100 Books in 2010: 55

Posted by Adrienne on July 19, 2010 under Books | Be the First to Comment

My most recent books for the Book Count were the 5 books in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. I’ve read the first four before, but I wanted to have the story fresh in my mind as I read the last volume. My thoughts on the series as a whole and my review of the final book in the series are after the jump.

My favorite part about the Percy Jackson series is the way Rick Riordan weaves material from Greek mythology throughout the books. Some of it is obvious: many of the gods show up as characters in the books. However, there are other, more subtle nods as well, including the names of some of Percy’s friends, and some of the settings the characters travel to. This series is a great way to introduce kids to the Greek cannon and to Homer; the stories are interesting, memorable and fun.

I like Percy as a character. He is brave and loyal and also impulsive and a bit reckless. He’s also a great narrator. His friends, particularly Annabeth and Grover, are also interesting characters and the gods and demigods who are the antagonists in the stories are generally fascinating and well-fleshed out. The plots move quickly, with plenty of action and mystery. The series itself stands up well to re-readings – at least, the first four volumes do. I expect that when I re-read book 5 in the future, it will also remain entertaining.

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Last Olympian is a fitting end to Rick Riordan’s excellent “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” series. The plot threads are resolved, Percy grows as a character, and the climax and finish are very satisfying.

Unlike the first four books in the series, which all centered around some sort of quest, The Last Olympian is mostly one big battle sequence that takes place in Manhattan. Percy and his friends must work together, as in previous books, but the action is not broken up into separate obstacles that Percy must overcome. Instead, the last half of the book is an climactic epic fight between Percy (and his friends) and the evil forces he has been battling throughout the series. It’s extremely difficult to put down, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time to read it (and try not to start it right before bedtime!).