By Ava Shaffer
As a middle schooler, I devoured the Percy Jackson books as if they were a oxygen and I could barely breathe. I read all 5 of them within a week, and although I loved the books back then, it’s difficult to remember all of the details of this series. Scrolling through Tumblr a couple weeks ago, I came across a ton of fan art for Percy Jackson and the Olympians and I was soon reminded of how much I had loved the series. The author of this series, Rick Riordan, had managed to create a universe with characters that are so loved by his fans that to this day people continue to upload content and art of Percy Jackson (which debuted 14 years ago).
Seeing the dedication of fans to this series made me want to back track to my middle school days and reread the Percy Jackson books. Hopefully, as I am now a more matured reader, I can adequately read and review these books that I once so loved. Would I still find them as enjoyable? Would the writing that was made for a much younger audience put me off?
After rereading The Lightning Thief in less than a day, I can accurately answer these questions.
It turns out, I actually enjoyed these books more now than I did back in middle school. I picked up on the little details I had forgotten or overlooked when I was younger. Being a more experienced reader, I still find Riordan’s writing style suitable for any age, really. People of all different ages can read Harry Potter and throughly enjoy it, and I can say the same for Percy Jackson. Although some of the phrases may sound a little dated, it just adds to the characterization of young Percy (which proves to be very important as the series progresses and the readers follow Percy growing up).
Rick Riordan is one of the most skilled authors I have ever read. Even though he mainly writes for a younger audience, he still inserts some pretty advanced writing techniques that, being an older reader, I appreciate tremendously.
For example, Riordan has the ability to create the most amazing and dynamic characters. Personally, I think the unique characters are what keeps fans invested in the series. With Riordan’s witty descriptions, the perfect representation of Percy Jackson (heroic, comedic, and sassy) is portrayed into the reader’s mind. Other characters, such as Annabeth Chase, are also excellent role models for young girls growing up who are looking for a smart and strong female lead to look up to.
Another aspect of The Lightning Thief that I really enjoyed was Riordan’s seamless blend of Greek mythology into a modern story. Being a kid in history class, I was always drawn to the Ancient Greek stories and all the messages they had. Amazingly, Riordan had taken something as old as the gods and mixed it into an upbeat and fresh story that is easy to understand yet complex enough to continue being interesting. Also, the integration of all the different Gods and Goddesses and their place in the story is another thing that keeps readers hooked. Readers can identify with whichever God they prefer, which I think is similar to how people identify with a Hogwarts House. With this sense of belonging and identity in his novels, Riordan creates a world readers can come home to and enjoy at any point in their lives.
The pacing of this novel was also phenomenal. There was not one moment of reading this book where I got bored or felt like things were being rushed. I felt like every expertly named chapter was paced perfectly and made the book a real page turner, something I think is very rare these days.
Finally, the best part of The Lightning Thief and the Percy Jackson series in general is the locations and worlds Riordan creates. From The Lotus Casino to Aunty Em’s Gnome Emporium, every location Percy and his friends travel to is unique and exciting. Camp Half Blood is the ultimate description of the perfect summer camp, complete with bonfires and s’mores.
All in all, this book blew me away with its characters, locations, and pace. I am looking forward to rereading the rest of the series (and The Heroes of Olympus) and reviewing them as well. In the meantime, I plan on enjoying the series that I had loved so much as a kid as much as possible.
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