"I LOVE mythology, and this book just fed that love even more. This was such a fun read to see those myths brought to life. My only concern is that this book becomes very difficult to follow if a reader does not already understand the myths mentioned throughout the book. I picked up the book to pass along to my son once I was finished, and I must say that I am quite surprised that this is a kid's book. Mythology is not necessarily a subject taught to the target audience, and there are so many of the myths that are mentioned in passing without full explanations that I feel a reader who is unfamiliar with the stories would miss out on the danger, the explanations, and the subtext interwoven throughout the plot. [return][return] [return][return]However, that did not stop me from thoroughly enjoying the book. It has action, adventure, and history rolled into one story. The writing is engaging and not overly simplistic. While there is quite a bit of detail, it is not as vivid as I might have wished. I felt the message behind Percy's quest, of being true to yourself and to your friends and ultimately to have faith, is an important one to learn at a young age. [return][return] [return][return]I absolutely cannot wait to read more of the series, but I am uncertain just what my son will think of it. Will the myths be over his head? Will he grasp the context? It will be interesting to watch his reaction once he gets around to reading it. For myself, I will be hard-pressed not to pick up the rest of the series immediately, but I may be biased with that whole love of mythology thing."