The Lightning Thief 

is a light-hearted fantasy about a modern 12-year-old boy who

learns that his true father is Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. Percy sets out to
become a hero by undertaking a quest across the United States to find the entrance to
the Underworld and stop a war between the gods. The novel provides a high-interest,
humorous introduction to the Greek myths. It works well if taught in conjunction with
mythology, which is a core component of most English state curriculum frameworks.
The novel can also be taught at any time after the introduction of Greek mythology, to
draw on students’ prior experience as per standard three of the Standards for English
Language Arts of the National Council of Teachers of English.

Rick Riordan, the author, has fifteen years experience as an English/language arts
teacher at the middle school level. He designed The Lightning Thief to be appropriate
reading for ages nine through fourteen.

The novel offers an excellent chance for students to explore the Classical heritage of
Greece as it applies to modern civilization; to analyze the elements of the hero’s quest
rendered in a modern-day story with a first-person narrator to whom students can
easily relate; and to discuss such relevant issues as learning disabilities, the nature of
family, and themes of loyalty, friendship and faith.

Plot Summary

Spoiler warning! Do not read this if you don’t want to know the ending of the book!

Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson has been labeled a troubled youth. Diagnosed with
ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and dyslexia, Percy is attending
Yancy Academy, a boarding school for problem teens in upstate New York. This is
Percy’s “sixth school in six years.” Wherever he goes, he seems to get in trouble
unintentionally. Strange, sometimes dangerous things happen to him.

As the novel opens, Percy begins to suspect that his life is not what it seems. During a
field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, his math teacher transforms into a Fury
and attacks him. Percy’s Latin teacher comes to the rescue, throwing Percy a ballpoint
pen which turns into a bronze sword. Percy’s sword stroke causes the monster to
disintegrate, but afterwards the incident seems to have been a hallucination. Everyone,
including Percy’s Latin teacher, claims that the math teacher who attacked him never
existed.

At the end of the school year, Percy’s best friend Grover insists on escorting him
home, but Grover’s nervousness and cryptic comments about Percy being in danger
make Percy uneasy, so he slips away from Grover at the first opportunity and goes
home by himself.

Percy’s home life is far from perfect. His mother Sally Jackson is a kind woman, but
never had any luck in life. She dreams of being a writer, but works at a candy shop to
make ends meet and is married to “Smelly” Gabe Ugliano, Percy’s abusive stepfather
who expects Percy to provide him with poker-playing money in exchange for room
and board during the summer. Their small Upper East Side apartment is a cheerless
place. Percy struggles to understand why his mother, who obviously loves him, takes
such pains to send him away every year to a different boarding school.

When Percy and his mother go for a weekend retreat to