Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson is not much like a typical 12 year old in many ways.  He has been kicked out of every school that he has ever attended, often finds himself in the middle of some disaster or trouble, has ADHD and dyslexia.  Oh, and he's also half-human, half-greek god.  Percy finds himself at a new school with one of his only friends, Grover and with one of his new favorite teachers, Mr. Brunner.  Little does Percy realize that everything going on around him is happening for a reason.  When Mr. Brunner and Grover begin to start acting a little strange after an incident with his math teacher Ms. Dodds (who turns into a flying monster and tries to kill him), Percy starts digging and finds out that there is a lot more about him that what seems.  He finally finds out the truth when his mother, Grover and Percy go on a little trip.  However, on the journey, they are attacked by a terribly monster and Percy kills it.  But not before it sends his mother to the underworld.  Once inside the safety of the camp, Percy learns that he is not only a half-blood, but a half-blood that is not suppose to exist.  While at the camp, Percy makes friends with Annabeth Chase (daughter of Athena) and Luke (son of Hermes) and also enemies of Clarrise (daughter of Ares).  He also learns that Zeus' prized lightning bolt is missing and that HE is the suspect thief.  Now Percy is on a journey with the help of Annabeth and Grover (who is actually a Satyre) to not only find Zeus' bolt, but to save his mother and catch a thief. 

WOW!  This book was an amazing start to the series!  At first, I simply thought it was a kiddie book and that I would find it boring and silly.  But the more I read, the more I loved it!  Every page has you wanting more of the story.  This not only speaks to the amazing storyline, but Riordan's ability to write so well and captivatingly.  I found it very hard to put down the first book until I was finished.  And just like pringles, once you start, you just can't stop!  I found myself quickly moving onto the next books.  The Lightning Thief is an amazing story, with interesting characters and some pretty amazing historical facts.  I found myself actually looking up some Greek mythology like I did when I was 9.  It's an amazing story and the way that Greek mythology is transferred over to present day is creative and well-done.  All in all, this book is amazing and the series only gets better!!  More to come about the rest of the series...