Percy Jackson & the Olympians Boxed Set (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, 1)

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The series reimagines the history of the Greek gods, putting them into a modern context, where Mount Olympus sits atop the Empire State Building.

I'm pretty sure that he doesn't try to get heroes' names rights so that he doesn't get attached to them, but it's just a thought. Kind of basic but still good - its a pretty decent introduction to Greek mythology and weaves the Greek elements into the story quite well. Sure, there are three friends going on dangerous fantastical adventures and saving the people they love slash the world. Might be interesting to test my theory of "people who read this not knowing much about the mythology may pick it up". The characters' personalities and backgrounds are completely different, the author's tone is much more dynamic, boyish and sarcastic, and the atmosphere is far from Hogwartsy.May still be a male titular narrator, but still kicking almost everyone else's butt on the female-role-model-representation front. I love how the identity/nature of the "Last Olympian" fits into my undergraduate Classics thesis, for pete's sake. I always hear so many amazing things about this series so I am so happy I get to join in on the fandom! No matter how brief the reference and how it's reused for the adventure, he gives snippets that kids, anyone, can latch onto and be consistent with more academic approaches. It is chockful of American private jokes, Dead'R Us and the like, which will not be funny to non-Americans.

Whether it is for readers who are experiencing Percy's thrilling adventures with Greek gods and monsters for the first time, or for fans who want to devour the saga again, this gift will be prized by young and old. I majored in Greek mythology at college, so I can say happily, with some authority, that Riordan really knows his stuff and gets it right. OK, I know Riordan is trying to catch the interest of North American teens here, but this is fantasy, and in pandering to his target market’s stereotypes, he really missed an opportunity for some role modelling. My favorite book will always be The Lightning Thief because it flawless at introducing the reader to this new world.

As ever, love Riordan's really great depth of knowledge with the mythology and intensely faithful and clever ways he plays with it. It IS so deeply woven into our culture it will echo within anyone, and it's FUN and rich and beautiful and absolutely not moralizing.