Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson & the Olympians series is by far one of the greatest I have ever read. Anyone who has not been introduced to the book series yet may be deterred by the less than par movie adaptations, but I highly recommend them regardless. In my opinion, these books are so well-written, they compare with Harry Potter, Hunger Games, and other young adult favorites.
The Percy Jackson & the Olympians series are full of intriguing characters, intricate plots, and wonderful worlds that really do bring the ancient myths to life. I am beyond impressed with each tidbit of obscure but authentic lore Riordan incorporates, and he always pulls off amazing plot twists. The plethora of books explore themes such as love, discrimination, acceptance, power, and sacrifice, along with many more.
One of the greatest things is that Riordan has no issues with representation. The books originally began as a bedtime story for his son who has dyslexia and ADHD, and eventually developed into multiple series where many of the characters have the same conditions. He also includes characters from all different races, backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, and basically any other identity you could think of. He is not afraid to write characters that represent real people. Each character is empowered in their own way and teaches us readers an important value to hold dear, and to accept everyone—a lesson many of us need today.
As a Creative Writing major who aspires to write my own books someday, I do not think I would have the courage to pursue this dream without Riordan and Percy Jackson. Those books taught me the power that fiction can hold and just how applicable it can be to the real world. I re-read them every year and always notice new details that help me become a better person.
No matter how old you are, and whether you are looking for a fun new series, a thought-provoking one, or simply an entertaining way to learn more about mythology, Percy Jackson is the answer.