sea of Monsters, The Titan's Curse, and The Battle of the Labyrinth-features a twelve-year-old dyslexic boy who discovers he is the son of a Greek god, the target of mythical Greek monsters and the center of a prophecy that could change the balance of power in the world forever. In Demigods and Monsters, YA authors take on Greek gods, monsters and prophecy, to add insight and even more fun to Riordan's page-turner series. Its fresh, funny essays include:• The pros and cons of having a god as a parent • Why Dionysus might actually be the best director Camp ...