Rick Riordan, dubbed 'storyteller of the gods' by Publishers Weekly, is the author of five New York Times number-one bestselling book series with millions of copies sold throughout the world: Percy Jackson, the Heroes of Olympus and the Trials of Apollo, based on Greek and Roman mythology; the Kane Chronicles, based on Egyptian mythology; and Magnus Chase, based on Norse mythology. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, Rick's first novel featuring the heroic young demigod, won the Red House Children's Book Award and is now a blockbuster film franchise starring Logan Lerman.
To learn more about Rick and his books, you can visit him at www.rickriordan.co.uk or follow him on Twitter @camphalfblood.
Gr 4-7-Rick Riordan does it again with the first title (Hyperion, 2010) in a new series, introducing a young demigod named Jason who finds himself on a bus with no memory of who he is or how he got there. He soon discovers that all of his fellow travelers are juvenile offenders who have been sent to a wilderness boarding school for society's protection and their own re-education. Piper, a strange quiet girl, and Leo, a wise-cracking goof-off, both claim to be his friends, and the three embark on a journey that takes them across the United States, meeting Cyclopes in Detroit, Medea in Chicago, and Midas in Omaha. The final battle takes place at the Wolves Den, former home of Jack London, in Sonoma, California. Percy Jackson and Annabeth are mentioned at times, and at the book's conclusion we know that both will play important roles in the sequels. This tale belongs to Jason, Piper, and Leo, all of whom have suffered terrible losses and have their own insecurities. Each character is distinct in his/her pain and growing self-awareness. Narrator Joshua Swanson makes that clear with his variety of voices, along with conveying the hate of Hera, the greed of Midas, and the wickedness of Medea. Totally engaging.-Edie Ching, University of Maryland, College Park (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Percy Jackson fans can rest easy: this first book in Riordan's Heroes of Olympus spin-off series is a fast-paced adventure with enough familiar elements to immediately hook those eager to revisit his modern world of mythological mayhem. Clever plot devices-like gods who shift back and forth between their Greek and Roman personae-keep the book from feeling like a retread of Riordan's previous novels. Jason, Piper, and Leo, three students at a wilderness school for troubled teens, are transported to Camp Half-Blood after an unexpected encounter with evil storm spirits on the rim of the Grand Canyon. Not only do they discover that they are the offspring of ancient gods, but they also learn that they are three of seven demigods mentioned in the Great Prophecy uttered by Rachel in The Last Olympian. Wasting little time acclimating to their new lives, the three embark upon a quest to preserve Mt. Olympus and the divine status quo, by rescuing an erstwhile enemy. Rotating among his three protagonists, Riordan's storytelling is as polished as ever, brimming with wit, action, and heart-his devotees won't be disappointed. Ages 10-up. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
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