A Christian Mom's Review of Percy Jackson
The pros, the cons, and how to address the books with your child
“So what do you think about the Percy Jackson series?” my friend Kristen asked.
Good question. I’m going to give it a long answer. Rick Riordan’s fantasy adventure series Percy Jackson and the Olympians has become one of the best-selling series of all time, selling more than 180 million copies and being adapted into a film and a musical. If you haven’t heard of the Percy Jackson series yet, the odds are that your kids have or will.
There are some great things about Percy Jackson, but there are problems too. I’m not going to tell you whether or when to let your kids read these, but I want to help you make an informed decision. In this post, I’ll list the pros, cons, and issues worth knowing to decide if the books are worth reading (and how to discuss them well). To do that, I will have a couple spoilers in this review. But keep reading because I’m going to give you suggested book club questions to discuss Percy Jackson with your kids. As a treat, I’m finishing off with a booklist of fantasy adventure books middle grade readers.
The Premise
The series begins with the titular hero Percy Jackson, a misfit with ADHD and dyslexia who spends each academic year switching from private school to private school. He misses his king mom and resents his nasty, abusive step-father. Things get weird when one of his teachers turns into a monster and tries to assassinate him. Eventually, Percy learns that everything he ever heard about ancient Greek mythology is factually true and that he himself is a half-mortal, the son of his human mother and an unknown Greek god. Not only that, but ancient Greek monsters cleverly disguised as mortals are out to kill him and his mother. Percy’s quest starts with finding refuge in the Olympic safe house Camp Half-Blood, a place for kids who are half-mortal descendents of Greek gods. But eventually, Percy leaves the safety of the camp on a quest and travels across the USA as immortal forces threaten his mom’s fate and the order of the universe. The books in the series escalate the threats facing Percy until he is battling for the preservation of the world.
The Pros
This book portrays neurodiversity as something to be proud of. Percy’s ADHD is part of his abilities to think and act with super speed as a half-mortal. His dyslexia is because his mind is wired to read ancient Greek. At Camp Half-Blood, Percy finds that his neurodiversity makes him belong and helps him succeed.
This book cleverly weaves in Greek and Roman mythology in a format that many kids enjoy. The world building is impressive and well-integrated into the setting of modern America, including real U.S. landmarks. (In Percy’s world, the ancient Greek gods always live in the most powerful country at the time, which is now the USA, rather than Greece.) Readers learn Greek myths and American geography without even trying.
This book portrays Percy’s relationship with his mom as beautiful and good. They love, support, and sacrifice for each other.
Courage, loyalty, and sacrifice are lauded throughout this book series.
Ultimately, Percy prioritizes what is right over what is expedient or easy. And ultimately, Percy is even more admirable than the other characters, including the Greek gods.
The Cons
The story’s world view is based on a pantheon of ancient Greek gods and the afterlife they offer is in Hades, which is frankly, depressing. These gods have a completely different morality from the God of the Bible, although often these moralities overlap.
The story’s premise is built around a community of kids born out of wedlock to parents who have rejected traditional and Biblical sexual ethics. While no sexual acts are described, fornication is a basic premise of the story; it’s the reason all the main characters exist. The divine characters are the most promiscuous, true to the original Greek tales. One plot point of the first book centers around the adultery of the god Ares and goddess Aphrodite. Rick Riordan is very careful to not include actual sexual content in his books besides a long kiss between sixteen-year-old Percy and his girlfriend.
The Greek gods and goddesses make terrible parents. They are usually absent, but in their rare moments of interaction with their half-mortal children, they are often cold or self-absorbed. Even the mortal parents are less available to their kids because so many kids spend their time at Camp Half-Blood for the children’s safety. I hope no child ever reads these books and think that the way parenthood is portrayed in this book is normal or healthy.
There is a lot of violence in this book, although it’s written for a fifth grade level. Rick Riordan writes action-packed books. If you aren’t interested in hearing about fighting, swords, blood, or things being blown up or set on fire over and over and over, well, you should never read books by Rick Riordan.
The first book in this series ends with the homicide of Percy’s disgusting and abusive step-father. Percy offers to kill this man for his mom (with the sanction of the Greek gods), but his mom refuses, saying she needs to handle her own problems. The book ends with Percy’s mom turning her husband into a statue. Riordan seems to think this murder is a happy and hilarious ending to his book.
Later in the series, Percy befriends Bianca and Nico Di Angelo, a sister and brother. Ultimately, Bianca chooses to abandon her younger brother to become the immortal handmaiden of the goddess Artemis. Bianca tells Percy that she does this so she doesn’t have to take care of Nico and can live her own life. The book doesn’t critique Bianca’s selfishness in this decision.
I haven’t read all of the Percy Jackson spin off series, but The Trials of Apollo series ends with a main character entering a same-sex relationship, which is lauded by the other characters.
The books have light language like “heck,” “ass,” “darn,” and occasionally using “gods” as a swear word.
To be honest, I have yet to introduce these books to my kids. They aren’t the type my kids would love, and, frankly, there are better books out there, both in content and writing style. However, if my kids came to me and asked to read these books, I’d suggest that we either read them aloud together or that we have a “book club” together about the books. If they have friends who liked the books, I’d invite some of them too. You have to decide what is best for your family, but if all of your kids’ friends are reading and talking about these books, wouldn’t you rather discuss these books with your kids than let them find them on their own without input from a loving, Christian adult? Just a thought.
Also, if your kids desperately want to read these books, don’t be anxious. This could be a fantastic opportunity to compare and contrast the true and holy God with the self-obsessed, dishonest gods of ancient mythology. Your kids might appreciate having a truly good God like never before.
Keep reading if you want my recommendations for a Percy Jackson book club AND a list of book recommendations that I think are even better than Percy Jackson
Percy Jackson Book Club
Required reading first: Usborne’s Greek Myths For Young Children by Heather Amery. If the kids read this clean and beautifully illustrated telling of the real myths, they will enjoy and catch more of Riordan’s thoughtful references.
Snacks: Baklava (Yes, I would definitely include a snack, like baklava and cheese and olives or something else tasty. I want my kids to remember book discussions with me as fun and positive, not as boring or as an interrogation.)
Discussion:
I’d start by asking my kids what they enjoyed and sharing in the fun of the well-written action sequences or well-developed characters. After a few softball questions and some time sharing enjoyment, I’d move into the following questions:
How are the half-mortal parents different from and like their parents?
Which half-mortals do you like the best?
What attributes does Percy get from his dad? Do you get any of your unique attributes from your parents?
When people become Christians, what attributes do they share with their Heavenly Dad? What divine attributes do they not get?
What do you think about Percy’s real dad, not only his powers but what he is actually like as a dad?
Do you think Percy wishes he had a different relationship with his dad?
Besides their super powers, do you think any of the Olympians make really great parents? Do you think they make great husbands or wives?
What do you think about Percy’s mom?
What do you think about her decision to marry Percy’s step-dad? How do you think she should have addressed her relationship with her abusive husband?
How do you think Percy gets the courage to keep doing the right thing?
Of all of Percy’s friends, who are your favorites? What do you like about them?
What do you think of Bianca’s decision to leave Nico in Percy Jackson and the Olympians? How would you feel if you were Nico? What would you have done if you were Bianca?
How do you think the Lotus Hotel and Casino would have affected you? Can you think of things that make you lose track of time and waste it like the Lotus does?
How do you feel about the after life in Percy’s world? Do you want to go? How does this compare with the afterlife described in the Bible?
The best afterlife for a mortal is to go to the Elysian fields. How does a character get to spend eternity in the Elysian fields in Percy’s world? How is this different from how the Bible tells us people can get to Heaven?
What do you think about Percy’s relationship with Annabeth Chase? How can Percy and Annabeth have a relationship that is wiser and healthier than the relationships their own parents have had?
How are the Olympians like or different from the real God?
Pretend that the Olympians are the real gods. What about their rules would be the same or different as the rules of the real God?
Which God would you rather pray to? Why?
By the end of the series, Percy becomes more likeable and admirable than the gods. Why is this?
Want to end on a fun note? Have your kids practice throwing “spears” (i.e. sticks) outside at a cardboard box with a target (or a Greek monster) drawn on the side.
A Book List
Maybe you’ve decided that Percy Jackson isn’t right for you and your family now. Or maybe you and your family love them and want more books in the same vein. Here are some middle-grade fantasy adventure books for kids that I prefer to the Percy Jackson series:
The Wild Robot by Peter Brown - This was recently turned in a movie (rated PG), and its cinematography was stunning as it portrayed a robot made for humans washed ashore on an island inhabited only be animals. As much as I liked the film, I prefer and even love the book with its beautiful themes of community, service, and purpose. I’m eagerly awaiting for my local library to get me the sequel. With its short chapters, creative story, and adventure, this is a great book for reluctant readers. If I like the sequels as much as I like the original, I’ll be buying the set. I will pretend it’s for my kids.
The 100 Cupboards Trilogy by N. D. Wilson - I almost gave up on this series after the first book left me with more questions and answers and the first book started off . . . weird and a little gross. But the characters were so well-written, that I had to finish, if only to find out if Uncle Frank can make his fortune selling tumbleweeds on Ebay. Halfway through the second book, I finally figured out what the plot was about, and when I did, I was hooked. This book follows twelve-year-old Henry who is sent to live with his uncle’s family in rural Kansas because his career-driven parents are detained overseas. Henry finds that his deceased and secretive grandpa left a strange, selfish legacy in the family, including 100 small cupboard doors hidden in the attic. Each one seems to connect to a completely different world. One of them has a witch who’s been looking for Henry for a long time. The younger characters sometimes ignore and defy their guardians, but they grow in maturity and wisdom throughout the series. Some characters are dishonest. There is some violence and magic. The series is not explicitly Christian, but readers can see Wilson’s Christian faith shape the story in thought-provoking ways.
Leeppike Ridge by N. D. Wilson - This book isn’t in a fantasy world, but it’s good, clean adventure, a modern-day adaptation of The Odyssey. After Tom’s dad passes away, Tom and his mom continue to live in their mountain cabin. One night, on a whimsical ride down a river, Tom is swept into an underground cave, where he must entangle the mystery surrounding his father’s death and try to get back in time to protect his mom from the suitors that are pursuing her. Note: An adult main character uses the word “bastard” to describe some murderers.
The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson- A modern day classic fantasy series by a Christian singer, songwriter, and author. The stories follow three siblings in the world of Aerwiar where they live with their mom and grandpa, a former pirate. They live under the shadow of an army of lizard people, the oppressive Fangs, who are ruled by the mysteriously evil Gnag the Nameless, who is said to be seeking “Lost Jewels” to confirm his empire. Janner, Kalmar, and Leeli begin to suspect their mother knows something about the Jewels, and their quest to keep them from Gnag drives the family across two continents, to fight armies, and to test their limits of their love and commitment as a family. My husband and I laughed and cried over these. We’re reading them to my kids now, and they are completely enthralled.
The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander - I like to describe these as “Lord of the Rings for kids.” The author drew on Welsh mythology to write this five-part coming-of-age series about Taran, a boy who serves as an assistant pigkeeper for the ancient wizard who rules his home. Taran and his friends take on a series of quests to preserve order and peace in the land of Prydain and protect it from the evils of Arawn, the death lord. These are classics and award-winners for a reason.
The Cooper Kids Adventure Series by Frank Perriti - This Christian thriller series was written for kids in the 1990s about thirteen-year-old Jay, twelve-year-old Lila, and their archealogist father as they explore ancient digs and mysterious events around the globe. Although these are completely farfetched, I loved the combination of mystery, excitement, and faith in these books when I was a preteen.
The Green Ember series by S. D. Smith - This series emerged just a few years ago and has captured the imaginations of thousands of Christian kids with its stories of anthromorphized rabbits who are trying to recover the beauty of their fallen kingdom of King Jupitor after it was destroyed by their evil wolf and hawk enemies. (I confess, I prefer the better written, more original books of the Redwall series by Brian Jacques, which seemed to inspire this world of fighting animals.) But don’t mind me: These are clean, exciting books with a moral compass you can completely rely on.
The Wilderking Trilogy by Jonathan Rogers- Another adventure series by a Christian author, these books are, more or less, fan fiction based on the life of the Biblical King David but set in a bayou. Like the Green Ember series, these are wildly popular among Christian homeschoolers right now, and I personally find them overrated for the hype. (While imaginative, I didn’t love the writing style, and I found them predictable.) Still, if you want a good, clean fantasy epic from a completely reliable Christian narrator, these are a great choice.
The Fablehaven Series by Brandon Mull - Siblings Kendra and Seth don’t want to stay with the grandparents they barely know while their parents go on a cruise, but there’s no alternative. When they arrive, Kendra and Seth find their grandparents live on a gorgeous estate surrounded by forests, which their grandpa insists are full of dangers, like ticks and wild animals. Eventually, Kendra and Seth find their grandpa is actually the caretaker of a preserve full of magical and dangerous creatures, ranging from fairies to demons. While these books have incredible world building, parents should note that the characters are sometimes dishonest, including the adults. One adult character tells Kendra that all religions are corrupted by manmade philosophy. And Seth spends the first book dedicating his life to the cause of making the worst possible decisions in any given moment. (Seth’s defiance of reason and instruction never works out well though.) The characters show growth in maturity and honesty in the second book. In the second book, Kendra and Seth use a shrinking spell on a rescue mission, which means they grow out of their clothes, but while unclothed, they are either invisible or in hiding. I haven’t had the chance to finish the series yet. While these books aren’t perfect, because of the positive family relationships and the themes of sacrifice and faithful guardianship, I think this series is probably a healthier choice overall than Percy Jackson. And if you like Percy Jackson, I bet you’ll love this series.
If you’re ever tempted to think that fantasy is a waste of time as a genre, do yourself a favor and buy the beautiful book Mythmakers by John Hendrix, which tells of the friendship of J. R. R. Tolkein and C. S. Lewis in graphic novel form. It explores their mutual love of myth and how that was a huge influence in connecting them as friends and in leading Lewis to Christianity. As much as it’s tempting to think of graphic novels for younger readers, I don’t plan to give this one to my kids until they’re approaching high school. The book has a few digressions on the history of myth and literary genres that will confuse or bore younger readers. (Also note: The book has one instance of taking God’s name in vain in a direct quote.) Still, this beautiful and moving book can encourage you how God can work through mythical stories powerfully told to draw people to Himself.
Until next time.
We have really enjoyed the Green Ember but had never heard of Redwall. I spied it among the audiobooks at the library last week. My kids have never been so excited to go on car rides before, haha. They asked to sit in the car after we got home from church to keep listening, so I let them take it inside and they are reconstructing a lego version of the abbey while they listen. :) Thanks so much for the recommendation!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this review! My college-age students encouraged me to introduce Percy Jackson to my kids, but I was waiting for a more mature recommendation. :-) This is so helpful!