Percy Jackson and The Olympians Book 1: The Lightning Thief (PB) by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson thought he was just an ordinary twelve-year-old with a knack for getting kicked out of schools. Turns out, he’s the son of a Greek god. And someone has just accused him of stealing Zeus’s master lightning bolt.

What follows is a cross-country adventure packed with monsters, mythology, and one seriously ticking clock. Percy has ten days to find the real thief and return the bolt before all of Olympus goes to war. No pressure.

Here’s the thing we love about this book: it takes those dusty old Greek myths you half-remember and drops them right into the modern world. The Underworld is in Los Angeles. Medusa runs a garden statuary shop. It’s clever, funny, and absolutely impossible to put down.

Rick Riordan has a gift for reluctant readers, too. If you’ve got a kid who “doesn’t like books,” hand them this one. We’ve watched it work its magic more than a few times right here in the shop.

A perfect fit for fans of fantasy, adventure, and a little bit of chaos, this one’s ideal for readers ages 8 to 12 (though plenty of grown-ups sneak it off the shelf, too).

The first in a beloved bestselling series, so be warned: you’ll likely be back for Book Two.

Picture a rainy afternoon, the sound of the ocean just outside, and Percy leading the way into a world of gods and heroes. That’s a very good day.

Come browse, or let us send this salty little slice of adventure your way.

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