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From Rick Riordan, Mythology Every Kid Should Read
Children’s author Rick Riordan has singlehandedly reintroduced the gods and goddesses—in all their faults and glories—to a younger generation, using humor and a half-mortal hero to draw readers into an incredible mythological world. Classical tales of heroes and villains are the basis of modern storytelling, and young readers adore Riordan’s funny, inviting rewrites. Here are the Riordan books every story lover should have on their shelves:
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Percy Jackson and the Olympians
This is the series that led a legion of fans into Riordan’s thrilling, myths-in-a-blender world. Percy Jackson is a kid with dyslexia and a serious tendency to get in trouble, but it’s not entirely his fault: as he finds out after his pre-algebra teacher turns into a gorgon and tries to kill him, he’s actually the half-mortal son of the Greek god Poseidon, Lord of the Sea. He heads off to Camp Halfblood, where he befriends fellow demigods and learns to harness his budding powers—in between missions that include retrieving Zeus’s lightning bolt, freeing the god Pan, and fighting for his life when most of the gods think he should be dead. The entire five-book series revolves around a great prophecy made decades before Percy’s birth, claiming that Olympus will be saved or destroyed by a child of one of the big three gods: Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. Percy’s heroism throughout his journeys is tinged with the fear that he’s the one destined to bring Olympus down.
The Heroes of Olympus
Riordan’s second mythological series throws Roman gods into the mix, and introduces five new heroes of interesting parentage who factor into the plot alongside Percy and best friend/ love interest Annabeth, the daughter of Athena. This time, the seven heroes are pondering a prophecy that threatens not just Olympus, but the world. This paperback boxed set includes the first three installments in the series, which recently concluded with book #5, funny pulse-pounder The Blood of Olympus, in which the young heroes battle to stop the awakening of earth goddess Gaea.
Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods
For kids whose interest in the gods has been piqued, this book is a more straightforward look at Greek myths and legends…as told by Jackson himself, in the irreverent voice fans love him for. Expect plenty of funny asides and insights on what it’s like to meet the gods face to face (hint: less fun and even more dangerous than you might think), and chapter headings like “The Beginning and Stuff” and “The Golden Age of Cannibalism.” This doorstop edition is filled with beautiful full-color drawings, making it the kind of book you can revisit again and again. The Barnes & Noble exclusive edition includes a full-color Greek gods family tree.
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