Blogger: Rachel Kent
Location: Books & Such main office, Santa Rosa, Calif.
This week I’m going to give you a book review each day about YA books and books for younger readers that I’ve read recently. That way we can all talk about the market and trends. I really enjoy reading all types of books, but I’m going to focus this week on books for young readers (including some for twentysomethings).
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
I realize I’m a bit behind with this one. It’s been popular for awhile now! I don’t typically read middle grade books, but thought I’d give this one a try since I have heard so much about it. It was the very first book I purchased with my Christmas Kindle. 🙂
The first thing I noticed about the book were the chapter titles. They bothered me! I thought the titles made the chapters sound silly. When I actually started reading, I was impressed with Percy’s voice and enjoyed the first few chapters once I realized the chapter titles weren’t too literal. I can see how a middle-grade boy would like the chapter titles, but I’m long past middle school, and I’ve never been a boy. The further I got into the book, the more I felt that it really was a great book for middle-grade readers. While I read it all the way through, I am not interested in reading further in the series because the plot just wasn’t gripping enough for me.
If you have a middle-schooler who has not yet read this series, I think he or she would be interested. Please preview the books first just in case they contain something you aren’t comfortable with your child reading. The series is fictional and about Greek gods and goddesses.
I don’t regret purchasing The Lightning Thief, but overall I didn’t really like it.
Now, my opinion is only one opinion, and I expect I’m the minority on this book. Have your read it or has your child? What did you think?
As a writer, did it bother you that the chapter titles didn’t match the chapters that well?
What middle-grade book have you or your child read lately that was particularly enjoyable?
I read Percy Jackson and loved it 🙂 There is definitely a sense of humor in the books. And if you know your greek mythology, its interesting to see how Rick ties it into his modern retelling.
One thing I came away thinking though is I’m glad our God isn’t like those gods. These demi-gods (children of gods and humans) are left to find out who they are without help (most of the time) from their deity parent. I felt bad for them. And (spoiler here…)
That is what causes the big war that happens later on in the series. These kids just want to be loved and wanted.
Anyway, looking forward to all the books you’ll be reviewing this week 🙂
Glad to hear you say this—not that I have any ill feelings for Mr. Riordan.
I got half way through it and set it down and never picked it up again. I can’t even remember why I didn’t like, but I know I didn’t care if the character lived or died.
I don’t remember the chapter titles.
My most recent favorite middle grade read was When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead. It is so much not my kind of book that I put it off and put it off, but once I finally read it, I loved it.
The Charlatan’s Boy, by Jonathan Rogers, is another recent favorite. I love the voice, and the main character is a little sweetie that grabs you from the start.
I also really loved The Reinvention of Edison Thomas, by Jacqueline Houtman. Another one I put off, because I am not thrilled with reading books about kids with Asperger’s. But this kid was every bit as endearing as Adrian Monk.
I think you are unqualified to review this book, having never been a boy. 🙂
Our son read The Lightning Thief for something with school a couple of years ago. He’s been on my case ever since to read them. I finally pulled them out this summer and enjoyed them more than I’d expected. I liked some books more than others, but the writing seemed to improve with each one (IMO).
As a mom, part of the fun was reading something our son had enjoyed so much — we had some great discussions about the characters, the mythology, and even the writing.
As a writer, they showed me some things to keep in mind while writing for MG kids. 1) Fast-paced action with twists is a must. 2) Boys really will read about and root for girl characters if they’re spunky and smart. My son and his friends liked Annabeth as much as Percy. 3) Finding a way to connect something in your book with things the kids learn in school (ie, Greek mythology) can really boost their interest.
My son said the first book in Rick Riordan’s next series (The Red Pyramid/Kane Chronicles series) was much better. It’s about a brother/sister duo who get drawn into the world of Egyptian gods. He switches POV between the brother and sister each chapter, which I thought was interesting since I haven’t seen that much in MG books.
I think the next book on my son’s stack is Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer by John Grisham. Mine is Sugar and Ice by Kate Messner — I’ve heard she’s a great author to be familiar with if you’re writing for the MG market. I’m looking forward to whatever books you discuss this week!
My boys are always coming homes with books they love that they want me to read, but I haven’t made it to poor Percy yet. One boy gave the whole series top reviews, but then he loves mythology. The other boy didn’t find the concept appealing and never read it.
Two middle-grade books all three of us read and liked: Everlost and Everwild by Neal Shusterman. For me as a writer, I particularly liked the development of the villain over the two books–how she stepped farther and farther down the road of evil to achieve what she felt were just ends. Book three of the trilogy comes out later this year.
I haven’t read this book, but I volunteer at our school library and many boys check out books in this series. I’m not much into Greek mythology, so I doubt I would ever read this one.
I read SLOB by Ellen Potter in 2009 and I still remember bits and pieces of it. I loved the narrator’s voice. From the first sentence I wanted to keep reading.
The Truth about Truman School by Dori Hillestad Butler was another good one. It dealt with the topic of bullying. I felt one of the kids who was a victim of bullying in this book had some very insightful words. I couldn’t put this book down.
My favorite MG book that I’ve read over the last couple of years has to be Noonie’s Masterpiece by Lisa Railsback. Ten-year-old Noonie lives with her aunt, uncle, and annoying cousin while her archeologist father is busy on one of his digs. Her mother died when she was in Kindergarten. Right away, Railsback makes me feel sorry for Noonie and I want to take her pain away.
Noonie is the narrator of this story, and her voice is just wonderful; very engaging. She feels misunderstood by her relatives. She also wants to win the school’s art contest, though Sue Ann Pringle wins everything.
I loved Noonie’s story. I hadn’t intended to read the whole book in the span of a couple of days, but I did. I was thrilled when the author contacted me and asked me to review her newest release, Betti on the High Wire. I enjoyed this one too. Railsback creates characters you truly care about and whose voice makes you want to dive right in.
Cheryl
OK, so y’all are really expanding my list of ‘want to reads’ for the next couple of months. I’ll definitely be looking into your suggestions.
And, Erin, I agree with your comment about the mythology connection. Our son’s class did a 12-week unit on Greek mythology the winter before he read Lightning Thief. He loved studying it in class, so that could’ve helped feed his interest.
My son bought this book a few years ago in an airport – I said pick one out and I didn’t think he’d ever touch it.
We actually read through the whole series together and loved it. Didn’t pay any attention to the titles. I pay more attention to non-fiction chapter titles as they provide a ‘guide’ to look back for something.
Unfortunately, the Lightning Thief film left a very bad taste in my son’s mind for books made into films. I generally provide a lot of license, but when Annabeth is regularly and consistently described as blonde and especially grey eyes, the movie was anything but.
Unfortunately for Mr. Riordsn’s other books/series, the movie soured my son so much that he’s had no interest in even starting any of the others. (though I might still pick them up sometime).
As for the Greek gods vs. the TRUE God, we used the book as a discussion point about different cultures and beliefs. Hiding other cultures from our kids won’t help them in understanding differences – and defending what they believe – when they are no longer under our roof.
Almost didn’t read the full blog post – never thought of myself as a 38-year-old YA reader before!
Oh great recommendations, and I just wanted to add one—anything by Eoin Colfer. I LOVE him. Airman in particular, but all his stuff is great. Jonathan Stroud, also, is wonderful—I haven’t had a chance to read his newest yet. It’s on the shelf calling to me.
Wow! Thanks for the comments. I am so surprised that I haven’t read a single one of the books you are all recommending. Yikes!
Rich, I haven’t watched the movie, but was actually thinking about it. Perhaps I won’t waste my time. 🙂
The movie was good — if you hadn’t read the book. I wanted to read it beforehand, but my kids at church told me to wait. I’m glad I listened because several big things were really different from the book. It drove our son crazy, but he kept most of it to himself until we were out of the theater. Then he spent the whole ride home telling us all the differences. 🙂
This books to film conversation is one I always like to explore, even though I’m not usually a movie goer nor do I often watch TV movies.
One divisive instance of books made into movies/shows is the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder adapted for the small screen in the now classic 70’s show, Little House on the Prairie, starring the late Michael Landon.
I discovered the show first and couldn’t get into the books as a child. I would be in my early 20’s before I appreciated Wilder’s books and began researching her real life. LIW enthusiasts don’t always like how far away from the books Landon wandered in his show that lasted for 9 seasons and 3 follow-up movies.
A mini-series in 2005 followed the books much more closely, and CBS aired two movies in early 2000 based upon These Happy Golden Years, The First Four Years, and Wilder’s journal On the Way Home.
I appreciate all the film adaptations, but I have been most excited about the two documentaries that Dean Butler, who portrayed Almanzo Wilder in Michael Landon’s series, produced. The first, Almanzo Wilder: Life Before Laura, is based upon Farmer Boy, and the second, which he is still working on, is a documentary on Laura. The latter is being reviewed by U.S. and international distributors.
Cheryl
Well my son is not into these types of books yet so I can’t comment on this book. He is still into Billy and Blaze books. 🙂
YA is out of my writing genre, but I think any writer can learn a bit about writing from these comments and from any genre.
I think Morgan makes a good point in her comment above. Studying or reading about other historical or faith backgrounds (like Greek mythology) can help us learn even more about and be thankful for the blessings we receive from our God.
From most people’s comments here, a character’s voice (and being able to relate or empathize with that character) is strikingly important.
I’m looking forward to reading your book reviews this week, Rachel, as well as everyone’s comments on them!
I haven’t read it and neither have my kids, but I’ll keep it in mind for my youngest. I haven’t read any middle-grade books in a while, but I’d like to purchase The Phantom Toll Booth again for my son. Our current copy is missing pages. 🙂
All my kids, my nephews and I have read the entire Percy Jackson series and loved it. I find it much easier to remember those Greek gods now than I ever did when I was in school. I thought the chapter titles were funny and I couldn’t wait to find out how he would tie in the title with the story. It was like a riddle for every chapter.
I recently read The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull. The kids loved it, and reading it aloud together gave us great discussions. It gives new meaning to the mantra we preach: don’t take candy from strangers.
Looking forward to all the recommendations this week!
My girls and I all listened to the entire Percy Jackson series as our drive time getaway—I have to say that I wasn’t crazy about the writing, but it was entertaining and I appreciated the fact that they were learning the entire time.
Our new family favorites are the “Peter and the Starcatcher” books by Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry. They are a great mix of adventure and humor that adults and kids can enjoy equally. And I have to also recommend, like Sally, “When You Reach Me” – it is an amazing book.
I picked up The Lightning Thief at the start of summer 2010 for my 10-year-old son. His first reaction was to get upset that he would be learning Greek mythology over the summer. I am happy to report that he was not upset for long. We read the entire series together and enjoyed them. It was a much more interesting way get a feel for mythology. It opened the doors to many discussions about how some ancient civilizations saw the world and explained things.
His favorite Christmas book that he received was The Big Book of Gross Stuff by Bart King. He is now reading other books by this author.
I love love love Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo. She is such a brilliant writer. I mostly read romance, but this book is just so perfect. If you haven’t read it, you need to!
I haven’t read Percy Jackson, yet. It is on my bookshelf awaiting it’s turn.
The best mg I’ve read lately is Nightshade City by Hilary Wagner. I bought it because Hilary has a great blog and is just adorable…but her writing is epically beautiful! It’s about an underground society of rats, it’s full of twists, deceit, adventure and a little rat romance. Hilary paints an amazing picture that sucks you into the catecombs and into Nightshade City. I can’t wait until her next book comes out.
Interesting post and comments. I think my 2nd grader will enjoy these books. He’s newly into Greek mythology and loves chapter books. For myself, the jury will be out until we get through book 1. It has to be an improvement over the Wimpy Kid series, which is both smart and obnoxious.