The Titan's Curse

I (mostly) finished reading the third book of five in the Percy Jackson's series.  The Titan's Curse continues on these quest-type adventures.  I do like the book's themes (especially good triumphant over evil, friendships, etc.) and mythology review; however, I'm done reading them for a while.  My son devoured the fourth book on his new Kindle.  The next day we visited our library to get book five.

This year in Reading, my students read ten class novels plus a minimum of two additional novels (which met various criteria).  I've toyed with the idea of adding Percy Jackson into the line up for next year, but I am hesitant about how some more conservative parents will perceive the whole god and goddess STORY (I teach at a small Catholic school; thrilled with parental involvement of any kind).  I was very clear in my instructions when I taught mythology, but . . .

Nonetheless, this is a great series of books.  (Just not enough my cup-of-tea to read all five).  Highly recommend.

Sea of Monsters

My son and I finished the second book in the Percy Jackson series--The Sea of Monsters.  He liked it even better than the first.  I give this one a four of five stars.  The book itself is not my cup of tea; however, I love that it helps review that mythology I learned all those years ago.

Students seem to like the action/adventure in these books. Another reason I suspect students enjoy the Percy Jackson series centers on our underdog hero who has the best intentions.  Though he is a super hero (aka--demigod), he struggles with many of the same issues "normal" students have to work through, and he comes out on top.

My daughter (who claims she had no mythology background) struggled through The Odyssey last semester.  She cringed when I had my son ask her about Scylla and Charybdis.  I enjoy this bantering along with the humor in Rick Riordan's book.  Click HERE to visit Riordan's website.