Cara's Reviews > The Lightning Thief

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
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it was amazing
bookshelves: 2010, books-made-into-movies, fantasy, male-protagonist, series, recommended-to-me, books-i-own

Really is there something I could say that hasn't been said? Doubtful, but in utterly stupid human style I will write a review anyway attempting to tell people how cool this book is.

This is plainly an awesome idea. I had always wondered what happened to the kids of half gods/goddess and humans. Here's the story to quench your curiosity. Percy Jackson has been dumped around from border school to border school. He has never been quite like anybody else, but as the end of sixth grade approaches he'll find out how unique he actually is...

I picked this up thinking that I would enjoy it, but not to the extent of really being hooked so fast. Literally from the first pages I knew I was gonna finish this book. It's geared towards middle grade readers and mostly male I think, but really all that goes away when you're reading this. As an older reader I did see most of the twists coming but that is because the author is generous about hints, which I have always liked. What really sold it for me though is the action. I have mentioned this numerous times, but I'll say it again, I am a total sucker for action scenes . Give me a good fight sequence and I'm there.

A few reviews mention how this is ripoff of Harry Potter, and now that I think about it I could see where they are coming from. There are definitely similarities, but to be honest I didn't really catch that, (I guess I'm kind of dim...I shouldn't probably admit to that *shakes head* moving on) because the world the author set was so original that the similar setup can be easily forgiven.

We all love heroes. Especially ones like Percy. People never expect much from him, and that's what makes this journey of his so personal to the reader. You root for him and are so glad that his muscling his way through it. It has the feel of cheering for the underdog. And I'm guessing this underdog is going to blow everyone out of the water.

Extra Note: Oh glorious goodness they made a movie! Here is a link to the movie trailer.
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Quotes Cara Liked

Rick Riordan
“Deadlines just aren't real to me until I'm staring one in the face.”
Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief


Reading Progress

December 16, 2009 – Shelved
March 26, 2010 – Started Reading
March 26, 2010 – Shelved as: 2010
March 26, 2010 – Shelved as: books-made-into-movies
March 26, 2010 – Shelved as: fantasy
March 26, 2010 – Shelved as: male-protagonist
March 26, 2010 – Shelved as: series
March 31, 2010 –
page 139
37.07%
April 2, 2010 –
page 212
56.53%
April 3, 2010 –
page 375
100.0% " oh, it's just too cool for words "
April 4, 2010 – Finished Reading
October 2, 2010 – Shelved as: recommended-to-me
January 8, 2011 – Shelved as: books-i-own

Comments Showing 1-50 of 54 (54 new)


Ginny This is another book which I hope to get to soon, but it's on a long hold list last time I checked.... Lucky you!!! getting to read it now!


Cara Ha! Well I wouldn't call myself way too lucky. I was #18 I think? So I've been waiting for months to get this book. I wanted to read before the movie come out. As you can see that didn't work out too well:/ I've heard great things about this series. My brother LOVES it so I'll have to see if it has the same effect on me. The premise is awesome.


Haley I heard thatr even though it was more of a kid's book you get hooked instantly.


Cara It is so true! I did expect to enjoy myself but I was just like you said "hooked instantly". It would be a great book to introduce to reluctant readers. I'm gonna write a review on it...later. Really surprised about how MUCH I liked it, but it's probably because I'm a sucker for fight scenes.


message 5: by Kristin (new) - added it

Kristin I bought this just before the movie came out intending to read it then see it--but I haven't done either! Your review has me interested again, so I'll move it up my list. Have you seen the movie yet?


Cara Yeah I have actually seen the movie and to be honest I was horrified at first! It leaves major stuff out and things aren't quite like I thought they would be like. My biggest gripe being the character Annabeth, but when I watched it the second time around I enjoyed it and can see how someone who didn't read the book could really like the movie. So I'm happy with both but the book is obvioulsy better:D


Sage I love these books! People have been giving these books alot of crap about simlarites between Harry potter


Cara I know and I kind of think it's a little unfounded. Like I said I actually didn't catch that until it was pointed out to me. I like the Harry Potter series too but seriously I think this is something different. I love the series too:D I'm reading the last one finally.


Louise11 i'm reading these books for the first time and i love reading them, im totally hooked. i agree i do like the harry potter series and i read them first but there are not a lot of similarities and i love the fact its about the ancient greek gods since they fascinate me :)


message 10: by Cara (new) - rated it 5 stars

Cara Hope you enjoy the rest of the series Louise:)


Lynette ~ Talia's Tomes ~ Please check out the attached address. The movie really did mess it up a lot, and yes, Annabeth was my biggest complaint in the movie. But I must say this is an amazing movie! My friend had been telling me to read it, I finally did when the trailers for the movie came out. I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!


Lynette ~ Talia's Tomes ~ *Amazing book. Not movie.


message 14: by Cara (new) - rated it 5 stars

Cara Thanks for the link Lynette! I'll have to give people that link when they say this book is a rip off of Harry Potter.


Mikela Your review is really making me wanna read this book. I saw the movie and instantly wanted to read the book. I really wish I would have read the book before I saw the movie, but I didn't really know this series existed until the movie it theaters,...but...now I'm gonna check it out!


message 16: by Cara (new) - rated it 5 stars

Cara I'm so glad Mikela, as you can tell I love this book and the series in general.
I liked the movie too actually but it's different from the book.

Thanks for the comment and happy reading:D


Maggie Kuhns I think they messed the movie up so much! i still like the movie but the book was way better


message 18: by Cara (new) - rated it 5 stars

Cara What I'm disappointed in is that I'm fairly certain that they won't be doing a sequel because they changed the plot so much. I can't see how they could pull off doing another movie. Oh well, the books are sensational anyhow;)


Raisa I've enjoyed the books so much! They were actually my gateway to reading. Can you believe it? Now I'm completely obsessed. I have all the books on my laptop. I totally agree what you said in your review.. The books are amazing and the best part is the character interactions... KEEP READING!!! House of Hades, here I come.


message 20: by Cara (new) - rated it 5 stars

Cara Hey Raisa,
Sorry I didn't see the comment til now. But that is so cool:) The book that gets you into reading always has a special place in your memory. Keep enjoying the books!


message 21: by Ryan (new)

Ryan hey they made a series call hero's of olympus. it runs off this series. i personaly reccomend it. the first has nothing to do with pecy but the second and third do. read it after this and it might tell you some things


message 22: by Cara (new) - rated it 5 stars

Cara Oh yeah I did find that out actually. I have read The Lost Hero and The Son of Neptune which were both awesome! I still haven't read The Mark of Athena though,but plan to soon. I love the series too:D


message 23: by Ryan (new)

Ryan oh yeah mark of athens great tragic ending though


message 24: by Cara (new) - rated it 5 stars

Cara I've heard that actually. I'm kind of scared to read it but of course I have too:D


Isabelle I couldn't help but think about how much it was like harry potter and I really feel like i was just comparing the series but now I know i'm not the only one who thought about that. It was a really good book anyway.


message 26: by Cara (new) - rated it 5 stars

Cara Yeah you aren't the only who thought that but I love this series so much and I feel like it is different from HP. I love both series btw:D Thanks for commenting Pamela!


message 27: by Joey (new) - rated it 5 stars

Joey I was skimming books hoping for something to catch my eye, when I randomly opened your review. I liked it, enough so that I'm going to buy the book now. Maybe just because it seemed very real. You didn't try to get super deep with it or analyze it like a lot of other people do. Just thought I'd let you know.


message 28: by Cara (new) - rated it 5 stars

Cara Thanks so much for your thoughtful comment Joey:D I hope you end up having fun with the book!


Holly dolly I totally agree with your review it was amazing! :)


message 30: by Cara (new) - rated it 5 stars

Cara Thanks Holly!


Charmant I loved your review. It proves what an awesome writer you must be.


message 32: by Cara (new) - rated it 5 stars

Cara Thanks so much Erin:) I actually don't write anything but reviews and school papers, but I'll take the compliment just the same!


Ebony Did anyone else hear that they're making another Percy movie. I kind of want to cry. The first movie made me cry because it almost ruined the book for me. Almost.


message 34: by Cara (new) - rated it 5 stars

Cara Cheer up Ebony, mabye it will be better:) I kind of felt like you when I watched the movie the first time, but the second time I watched it I liked it a lot more because I wasn't noticing the difference between the book and the movie.


message 35: by Girl_on_fire (new) - added it

Girl_on_fire I planing on reading the book because I saw the movie and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!!


message 36: by Cara (new) - rated it 5 stars

Cara Hooray! Hope you love the book just as much or maybe even more:)


Dutch Bookgirl I just finished book one and I really love it! Gonna read book 2 as soon as I can!


message 38: by Cara (new) - rated it 5 stars

Cara Yay!


Lauren I have seen the movie do you think I would still like it


message 40: by Cara (new) - rated it 5 stars

Cara Oh yes! I think the book is just amazing. Just make sure you realize it won't be exactly the same, but oh goodness I highly suggest you read it:)


message 41: by Tong (new) - rated it 5 stars

Tong The movie is really different from the book. I like the book better. I like ur revies


message 42: by Cara (new) - rated it 5 stars

Cara I do love the book more but I have come to appreciate the movie (it took me awhile), even if it is different. Thanks Tong!


message 43: by Cara (new) - rated it 5 stars

Cara You are right Aerin there are quite a bit of differences between the two but I ended up enjoying the movie so can't complain:D


Devina Mathieson I totally agree with your review. Ever since I set my eyes on the first page, I was hooked. I loved this book and the rest of the series so much that I don't know what I'm going to read when I finish the series.
You said the the Harry Potter books are very similar. My friends always tell me to read them but I just say "No thanks I'm more into the Percy Jackson books" but I never realized how similar they are. Now I'm considering actually reading them when I finish the heroes of Olympus series. Thanks for your helpful review.


message 45: by Cara (new) - rated it 5 stars

Cara Thanks Devina! I love Percy Jackson:D You probably will end up loving Harry Potter too!


Paige Ur review was awesome I've read the series before and I lov it but ur review made me lov it even more


message 47: by Cara (new) - rated it 5 stars

Cara Thanks so much for your lovely comment Paige!:D


message 48: by Abby (new)

Abby I totally agree with this review! This book is a great start to an amazing series! I just finished the second book and it was one of the most exciting, action packed books I've read. I absolutely LOVE this series and can't wait to read rest of it!


message 49: by Cara (new) - rated it 5 stars

Cara That is awesome Abby! You have so many good books ahead of you to read:)


message 50: by Ultimate (new)

Ultimate YA I loved this review and this book! If you enjoyed this book be sure to check out Ultimate YA! We are a magazine that promotes young adult literature! Subscribe for more and check out our latest issue! http://www.ultimateya.com/latest-issue/


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