Friday 9 December 2011
4th Journal
The ending of the book I thought was an absolutely spectacular climax. At this point as expected I was the most intersted in the book. I thought the imagery involved in describing the Underworld was very well done. As well as the modern twist thrown in. As an example when they go to the entrance to the underworld, they were takin down by elevator. Then when it reached the Underworld it turned into a barge and floated down the river to the gates. Another example is how the security in Underworld was so modern. It's security consisted of metal detectors, magic detectors, as well as strip searches for those who were terribly bad when they were alive. One thing I didnt understand was how they got into the Underworld so easily. For one, all they did to get into the elevator was give Charon a few golden drachmas. Then once they got to the security, to get past Cerberus (The three headed guard dog of the underworld) all they did was throw a ball for him and then they got through. Then when they set off all the security alarms, they just hid in a corner, then casually walked through the Fields of Asphodel. As I mentioned before the imagery used in describing the Underworld was really spectacular. Especially in describing the different sections. For example, the Fields of Asphodel were described as standing in a wheat field in Kansas forever. Also the Fields of Elysium were described as beautiful houses from every time period, with siver and gold flowers blooming in every lawn. I think that just the fact of them being in the Underworld made it more intense and exciting. Then once they returned from the Underworld Percy's fight with Ares, I thought was very well sequenced. The way Percy conjured up the idea of using the waves to defeat Ares really surprised me. Then, Percy takes the Helm from Ares and returns it safely back to Hades. Then returns the Bolt to Mount Olympis, meeting hius father along the way. I think it would not have been a very good ending to the book without finally meeting his father. After reading nearly to the end I thought it would have been better just ending it right then and there to leave on a good note. Then I read the very end and understood why it was needed. It was needed because you find out who is the real traitor, who was Luke working for Kronos. I think this sets the base of the next to come very well and actualy got me interested in reading it. All in all, great book and I would reccomend it to anyone.
Thursday 8 December 2011
finale journal
All of the things that I have talked about in my other journals has merely been a buildup to quite an amazing ending. In most books I have read, by the time that you get to the climax of the story, you can almost tell that the author is tired and fed up and just wants to finish the book and then you end up with the most predictable and ,sometimes, boring ending you can get. One thing that I really liked about how Riordan finished his book is that he created all these questions during the rising action, and he saved all the answers until the climax of the book. Questions like: is my mom still alive, does hades have the bolt, and what Percy fail to save that is most important to him. This all goes back to my last journal about how Riordan drops clues for you that are oh so subtle that you might not even notice and then drops the answers on you and leaves you shocked and satisfied. When I read up on Rick Riordan I learn that before he wrote the Lightning Thief he wrote many adult mystery novels. His experience with writing mystery novels really shows through in how he wrote the ending of this book. Everybody knows that any good mystery has a twist ending. Twist endings can sometimes be a bit tacky and too easy to see coming, really it’s all about how the author leads you to believe to believe the thing that is not true. The way that he almost had me convinced that it was Hades that stole the bolt was the perfect set up for the bomb that he dropped on me after. This book almost had two climaxes. The true climax of the book was when Percy and Hades met and then Percy had to make a decision of who to save. But Riordan didn’t let you down easy after that. He was still able to fit an intense fight scene in there. After the fight scene with Percy and Ares, you did really get the feeling that the book was coming to a close with a nice happy ending, but just then Riordan reminded me that this book is part of a series, by giving the last chapter an amazing hook that really shows you the bigger picture and truly gives an idea of what lies in store for Percy. All in all, I truly loved this book. Thumbs up to Rick Riordan for writing such an epic tale and I look for to reading on.
jamie collins
jamie collins
Setting Discussion Questions
1. Q) After reading the first quarter of the book we now know about Percy's situation and why he's a troubled kid, this being that he is a half-blood, now that we know this do you believe that his small apartment in the middle of New York is significant?
A) Yes i believe that it is significant because if he lived somewhere that is less populated and less busy monsters would be able to find him or catch his scent easier. Where as in the middle of New York there are so many people that his scent will be mixed in with so many other people that monsters will have a tough time finding him.
2. Q) At the start of the book Percy and his class are on a field trip to the museum, the author talks about them being in the ancient greek part of the tour. How does this foreshadow the events to come?
A) This foreshadows events to come because we find out later that Percy is a demi-god(half mortal, half god) which means that ancient greek is going to be very important in Percy's life.
3. Q) At the museum, just before Mrs.Dodds tells Percy to follow her into the museum, What happens to the weather that foreshadows what will happen inside the museum?
A) Just before Percy goes into the museum behind Mrs.Dodds the weather gets very stormy, this foreshadows that something very bad is going to happen. Which it did, Mrs.Dodds tries to kill Percy inside the museum.
4. Q) When Percy returns home at the end of the school year to his apartment, it is very smelly and dirty because of Gabe. Why is this trait of the apartment so important for Percy's safety?
A) This trait of the apartment is important because the smell of Gabe and the appartement stay on Percy, this smell overwhelms Percy half-blood scent which keeps him safe from monsters before he has been trained.
5. Q) When Percy and Grover are on the bus back to New York at the end of the school year, the bus breaks down in the middle of nowhere. How does this show that something significant is going to happen? What happens?
A) When the bus breaks down black smoke billows out from the dashboard,this symbolizes that something bad is going to happen. When Percy and grover get off the bus they see the three Fates, they look directly at Percy and cut a piece of yarn. If the Fates cut yarn it's like them cutting your "lifeline", it means that you are going to die.
6. Q) The night that Percy and his mother stay at the beach cabin at Montauk is described as one of the worst storms that New York has ever seen. This foreshadows that something bad is going to happen, What happens?
A) Percy and his mother are awoken by grover who is being chased by a monster from the underworld. The monster chases them all the way to Half-Blood Hill, we find out that the monster is the Minotaur and Percy later defeats him but loses his mother in the process.
7. Q) Half-Blood Hill is the only safe place for half-bloods. It is a stereotypical heart warming farm house in a valley surrounded by strawberry fields. Why do you think that the author would pick this as the safe place for half bloods?
A) I think that the author chose this as the safe place for half-bloods because i think that it is a very easy setting for readers to picture and relate to. I also think that he chose this because a lot of people would think about this as a sort of paradise that they can relate to as being a very safe place.
8. Q) This part of the story takes place i New York, New York does not have a very warm climate, not really ideal for growing strawberry's, what is revealed about how and why the strawberry fields are there?
A) We learn a little bit later in the story that the strawberry fields can grow there for two reasons. First because the climate at Half-Blood Hill is whatever the people there want it to be, therefore it is nice and mostly warm all year. Second, the camp director is Dionysus, the god of wine, which also means that he can make things grow very easily. The reason that the strawberry fields are there instead of grape fields(for the god of wine) is because he is not aloud to grow grapes or drink wine until his punishment from Zeus is over.
9. Q) When Percy is receiving his tour of the camp we learn that the number 1, 2, and 3 cabins are empty. If you were a demigod would you want to be a child of the big three?
A) No, i wouldn't want to be a child of the big three. Even though these half-bloods are the most powerful, they are also very dangerous and they are often in danger. Also i would not want to live alone in a cabin all summer, or possibly all year. I would much rather be a child of Athena or Ares where you are still powerful but also have people to live with, and i would not be in as much danger as a child of the big three.
10. Q) When Percy and his mother spend the night at Montauk Percy talks about all of his good experiences there and all of his fond memories and it is described as such a peaceful place. Did yo have any predictions about how their time spent their would play out? Were your predictions right?
A) Yes, i thought that because of the way that this place was described and the events leading up to it i thought that it would be spent peacefully and be a nice trip and there would be more conflict when their trip was over. My prediction was wrong! During the first night they are abruptly awaken and chased by the Minotaur all the way toHalf-Blood Hill.
A) Yes i believe that it is significant because if he lived somewhere that is less populated and less busy monsters would be able to find him or catch his scent easier. Where as in the middle of New York there are so many people that his scent will be mixed in with so many other people that monsters will have a tough time finding him.
2. Q) At the start of the book Percy and his class are on a field trip to the museum, the author talks about them being in the ancient greek part of the tour. How does this foreshadow the events to come?
A) This foreshadows events to come because we find out later that Percy is a demi-god(half mortal, half god) which means that ancient greek is going to be very important in Percy's life.
3. Q) At the museum, just before Mrs.Dodds tells Percy to follow her into the museum, What happens to the weather that foreshadows what will happen inside the museum?
A) Just before Percy goes into the museum behind Mrs.Dodds the weather gets very stormy, this foreshadows that something very bad is going to happen. Which it did, Mrs.Dodds tries to kill Percy inside the museum.
4. Q) When Percy returns home at the end of the school year to his apartment, it is very smelly and dirty because of Gabe. Why is this trait of the apartment so important for Percy's safety?
A) This trait of the apartment is important because the smell of Gabe and the appartement stay on Percy, this smell overwhelms Percy half-blood scent which keeps him safe from monsters before he has been trained.
5. Q) When Percy and Grover are on the bus back to New York at the end of the school year, the bus breaks down in the middle of nowhere. How does this show that something significant is going to happen? What happens?
A) When the bus breaks down black smoke billows out from the dashboard,this symbolizes that something bad is going to happen. When Percy and grover get off the bus they see the three Fates, they look directly at Percy and cut a piece of yarn. If the Fates cut yarn it's like them cutting your "lifeline", it means that you are going to die.
6. Q) The night that Percy and his mother stay at the beach cabin at Montauk is described as one of the worst storms that New York has ever seen. This foreshadows that something bad is going to happen, What happens?
A) Percy and his mother are awoken by grover who is being chased by a monster from the underworld. The monster chases them all the way to Half-Blood Hill, we find out that the monster is the Minotaur and Percy later defeats him but loses his mother in the process.
7. Q) Half-Blood Hill is the only safe place for half-bloods. It is a stereotypical heart warming farm house in a valley surrounded by strawberry fields. Why do you think that the author would pick this as the safe place for half bloods?
A) I think that the author chose this as the safe place for half-bloods because i think that it is a very easy setting for readers to picture and relate to. I also think that he chose this because a lot of people would think about this as a sort of paradise that they can relate to as being a very safe place.
8. Q) This part of the story takes place i New York, New York does not have a very warm climate, not really ideal for growing strawberry's, what is revealed about how and why the strawberry fields are there?
A) We learn a little bit later in the story that the strawberry fields can grow there for two reasons. First because the climate at Half-Blood Hill is whatever the people there want it to be, therefore it is nice and mostly warm all year. Second, the camp director is Dionysus, the god of wine, which also means that he can make things grow very easily. The reason that the strawberry fields are there instead of grape fields(for the god of wine) is because he is not aloud to grow grapes or drink wine until his punishment from Zeus is over.
9. Q) When Percy is receiving his tour of the camp we learn that the number 1, 2, and 3 cabins are empty. If you were a demigod would you want to be a child of the big three?
A) No, i wouldn't want to be a child of the big three. Even though these half-bloods are the most powerful, they are also very dangerous and they are often in danger. Also i would not want to live alone in a cabin all summer, or possibly all year. I would much rather be a child of Athena or Ares where you are still powerful but also have people to live with, and i would not be in as much danger as a child of the big three.
10. Q) When Percy and his mother spend the night at Montauk Percy talks about all of his good experiences there and all of his fond memories and it is described as such a peaceful place. Did yo have any predictions about how their time spent their would play out? Were your predictions right?
A) Yes, i thought that because of the way that this place was described and the events leading up to it i thought that it would be spent peacefully and be a nice trip and there would be more conflict when their trip was over. My prediction was wrong! During the first night they are abruptly awaken and chased by the Minotaur all the way toHalf-Blood Hill.
Journal #4
After reading the final portion of the book, the only thing that i can say is..wow! The ending of this book was so satisfying! A lot of predictions that i made while reading the book turned out to be right, for example Ares playing a large role in the end. I also really enjoyed the ending of the book because it ties up a lot of loose ends while still leaving some things unsolved which keeps you interested in the story. A couple of examples would be Medeusa's head, his mother's life, the real villain of the story. While still leaving things unsolved like, what Luke's role in the story will be, or how Kronos' plan to make the gods fall will continue. I really like that the book ended this way because it doesn't leave you wondering about too much, but about just enough to keep you very interested. Also i really enjoyed the ending of this book because it makes you feel like Percy's life has gotten a lot better, for example: Percy is no longer a criminal because of the mist that blocked the mortal's eyes, Percy's mother gets rid of Gabe meaning that Percy and his mother will be a lot happier. I think that because the story ended this way it really makes you feel good about the story because now you aren't thinking about problems with Percy's family but it also gives the story a lighter sort of comedy feel to it which most people enjoy. I think that because of this, most people who read Rick Riordan's "The Lightning Thief" will continue and read the entire series, I know that i will, can't wait to get started on the second book!
Journal Entry #4
In the last portion of the novel “Percy Jackson and the Olympians – The Lightning Thief” the scene becomes gloomy as they enter the threshold of hell (the underworld) and Percy, Annabeth and Grover end up playing fetch with Cereberus, the “hell hound” or guard dog for hell. This part of the novel really intrigued me because it seemed as if nobody had done anything like it before and that the author was breaking new ground when he included this part. I believe that Rick Riordan has one of the most creative and imaginative minds of our era. Another thing I found surprising was the ending. The book ends with Luke putting a scorpion on Percy’s lap which shocked me. Luke is helping Kronos to try and rise from Tararus. I was very shocked when I found out that Luke was the one trying to start a war of the gods because he was the one who seemed to be helping Percy the whole time on his quest. He deceived me and everyone else in the book which proves how entertaining and convincing an author Rick Riordan is. What else can I say but wow! Officially, this is the most interesting, intriguing, action packed fantasy book I have ever read! I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read the next one. Hats off to you, Rick Riordan, for writing the best novel I have ever read!
Nick Simpson
In the last portion of the novel “Percy Jackson and the Olympians – The Lightning Thief” the scene becomes gloomy as they enter the threshold of hell (the underworld) and Percy, Annabeth and Grover end up playing fetch with Cereberus, the “hell hound” or guard dog for hell. This part of the novel really intrigued me because it seemed as if nobody had done anything like it before and that the author was breaking new ground when he included this part. I believe that Rick Riordan has one of the most creative and imaginative minds of our era. Another thing I found surprising was the ending. The book ends with Luke putting a scorpion on Percy’s lap which shocked me. Luke is helping Kronos to try and rise from Tararus. I was very shocked when I found out that Luke was the one trying to start a war of the gods because he was the one who seemed to be helping Percy the whole time on his quest. He deceived me and everyone else in the book which proves how entertaining and convincing an author Rick Riordan is. What else can I say but wow! Officially, this is the most interesting, intriguing, action packed fantasy book I have ever read! I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read the next one. Hats off to you, Rick Riordan, for writing the best novel I have ever read!
Nick Simpson
Journal Entry #3
In the third portion of the novel “Percy Jackson and the Olympians – The Lightning Thief” there was even more relentless and intense action. The trio has just finished killing Medusa at “Auntie Em’s Garden Gnome Emporium”. I really like how the author, Rick Riordan, has woven countless Greek myths and stories into the novel including the story of Medusa. He incorporated Medusa into the story but with a modern twist which I found very entertaining and this twist to the myth kept me reading. In the novel he made Medusa the “Garden Gnome Emporium” owner which was interesting and would make sense because the novel is set in the modern world and therefore as times have evolved so have the myths. Most novels would probably make the story of Medusa boring but not Rick Riordan. It was very interesting how he incorporated it and continued it throughout the novel. The author does not do what is expected in a climactic scene either. For example when Percy had just leaped out of a hole in the Gateway Arch in St. Louis you would expect the author to ramble on about how Percy had a deep revelation and at the last second woke up out of the trance before he hit the water. Not so with Rick Riordan who purposely begins a new chapter. Percy in his thoughts is saying how he would love to tell us that he had a deep revelation on the way down, had come to terms with mortality and laughed in the face of death and then Percy says what really and truly happened. All he said was “Arrggghhh!” I enjoy how the author wrote this portion of the book as it is somewhat unexpected for an author to actually write what would have happened in real life. This makes the story interesting because as a reader I can relate even more to the life of Percy Jackson.
Nick Simpson
In the third portion of the novel “Percy Jackson and the Olympians – The Lightning Thief” there was even more relentless and intense action. The trio has just finished killing Medusa at “Auntie Em’s Garden Gnome Emporium”. I really like how the author, Rick Riordan, has woven countless Greek myths and stories into the novel including the story of Medusa. He incorporated Medusa into the story but with a modern twist which I found very entertaining and this twist to the myth kept me reading. In the novel he made Medusa the “Garden Gnome Emporium” owner which was interesting and would make sense because the novel is set in the modern world and therefore as times have evolved so have the myths. Most novels would probably make the story of Medusa boring but not Rick Riordan. It was very interesting how he incorporated it and continued it throughout the novel. The author does not do what is expected in a climactic scene either. For example when Percy had just leaped out of a hole in the Gateway Arch in St. Louis you would expect the author to ramble on about how Percy had a deep revelation and at the last second woke up out of the trance before he hit the water. Not so with Rick Riordan who purposely begins a new chapter. Percy in his thoughts is saying how he would love to tell us that he had a deep revelation on the way down, had come to terms with mortality and laughed in the face of death and then Percy says what really and truly happened. All he said was “Arrggghhh!” I enjoy how the author wrote this portion of the book as it is somewhat unexpected for an author to actually write what would have happened in real life. This makes the story interesting because as a reader I can relate even more to the life of Percy Jackson.
Nick Simpson
Wednesday 7 December 2011
Jounal #3
After reading the third quarter of the book i am still enjoying the book alot! I really enjoy how Rick Riordan uses action and small conflicts to further develop the characters as well, as well as the plot of the story. For example: when Percy and Annabeth are given the challenge of retreiving Ares' shield from the tunnel of love ride at the waterpark. This part of the book develops Percy and Annabeth's relationship and brings them closer together, also i believe that the setting of the tunnel of love foreshadows things to come between Percy and Anabeth. Also, it develops the plot by bringing in Ares who helps the group by giving them a ride west, bags, and money. I believe that this develops the plot further and i also think that Ares will play a very large role later in the story. I also really enjoy how the action has not slowed at all this far in the story. Also I enjoy that the action although is almost always a fight between Percy the others and a greek monster, the fight and resolution always feels new. The way that this is written to always be different it never becomes boring and never feels like the same old thing. Even though you know that the fight scene or conflict is coming, you never know who it will be against or what they will need to overcome and never know how they might resolve it. I believe that because the story is told this way it keeps you very interested and very curious about what is going to happen in the book.
Nick Finlay
Nick Finlay
3rd Journal
The third quarter of this book, I thought was way more exciting than the first half of the book. The creativeness that was put into it really surprised me. Now, I do have a knoledge of greek mythology, and I must say that this book really gets it right on the money. The way he puts a modern twist into it really adds to the quality of this book. For example, when the three kids run into Ares at the diner Percy started to get angry just from Ares's presence. Which added to the reality of this book as Ares is the god of war. Then once Percy retrieved the sword, Ares was nice to them, and gave them provisions, as well as a ride west. This forshadows that Ares is up to something mischievous because he's always trying to start something. I didn't expect the relationship of Percy and Annabeth to get more intimate as the story went on. I expected her to stick to her plain hard to get type of attitude. On the other hand I think that this is a good element to have in the story. The romantic side, I think works very well with the action making it more dramatic. At this point in the book I think Grover has definitely become more confident, now that he is off the hook for nearly letting Percy get killed. He is starting to stand up for himself. You can see this when they are in the trailer with the animals on their way west. And Grover is sickened and eventually lets all of the animals go. Then I was surprised when the zebra talked to Percy and said, "Thank you lord." Then I remembered Poseidon's relation to horses. One thing I predict is that something really good is going to happen to Grover. I think after the grief he has been through so far almost failing on two of his quests. I think it only makes sense to end the story with him being successful, and maybe even find pan which is every Satyr's dream.
Tuesday 6 December 2011
2nd Journal
After reading the second section of the book I am actually surprized on how the plot played out. I liked how Riordan did the story line, he made the answeres to your questions on the book be told in time which made the book worth reading. As he lead up to the exciting parts of the book Riordan did not disapoint me when I got to the climax. In other books I have read, the rising action made it seem like something great and exciting was going to happen. Then once you get there youre left hanging with a boring, and blan so called, "Climax." One thing that caught me off guard was the way the old fashion greek mytholigy was so well tied together with a modern story. An example of this is how the three kids depart on their quest with their magical perks to help them on their way. All the while, taking bus's and trains and acting like regular, mortal people. I thought it was interesting how Riordan made the rules of how things worked when the two worlds met. For example, how the mortal people could not see the things that Percy and the other god and mythical creature related beings could see. Like Percy's sword Riptide, it was invinsible when it came in contact with the mortals. Also, how camp Half-Blood was seen as a regular valley to the normal people. This book in my opinion is similar to everyday life, minus the god's, and flying shoes, and a Yankee's hat that made you invisible. It definitely follows in the footsteps of regular Greek Mythology, involving important life lessons, how to face the challenges that regular people face everyday. As, overcoming obstacles is what life is all about. This book provides an educational side and an exciting more modern and understanding side, which makes it a great read, and I can't wait to read the rest.
journal #3
I have just finished reading the third quarter of the book and now it’s really starting to get interesting. They had left the camp already and are now beginning their journey. One thing that I found really interesting is the way that Riordan comes up with the obstacles and monsters that the tree kids have to face. Sure you could say that he just took all the ideas for the different monsters from Greek mythology, be doesn’t just take the myths as is and throw them in. He molds the myths in his own ways in order to make them work with modern day society. With the introduction of different monsters he drops hints to challenge your knowledge of mythology. The hints are sometimes subtle, but sometimes they are blatantly obvious. With the obvious clues, manages not to ruin the suspense but instead he creates more suspense. The clues give the answer but not perfectly so that you want to read on just to prove yourself right. For example; when they go to “Auntie Em’s Garden Gnome Emporium” the hints are fairly easy to figure out. Like the realism of the stone statues, her covered eyes, the hissing sounds, and the name Em … M… MEDUSA. You know in your head that its medusa, yet there’s still a grain of doubt until the book proves you right, and once it proves you right it’s like your favorite hockey team scored a goal. You just want to jump up, high five the guy next to you and scream “I WAS RIGHT!”. Then there are the times when the clues are a little more hidden, kind of like the time with Echidna and her evil Chihuahua. Oh sorry, chimera. You dive into all your knowledge of Greek mythology and the only thing you come up with is that it defiantly is a monster. It makes you want to read on and figure it out.
Monday 5 December 2011
Theme Discussion Questions – Nick SimpsonDefinition of Theme (Source - Oxford Dictionary):· the subject of a talk, piece of writing, exhibition, etc.; a topic.· An essay written by a school pupil on a particular subject.· An idea that recurs in or pervades a work of art or literature.
1) Is there one or more than one theme in the story?
There is one main theme which is Greek mythology. This theme is woven through the entire story and in every situation Percy finds himself in, Greek mythology is present. There is an underlying theme in the story which is perseverance, self sacrifice and bravery. In many instances Percy has to be brave and self sacrificing in order to be successful. For example, he has to save the world from Armageddon as well as leave his mother in the underworld until he has repaid Hades.
2) How is the Greek mythology theme woven throughout the story?This theme runs throughout the story through all of the explanations of the Greek gods and goddesses. When Chiron is explaining to Percy how he is a demi-god and what a demi-god is he explains how sometimes Gods or Goddesses would have an affair with mortal beings. This however was banned by Zeus after world war two as their offspring became too powerful. In conclusion, he is the son of Poseidon and he is not supposed to have happened according to the oath. This demonstrates that the theme of Greek mythology has been integrated into the story.3) How significant is this theme?This theme is very significant as the entire book is based on it. The bookis all about Greek mythology. For example, the main character is the son ofPoseidon. 4) What is the moral of this story and how does it relate to the theme?The moral of the story is that in order to prevail sacrifices have to be made. For example, Percy had to sacrifice leaving his mother in the underworld in order to save her in the end. This relates to the underlying theme of perseverance, self sacrifice and bravery being necessary in order to do the right thing no matter how risky it is.5) What message is the author trying to convey to the reading audience through the theme?The author is conveying the message of Percy being brave and self sacrificing in order to do what’s right even if it means going on a suicide mission to prevent an apocalypse from happening. He is making readers realize that no matter what the risks are in life, it is important to do the right thing.
6) What ideas/thoughts can you take away from the theme of this story and apply to your own life?Ideas or thoughts I can take away from this story relate to the moral and underlying theme of the story. In order to be successful, sacrifices, perseverance and bravery are required. In the story Percy demonstrates this when he fights off a Minotaur after his mother is sent to Hades. Percy also had to sacrifice leaving his mother in the underworld in order to save the world. In the end his mother returned from the underworld after he repaid Hades. In life, there will be times when you will need to persevere with something or be brave and self sacrificing in order to be successful.7) What topic does the theme cover which relates to real life?Again this relates to perseverance and bravery. In life, sometimes you need to face your fears and get over them. For example, if you are scared of heights you need to confront this fear and not avoid doing something because it involves heights. In the story Percy faces his fears when he goes on a suicide quest to save his mother and prevent an Armageddon.8) Does the underlying theme relate to today’s society?
The underlying theme of perseverance, self sacrifice and bravery relates to today’s society because these characteristics are necessary to be successful in life. If you don’t persevere and just give up you will never be successful at anything. Self sacrifice is often necessary when you need to put others needs ahead of your own or give up something in order to help another person. Bravery is needed when you are faced with a situation which is unfamiliar to you or frightening. You need to confront this fear in order to be successful in a given situation. Greek mythology (the main theme) is not present in our society however the themes of bravery, perseverance and sacrifice are clearly evident day to day life.9) What does the underlying theme show about Percy’s feelings towards his mother?Percy demonstrates perseverance, bravery and self sacrifice towards his mother when he goes on a suicide mission to save his mother and prevent an Armageddon.
10) If you could sum up the book in one sentence that reflects the theme, what would that sentence be?Percy Jackson, the unsuspecting demi-god who saved his mother and the entire world from an apocalypse through perseverance, bravery and self sacrifice.Nick Simpson
1) Is there one or more than one theme in the story?
There is one main theme which is Greek mythology. This theme is woven through the entire story and in every situation Percy finds himself in, Greek mythology is present. There is an underlying theme in the story which is perseverance, self sacrifice and bravery. In many instances Percy has to be brave and self sacrificing in order to be successful. For example, he has to save the world from Armageddon as well as leave his mother in the underworld until he has repaid Hades.
2) How is the Greek mythology theme woven throughout the story?This theme runs throughout the story through all of the explanations of the Greek gods and goddesses. When Chiron is explaining to Percy how he is a demi-god and what a demi-god is he explains how sometimes Gods or Goddesses would have an affair with mortal beings. This however was banned by Zeus after world war two as their offspring became too powerful. In conclusion, he is the son of Poseidon and he is not supposed to have happened according to the oath. This demonstrates that the theme of Greek mythology has been integrated into the story.3) How significant is this theme?This theme is very significant as the entire book is based on it. The bookis all about Greek mythology. For example, the main character is the son ofPoseidon. 4) What is the moral of this story and how does it relate to the theme?The moral of the story is that in order to prevail sacrifices have to be made. For example, Percy had to sacrifice leaving his mother in the underworld in order to save her in the end. This relates to the underlying theme of perseverance, self sacrifice and bravery being necessary in order to do the right thing no matter how risky it is.5) What message is the author trying to convey to the reading audience through the theme?The author is conveying the message of Percy being brave and self sacrificing in order to do what’s right even if it means going on a suicide mission to prevent an apocalypse from happening. He is making readers realize that no matter what the risks are in life, it is important to do the right thing.
6) What ideas/thoughts can you take away from the theme of this story and apply to your own life?Ideas or thoughts I can take away from this story relate to the moral and underlying theme of the story. In order to be successful, sacrifices, perseverance and bravery are required. In the story Percy demonstrates this when he fights off a Minotaur after his mother is sent to Hades. Percy also had to sacrifice leaving his mother in the underworld in order to save the world. In the end his mother returned from the underworld after he repaid Hades. In life, there will be times when you will need to persevere with something or be brave and self sacrificing in order to be successful.7) What topic does the theme cover which relates to real life?Again this relates to perseverance and bravery. In life, sometimes you need to face your fears and get over them. For example, if you are scared of heights you need to confront this fear and not avoid doing something because it involves heights. In the story Percy faces his fears when he goes on a suicide quest to save his mother and prevent an Armageddon.8) Does the underlying theme relate to today’s society?
The underlying theme of perseverance, self sacrifice and bravery relates to today’s society because these characteristics are necessary to be successful in life. If you don’t persevere and just give up you will never be successful at anything. Self sacrifice is often necessary when you need to put others needs ahead of your own or give up something in order to help another person. Bravery is needed when you are faced with a situation which is unfamiliar to you or frightening. You need to confront this fear in order to be successful in a given situation. Greek mythology (the main theme) is not present in our society however the themes of bravery, perseverance and sacrifice are clearly evident day to day life.9) What does the underlying theme show about Percy’s feelings towards his mother?Percy demonstrates perseverance, bravery and self sacrifice towards his mother when he goes on a suicide mission to save his mother and prevent an Armageddon.
10) If you could sum up the book in one sentence that reflects the theme, what would that sentence be?Percy Jackson, the unsuspecting demi-god who saved his mother and the entire world from an apocalypse through perseverance, bravery and self sacrifice.Nick Simpson
Wednesday 30 November 2011
Conflict Q n' A 3rd meeting
Q- When Percy first arrives at camp and gets his tour what type of conflict appears
A-(Character vs environment) all the other campers are staring at him and judging him
Q-when is Percy in a moment of character vs self conflict
A-when he is deciding weather or not to jump of the bridge
Q-what type of conflict happens at the water park when Percy and Annabeth get trapped
A- (character vs character) Hephaestus attacks them by setting a trap
Q-what type of conflict was it when Percy was attacked by the furies on the bus
A-(character vs character) Ms. Dodds was the leader of the three
Q- after the three kids meet ares in the diner what makes you think that the Percy and Ares will have a conflict later on in the book
A- the fact that Ares' presence makes Percy angry and that he is very disrespectful to the god
Q-do you sense more conflict or harmony between Percy and Annabeth
A- I sense more harmony yet there still was a bit of hostility between the two in the beginning
Q-in Percy's dream of the two men fighting on the beach what conflicts are visible
A- three. Character vs character, character vs character, and character vs environment
Q-would you consider that Percy being hunted down by the mortal police to be an important conflict
A- yes because it effects the way that they travel around
Q-what type of conflict is the last question
A-Character Vs environment
Q-given Percy's personality do you see conflict developing between him and the other gods
A-yes because he is not very respectful towards the gods
jamie
Journal #2
After reading the first half of the book I am extremely happy with this book and how the story is playing out. After the first quarter of the book had so much action and fighting I thought that it would kind of die out until the last part of the book, but I was wrong the action has been almost non stop with the Chimera, Medeusa, Ares and so many more. I also really enjoy the fact that Annabeth and Percy are getting along, and I believe that some events are foreshadowing things to come with Percy and Annabeth. For example when they need to get Ares' shield they need to go through the tunnel of love and Percy and Annabeth go through while Grover flies above. I also really like the way that the author makes it nearly impossible for them to retrieve the masterbolt then he gives us hope again as readers. He does this by making the kids lose all their money and their direction, then he returns hope when they defeat Medeusa and find money, food, and the address of the underworld. I find that in doing this he really attracts the ready and intrigues the reader to keep reading because they want to know what happens. One of the reasons that I really like this book is because of the way that the author builds suspense and anticipation, but also that he doesn't just build suspense up to one huge battle or decision at the climax. He builds suspense for every bit of action, for every sub-plot, and for the main plot. This keeps the reader intrigued throughout the whole book. For these reasons this book is probably my favorite book so far.
Nick Finlay
Journal Entry #2
After reading the second quarter of the book “Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan, I was impressed with the amount of action and intensity packed into so few pages. I really like how the author doesn’t spoon feed you the story line but makes you work for it by reading. This makes it very interesting and also makes the book a joy to read as you easily get involved in all of the action. Rick Riordan’s depiction of the Gods as more 21st century as opposed to how gods and monsters are usually depicted made them more interesting to me. Usually Greek mythology bores me with long explanations and complex stories however Rick Riordan makes the reader aware of the mythology behind the stories being told. Percy is being taught Greek mythology and whether the reader is aware of it or not they are learning just as much as Percy is. There are moments of intensity like electric currents chasing each other like heartbeats. At the climax when they were all playing capture the flag at Camp Half Blood, Percy was thrown into the creek and then he was suddenly rejuvenated and had the feeling of eating his Mom’s double espresso jelly beans. He then realizes that he is the son of one of the “big three”. Percy Jackson realizes he is the son of Poseidon when he returns to the water after fighting his opponents Clarisse and the others and his cuts and bruises all heal. To top all of this off, there is a trident floating about his head meaning that his father has claimed him. I am thoroughly enjoying this book so far and cannot wait to keep reading about Percy’s adventures as I continue to immerse myself in Greek mythology.
Percy Jackson (Nick Simpson)
After reading the second quarter of the book “Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan, I was impressed with the amount of action and intensity packed into so few pages. I really like how the author doesn’t spoon feed you the story line but makes you work for it by reading. This makes it very interesting and also makes the book a joy to read as you easily get involved in all of the action. Rick Riordan’s depiction of the Gods as more 21st century as opposed to how gods and monsters are usually depicted made them more interesting to me. Usually Greek mythology bores me with long explanations and complex stories however Rick Riordan makes the reader aware of the mythology behind the stories being told. Percy is being taught Greek mythology and whether the reader is aware of it or not they are learning just as much as Percy is. There are moments of intensity like electric currents chasing each other like heartbeats. At the climax when they were all playing capture the flag at Camp Half Blood, Percy was thrown into the creek and then he was suddenly rejuvenated and had the feeling of eating his Mom’s double espresso jelly beans. He then realizes that he is the son of one of the “big three”. Percy Jackson realizes he is the son of Poseidon when he returns to the water after fighting his opponents Clarisse and the others and his cuts and bruises all heal. To top all of this off, there is a trident floating about his head meaning that his father has claimed him. I am thoroughly enjoying this book so far and cannot wait to keep reading about Percy’s adventures as I continue to immerse myself in Greek mythology.
Percy Jackson (Nick Simpson)
journal #2
In the second quarter of the book “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” I found it awesome how the author describes the settings. The imagination the rick riordan has is amazing. He was able to create this camp that contain lave climbing walls, sword fighting pits, basket ball courts, twelve unique cabins, and a vast forest filled with monsters. In some stories that have this many components to one setting usually it gets hard to picture and you just picture a cramped place filled with stuff. In this story however I was able to picture the camp right away in my head and I knew where everything was and what it all looked like. Another thing that I found interesting was the amount of effort that he put into incorporating Greek mythology into every piece of the book. For example; the twelve cabins which are the campers sleeping quarters and shrines to the guards are all in the shape of a “U”. well not exactly a “U”, but an omega which is the Greek symbol of power, and little details like that are found all over the book. Initially I read this book because it was mainly about Greek mythology, a topic that I happen to find very interesting. I think that my previous knowledge of Greek mythology made the book so much more interesting because you find those little details and hidden jokes and it feels rewarding. If don't already know much about Greek mythology, its alright because the book will teach you a heck of a lot. now back tho the cabins. Every cabin has certain characteristics that represent he gods that they pay homage to. For instance the Poseidon cabins walls are sea foam green and covered with seashells and other items of similarity, it also has a small water fountain and a window that over looks a lake. All in all I thought that Riordan did a very good job of researching and incorporating the different Greek myths.
jamie
Monday 28 November 2011
2nd Session Discussion Questions (Character)
1. In the events leading up to the reveal of Percy's true identity. What clues foreshadow which god he is son of?
Some clues that foreshadow his true identity are when Percy was on the field trip to the museum and the fountain seemed to grab Nancy. Another clue is when Percy's class at camp Half-Blood were sword fighting, Percy dumped water on his head, and then felt energized and beat Luke in a duel.
2. When the attack on the bus with the three Furies took place. Annabeth, and Grover thought the Furies went easy on them. In your opinion, why do you think they went easy on them?
In my opinion I think the Furies went easy on them because they were not trying to kill them. during their attack you may recall one of the Furies asking Annabeth and Grover, "Where is it." This makes it clear that they were just looking for the master bolt.
3. Would you have trusted a creepy woman, in a weird store, who did not show her face to take you in, and give you food?
Upon regular circumstances I would not have trusted a woman of her nature for many reasons. For one she is a stranger and it is never wise to trust strangers. Also the way she presented herself so openly to them, standing in the doorway of a creepy statue shop. This would have made me turn back right away. On the other hand given their situation, the fact that they were starving and exhausted would have made them more passive.
4. When Percy sent Medusa's head to Mount Olympus. Annabeth and Grover were silent. What do you think was on each of their minds?
I think that in this situation Annabeth and Grover each had different thoughts on this. Annabeth was probably thinking that it was a bad idea to send but also a good one. I think that part of her was scared of what the gods reaction was going to be. Also I think that part of her thought that it was a bold, but good statement by Percy. On the other hand I think that Grover believed that it was not a good idea, as he thought it was an insult to the gods, but he was too unconfident to bring it up with Percy.
5. In Percy's dream the cold, ancient voice told him to help bring him to power. What do you think, at the time, Percy perceives in this dream?
I think that Percy understands that on this quest something bad will happen. He just hasn't figured it out yet. I also think that he believes that their is an evil force that that he will have to battle in the end.
6. The relationship between Percy, and Annabeth started out a little rocky but then started to lighten and Annabeth started to almost like Percy, how do you think their relationship will play out throughout the rest of the book?
I think that their relationship will become stronger and maybe even become more sensual. I think that deep down Annabeth really does have feelings for Percy.
7. Before the three depart on their Quest, Mr. Brunner says that he wished he could have trained Percy more, as he did with Hercules. Do you think that this made Percy more confident or less confident in his abilities?
I think that this may have made Percy a little less confident in his abilities. That being said, at the time Percy was soo overwhelmed with other things, and other thoughts, that there was no room in his mind to be confident.
8. After eating the food at Madusa's statue store, Percy was feeling drowsy. Do you think Madusa put something in his food? Or was he just tired from the long day?
I think it is possible that she put something in their food. I also think that it would make sense for her to do so, in order to make her victims more calm when she takes their picture.
9. Do you predict that the attacks on the Percy, Grover, and Annabeth will become more intense? If so, what do you predict will happen to them?
Yes I do think that the attacks on them will intensify. I think that maybe someone may get hurt, or maybe someone close to in relation to them may die.
10. The Proficy said Percy will fail to save what is most important in the end. Most will think he will fail to save either the Bolt or his mom. Can you think of anything else he could fail to save?
,
Other than the bolt, and his Percy's mom I think that Percy could fail to save a close friend or maybe even himself.
Some clues that foreshadow his true identity are when Percy was on the field trip to the museum and the fountain seemed to grab Nancy. Another clue is when Percy's class at camp Half-Blood were sword fighting, Percy dumped water on his head, and then felt energized and beat Luke in a duel.
2. When the attack on the bus with the three Furies took place. Annabeth, and Grover thought the Furies went easy on them. In your opinion, why do you think they went easy on them?
In my opinion I think the Furies went easy on them because they were not trying to kill them. during their attack you may recall one of the Furies asking Annabeth and Grover, "Where is it." This makes it clear that they were just looking for the master bolt.
3. Would you have trusted a creepy woman, in a weird store, who did not show her face to take you in, and give you food?
Upon regular circumstances I would not have trusted a woman of her nature for many reasons. For one she is a stranger and it is never wise to trust strangers. Also the way she presented herself so openly to them, standing in the doorway of a creepy statue shop. This would have made me turn back right away. On the other hand given their situation, the fact that they were starving and exhausted would have made them more passive.
4. When Percy sent Medusa's head to Mount Olympus. Annabeth and Grover were silent. What do you think was on each of their minds?
I think that in this situation Annabeth and Grover each had different thoughts on this. Annabeth was probably thinking that it was a bad idea to send but also a good one. I think that part of her was scared of what the gods reaction was going to be. Also I think that part of her thought that it was a bold, but good statement by Percy. On the other hand I think that Grover believed that it was not a good idea, as he thought it was an insult to the gods, but he was too unconfident to bring it up with Percy.
5. In Percy's dream the cold, ancient voice told him to help bring him to power. What do you think, at the time, Percy perceives in this dream?
I think that Percy understands that on this quest something bad will happen. He just hasn't figured it out yet. I also think that he believes that their is an evil force that that he will have to battle in the end.
6. The relationship between Percy, and Annabeth started out a little rocky but then started to lighten and Annabeth started to almost like Percy, how do you think their relationship will play out throughout the rest of the book?
I think that their relationship will become stronger and maybe even become more sensual. I think that deep down Annabeth really does have feelings for Percy.
7. Before the three depart on their Quest, Mr. Brunner says that he wished he could have trained Percy more, as he did with Hercules. Do you think that this made Percy more confident or less confident in his abilities?
I think that this may have made Percy a little less confident in his abilities. That being said, at the time Percy was soo overwhelmed with other things, and other thoughts, that there was no room in his mind to be confident.
8. After eating the food at Madusa's statue store, Percy was feeling drowsy. Do you think Madusa put something in his food? Or was he just tired from the long day?
I think it is possible that she put something in their food. I also think that it would make sense for her to do so, in order to make her victims more calm when she takes their picture.
9. Do you predict that the attacks on the Percy, Grover, and Annabeth will become more intense? If so, what do you predict will happen to them?
Yes I do think that the attacks on them will intensify. I think that maybe someone may get hurt, or maybe someone close to in relation to them may die.
10. The Proficy said Percy will fail to save what is most important in the end. Most will think he will fail to save either the Bolt or his mom. Can you think of anything else he could fail to save?
,
Other than the bolt, and his Percy's mom I think that Percy could fail to save a close friend or maybe even himself.
journal #1
So far, after reading the first section of this book my impressions are that it had a strong beginning. Right from the start I was immersed in this action filled fantasy. I think Riordan has made an excellent hook in order to get the reader interested. I also like how the book leads up to the climax. He foreshadows what will be revealed very well but he doesn't just give it to you. You have to look hard which makes reading this book more interactive. An example of this is how Riordan provides clues as to what Percy is becoming. For example, he tells of the incidents such as the fountain at the museum. When Grover and Percy are on their field trip the fountain seemed to grab Nancy. Also when the toilets exploded at camp Half-Blood. These clues help you get the basis of what the story is about. There are not very many things I don't like about this book yet, but if I had to pinpoint it, it would have to be that he covers up the darker, and innapropriate parts of story to make it more "PG". I think that the story would have been more dramatic, if he had been more descriptive of the more mature parts. Keeping that in mind, he did not intend to make it for an older audience. All in all, I cant wait to read the rest of the book, it is one that I am compelled to find out the conclusion.
Wednesday 23 November 2011
“Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan
The first quarter of the book “Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” is not your run of the mill Greek mythology story. It is much more than I anticipated and captured my interest from the first page. My time spent reading this well written novel seems to fly by as I am taken from our world into the world of Percy Jackson.
I find this novel very enjoyable because it allows me to be sitting safely in my living room yet at the same time I am in the museum when Mrs. Dodds turns into a fury and kill Percy! Entering this fantasy world enable me to leave the mundane world behind and join Percy on his quest to rescue his mother. I think one of the reasons I am enjoying this book so much is that I have not ready anything that is even remotely similar to it. It is great to discover a novel which is well written and enjoyable and yet at the same time very understandable.
The novel covers a wide range of moods and tones. Initially the novel begins on a sad and sombre note when Percy is kicked out of his sixth boarding school is as many years. When he returns home for the summer break his obnoxious, rude and disrespectful Step-father greets him with his usual rude “do you got any money?”
Following this, I found the novel moves onto an upbeat note when Percy’s Mum decides that they are leaving for Montauk (a beach where they used to go every summer and also where his mother and father initially met each other). In the middle of the night after having a nightmare, Percy is woken up and rushed to Camp Half-Blood by Grover (his half goat, half man protector) and his mother. Enroute to the Camp the story takes a turn for the worse when their car is struck by a lightning bolt. A Minotaur is also chasing after them making the mood very intense. This Minotaur takes his mother as she vanishes into mid air. Grover is lying unconscious on the ground following the car crash. This action creates a very intense and fearful mood. Percy kills the Minotaur and is taken to Camp Half-Blood. Once at Camp Half-Blood the mood completely changes from intense and fearful to cheerful and happy as Percy safely recuperates and is in good health. Percy is eventually shown around the camp by Annabeth Chase.
The world of Greek mythology continues to await me as I enjoy the adventures of Percy Jackson
I find this novel very enjoyable because it allows me to be sitting safely in my living room yet at the same time I am in the museum when Mrs. Dodds turns into a fury and kill Percy! Entering this fantasy world enable me to leave the mundane world behind and join Percy on his quest to rescue his mother. I think one of the reasons I am enjoying this book so much is that I have not ready anything that is even remotely similar to it. It is great to discover a novel which is well written and enjoyable and yet at the same time very understandable.
The novel covers a wide range of moods and tones. Initially the novel begins on a sad and sombre note when Percy is kicked out of his sixth boarding school is as many years. When he returns home for the summer break his obnoxious, rude and disrespectful Step-father greets him with his usual rude “do you got any money?”
Following this, I found the novel moves onto an upbeat note when Percy’s Mum decides that they are leaving for Montauk (a beach where they used to go every summer and also where his mother and father initially met each other). In the middle of the night after having a nightmare, Percy is woken up and rushed to Camp Half-Blood by Grover (his half goat, half man protector) and his mother. Enroute to the Camp the story takes a turn for the worse when their car is struck by a lightning bolt. A Minotaur is also chasing after them making the mood very intense. This Minotaur takes his mother as she vanishes into mid air. Grover is lying unconscious on the ground following the car crash. This action creates a very intense and fearful mood. Percy kills the Minotaur and is taken to Camp Half-Blood. Once at Camp Half-Blood the mood completely changes from intense and fearful to cheerful and happy as Percy safely recuperates and is in good health. Percy is eventually shown around the camp by Annabeth Chase.
The world of Greek mythology continues to await me as I enjoy the adventures of Percy Jackson
Journal#1
I just finished reading the first quarter of the book, so far i have thoroughly enjoyed the story for a few reasons. First of all , the story started off with action it got me hooked right off the bat with Percy's math teacher turning into fury from the underworld to try and kill him. And then again a couple of chapters later Percy, his mother and Grover are chased by the minotaur all the way to camp Half -Blood where Percy defeats the minotaur. These two intense scenes really got me hooked in the book right away. Also once Percy is safe in Camp Half-Blood nobody knows who his father is, this question that you as a reader want answered is something that really kept me reading and got me interested. When it is revealed that Poseidon is Percy's father, i thought back to some scenes earlier in the book that i now realised were foreshadowing the fact that percy's father is the god of the sea, for example, when parcy dumps water on himself he feels energized and strong after sword fighting for a long time with Luke. Also one of the first days that Percy spends at Camp Half-Blood and there is already a conflict between him and another camper. More specificaly Clarisse, she tries to give him an initiation by dragging him into the girls washroom and giving him a "swirly", but her plan backfired when the toilets exploded and got her and all the other girls wet. This interested me because when Percy walks away from the washroom Clarrisse tells him"This isn't over!..." so i want to know what other conflicts will occur between them.
Nick Finlay
Nick Finlay
author article
Rick Riordan
BIO
Rick Riordan is the award-winning, bestselling author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series and the creator of a new series The 39 Clues. For Rick Riordan (pronounced Ryer'-dan), a bedtime story shared with his oldest son was just the beginning of his journey into the world of children's books.
Already an award-winning author of mysteries for adults, Riordan, a former teacher, was asked by his son Haley to tell him some bedtime stories about the gods and heroes in Greek mythology. "I had taught Greek myths for many years at the middle school level, so I was glad to comply," says Riordan. "When I ran out of myths, (Haley) was disappointed and asked me if I could make up something new with the same characters."
At the time, Haley had just been diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia. Greek mythology was one of the only subjects that interested the then second-grader in school. Motivated by Haley's request, Riordan quickly came up with the character of Percy Jackson and told Haley all about "(Percy's) quest to recover Zeus's lightning bolt in modern-day America," says Riordan. "It took about three nights to tell the whole story, and when I was done, Haley told me I should write it out as a book."
Despite his busy schedule, Riordan managed to carve some time out of his daily routine to write the first Percy Jackson and the Olympians book, THE LIGHTNING THIEF. And in deference to his son, Riordan chose to give the character of Percy certain attributes that hit close to home."Making Percy ADHD and dyslexic was my way of honoring the potential of all the kids I've known who have those conditions," says Riordan. "It's not a bad thing to be different. Sometimes, it's the mark of being very, very talented. That's what Percy discovers about himself in THE LIGHTNING THIEF."Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Riordan started writing as a young adult. He wrote short stories, unsuccessfully submitted a few of those stories for publication, and edited his high school newspaper. But he didn't take writing seriously until after he graduated from college and was teaching in San Francisco. While Riordan and his family (wife Becky and sons Haley and Patrick) enjoyed living in California, he was nostalgic for Texas. On an impulse, Riordan decided to try his hand at a mystery novel, which he set in his hometown of San Antonio. Featuring a private-eye/English Ph.D. named Tres Navarre, Big Red Tequila was published to rave reviews in 1997. Today, Riordan's Tres Navarre series has won the top three awards for the mystery genre --- the Edgar, the Anthony, and the Shamus.
Despite his success in the adult mystery market, writing for children was never far from Riordan's mind.
"Back when I taught middle school and wrote adult mysteries, my students often asked me why I wasn't writing for kids," says Riordan. "I never had a good answer for them. It took me a long time to realize they were right. Kids are the audience I know best."
And while it's obvious that Riordan has a knack for writing for kids, he readily admits that writing for young readers is not that much different than writing for an older audience.
"I think kids want the same thing from a book that adults want-a fast-paced story, characters worth caring about, humor, surprises, and mystery," says Riordan. "A good book always keeps you asking questions, and makes you keep turning pages so you can find out the answers."
For fifteen years, Rick taught English and history at public and private middle schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Texas. In 2002, Saint Mary's Hall honored him with the school's first Master Teacher Award. Riordan made a "reluctant" decision to leave teaching, a career he thoroughly enjoyed, to write full-time. However, he's keeping his hand in education by conducting lots of author appearances in classrooms across the country, and even some in Europe. "I love teaching," says Riordan. "I love working with kids...maybe some day I'll go back to the classroom. I'm not ready to say it'll never happen. But for now, the books are keeping me very busy."
http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-riordan-rick.asp
By: Jamie, Nick S, Nick F, Jordan
BIO
Rick Riordan is the award-winning, bestselling author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series and the creator of a new series The 39 Clues. For Rick Riordan (pronounced Ryer'-dan), a bedtime story shared with his oldest son was just the beginning of his journey into the world of children's books.
Already an award-winning author of mysteries for adults, Riordan, a former teacher, was asked by his son Haley to tell him some bedtime stories about the gods and heroes in Greek mythology. "I had taught Greek myths for many years at the middle school level, so I was glad to comply," says Riordan. "When I ran out of myths, (Haley) was disappointed and asked me if I could make up something new with the same characters."
At the time, Haley had just been diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia. Greek mythology was one of the only subjects that interested the then second-grader in school. Motivated by Haley's request, Riordan quickly came up with the character of Percy Jackson and told Haley all about "(Percy's) quest to recover Zeus's lightning bolt in modern-day America," says Riordan. "It took about three nights to tell the whole story, and when I was done, Haley told me I should write it out as a book."
Despite his busy schedule, Riordan managed to carve some time out of his daily routine to write the first Percy Jackson and the Olympians book, THE LIGHTNING THIEF. And in deference to his son, Riordan chose to give the character of Percy certain attributes that hit close to home."Making Percy ADHD and dyslexic was my way of honoring the potential of all the kids I've known who have those conditions," says Riordan. "It's not a bad thing to be different. Sometimes, it's the mark of being very, very talented. That's what Percy discovers about himself in THE LIGHTNING THIEF."Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Riordan started writing as a young adult. He wrote short stories, unsuccessfully submitted a few of those stories for publication, and edited his high school newspaper. But he didn't take writing seriously until after he graduated from college and was teaching in San Francisco. While Riordan and his family (wife Becky and sons Haley and Patrick) enjoyed living in California, he was nostalgic for Texas. On an impulse, Riordan decided to try his hand at a mystery novel, which he set in his hometown of San Antonio. Featuring a private-eye/English Ph.D. named Tres Navarre, Big Red Tequila was published to rave reviews in 1997. Today, Riordan's Tres Navarre series has won the top three awards for the mystery genre --- the Edgar, the Anthony, and the Shamus.
Despite his success in the adult mystery market, writing for children was never far from Riordan's mind.
"Back when I taught middle school and wrote adult mysteries, my students often asked me why I wasn't writing for kids," says Riordan. "I never had a good answer for them. It took me a long time to realize they were right. Kids are the audience I know best."
And while it's obvious that Riordan has a knack for writing for kids, he readily admits that writing for young readers is not that much different than writing for an older audience.
"I think kids want the same thing from a book that adults want-a fast-paced story, characters worth caring about, humor, surprises, and mystery," says Riordan. "A good book always keeps you asking questions, and makes you keep turning pages so you can find out the answers."
For fifteen years, Rick taught English and history at public and private middle schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Texas. In 2002, Saint Mary's Hall honored him with the school's first Master Teacher Award. Riordan made a "reluctant" decision to leave teaching, a career he thoroughly enjoyed, to write full-time. However, he's keeping his hand in education by conducting lots of author appearances in classrooms across the country, and even some in Europe. "I love teaching," says Riordan. "I love working with kids...maybe some day I'll go back to the classroom. I'm not ready to say it'll never happen. But for now, the books are keeping me very busy."
http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-riordan-rick.asp
By: Jamie, Nick S, Nick F, Jordan
Book Review: Rick Riordan’s The Lightning Thief
Quick, tell me what children’s book series main character fits this description: a young boy who learns that he has superpowers and is destined to be a hero enters a new school where he makes fast friends with a brainy girl and a geeky boy, makes fast enemies with an entire section of the school, and excels at their unique sport.
No, I’m not talking about Harry Potter. The hero in question is Percy Jackson, who may not have a lightning scar, but does set out on a quest to return a lightning bolt in the first book of the series.
What’s the twist? Instead of simply being gifted with magic, Percy is the son of a Greek God. His friends aren’t mere mortals with spell books. They are Annabeth, the daughter of Athena, and Grover, a satyr. The section of school that hates him isn’t the old home of the series’ big evil, but the most competitive section of students, the children of the God of War, Ares. And instead of Quidditch, Percy finds himself participating in a chariot race.
The world of The Lightning Thief brings Greek mythology into the modern world. Who knew that Mount Olympus was located on floor 1000 of the Empire State Building? Or that the Greek gods are responsible for the spread of Western civilization? Unbeknownst to us, we walk among monsters who scour the Earth hoping to find the children of Gods before the Gods do in order to eliminate their competition.
How do the kids stay safe? They head to Camp Half-Blood, where Dionysus, the God of wine, helps train the kids in the ways of half-bloods, those who are half-human and half-God.
My favorite part of the book is the opening. It directly addresses the reader, inviting those who read the book to imagine this world as a part of their own. A little cheesy? Yes. But it’s the sort of thing that gets your imagination excited when you’re eight—what if this was really part of my world?—and it hasn’t gotten old for me as an adult.
The book also reaches out to kids with learning disabilities. Percy has two, ADHD and dyslexia, as does the son of the author. These are explained as simply “symptoms” of being the spawn of a God. Honestly, how could we expect children with Godly blood running in their veins to sit still through class? And apparently, Percy’s brain is just wired to read ancient Greek instead of modern English.
I like the idea of children thinking of those disorders as unique strengths rather than weaknesses. These are things that set them apart from everyone else and make them special. Percy struggles with his disorder—he’s been kicked out of numerous boarding schools before landing at Camp Half-Blood—but he doesn’t use the disorder as an excuse. He clearly wants to be good, and finally in this new world, he is able to not only fit in but excel.
Like Hogwarts, the camp is divided into different sections of students, and these factions war with one another. They are, of course, based on who your Godly parent is. When Percy first arrives at the camp, he has no idea who that could be. His father never stepped up and “claimed” him as has happened to many other children at the camp.
What bothered me about this section of the book was how long it took Percy, his friends, and the teachers to realize he was the son of Neptune. Trust me, I didn’t spoil much for you. You’ll figure it out in the first 10 pages, but the characters don’t until much later—100 pages later, more or less—even after several instances of water acting strange around him. I wish the author had given his audience—even the younger set—a little more credit.
From there, Percy is, of course, sent out on a mission. Zeus’ lightning bolt is stolen, and he is convinced Percy was the criminal who pulled it off. So Percy and his two pals set out on a quest to find whoever did steal it to return it to Zeus before he sets off a massive war between all the Gods.
The middle of the book feels very episodic. The crew encounters one monster after another, but it never feels like it’s building toward anything. The urban fantasy elements never quite work for me; something about the world just doesn’t feel lived in. Many of their foes are not really that menacing. In fact, some of them are downright laughable. Ares is just a biker, “dressed in a red muscle shirt and black jeans and a black leather duster, with a hunting knife strapped to his thigh” and wearing red wraparound shades. And Percy is often a mediocre hero. Instead of figuring out situations on his own or with the help of friends, a deus ex machina (literally, of course) swoops in and helps him, usually in the form of a power he was unaware of before.
Unlike Harry Potter, the novel feels a bit written down to children, but not so much that it’s painful to get through. On the contrary, it’s an easy read and the characters are likeable, so I enjoyed the journey despite the uneven writing, and will likely be reading the next novel in the series soon. However, this is one journey I imagine you would enjoy most if reading it in the company of a child.
By: Jamie, Nick S, Nick F, Jordan
Tuesday 22 November 2011
So far I really like this book it had a very strong beginning that drew me in right away and mostly what I love about the intro is that the author really takes him time to lay out all the details about Percy Jackson and to describe his life. Usually I find that when a books intro is to long it tends to get boring, but this one drew me in right away. It has plenty of action and develops the main character very well. The main character Percy Jackson is a very interesting character. At first he describes himself as troubled. He has dyslexia, HDHD, and has not been able to go through a full year of school without being expelled. But the author manages to make you feel like all the things he had done were not his fault and made you feel sorry for him. When I read this first part of the book I almost felt like I was the character of Percy Jackson. I didn’t picture a twelve year old boy with long black hair and green eyes I pictured myself. Even in the parts we he was getting angry at Nancy Bobbofit, or smelly Gabe I felt like I was in his shoes. And that leads me to another point. The author really does a good job of making you hate all of the bad people in the book. He makes you angry at them and makes you want to punch them out yourself.
jamie
jamie
Monday 14 November 2011
Starting up
hey guys the blog is done, everyone is added. Now read the book and be ready for friday!
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