The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

As poor Percy Jackson struggles through school (and does something rather embarrassing to his math teacher)  he begins to suspect that his life is not what it seems. He discovers that his lifelong reading and attention troubles are all signs that he is a half-blood-a child of the Greek gods. After training, Percy and the gang go on a quest to recover Zeus' lost thunderbolt and stop a war between the fickle gods. Along the way, where modern life and mythology intersect to create both humor and excitement, Percy will come to know his father Poseidon, rescue his mother, and discover that he has what it takes to be a hero. Ultimately, Percy learns to trust his friends and his abilities and to choose love over despair. -Scholastic Review 

This is such a great beginning to a series!! Riordan is a master of creating reading appeal to children (and adults!!).  The Lightning Thief is the first book of the Olympian series, and has earned all of the hype.  Truly an excellent novel; one which stays true to its mythological backgrounds.  I appreciate when fiction is accurate when portraying concepts taken from Ancient mythologies.  This novel is informative as well as a load of fun!

Grade Level: 4.7-4.9