One Sentence Summary
This 5-book boxed set features Percy Jackson & The Olympians, the international best-selling novel series by Rick Riordan about a modern-day demigod and his adventures navigating a complicated web of demigod, myth and monsters.
Book Genre
The boxed set is a fantasy/adventure series targeting a young adult audience.
Main Topic of the Book
The 5-book series follow Percy Jackson, a young demigod born of a mortal woman and Poseidon, and his adventures as he discovers the secrets of his identity and navigates the complicated web of hard choices, mythical creatures and the gods of Olympus.
Key Ideas
The key themes that run through the books are the values of courage, resilience, friendship and self-discovery. As Percy discovers more and more about his identity as a demigod and the powers of the gods, he must navigate dangerous enemies, figure out his place within the gods’ home of Olympus, and protect his friends while they all face the ultimate enemy who wants to control the universe.
Main Parts of the Book and Short Summary
- The Lightning Thief – Percy Jackson’s world is turned upside down when he finds out he is the son of Greek god Poseidon and is then sent on a quest to the Underworld to retrieve Zeus’s stolen lightning bolt.
- The Sea of Monsters – Percy, along with his friends, Annabeth and Grover, set off to the Sea of Monsters to find the mythical Golden Fleece and save Camp Half-Blood, a halfway house for children of the gods.
- The Titan’s Curse – Along with the huntress Artemis, Percy and his friends battle the forces of the Titan Kronos who is trying to free the ancient Titans and take over the world.
- The Battle of the Labyrinth – Percy and his team must enter the Labyrinth to find a way to stop the god of war, Ares, from unleashing an unstoppable horde of monsters upon the world.
- The Last Olympian – Final battle between the forces of good and evil take place as Percy and an assembly of demigods, gods and monsters come together for a last stand, to prevent Kronos from destroying the world and Olympus.
Key Takeaways
The five books in the “Percy Jackson and The Olympians” series offer a thrilling adventure in a modern-day world of gods, mythical creatures and powerful enemies. The books explore themes of courage, resilience, friendship and self-discovery, and navigate hard choices and with a sense of heroism, humor and heart. The books are a great choice for young adults looking for adventure, excitement and the power of friendship.
Author’s Background and Qualifications
Rick Riordan is an international best-selling author of fantasy and adventure stories. He is best known for the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, and has created several subsequent series targeted at young adults. Riordan also teaches creative writing at the University of Texas at Austin and is actively involved in educational projects to help young people with dyslexia.
Target Audience
The Percy Jackson series is targeted at readers ages 10 and up, and is particularly popular among young adults.
Publisher and First Publication Date
The boxed set was published by Disney-Hyperion in 2014, and the first book in the series, The Lightning Thief, was first published in 2005.