summary of percy jackson books

Chapter 1: The Lightning Thief

• Percy Jackson, a troubled twelve-year-old, attends a school field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
• Percy learns that he is a demigod and is accused of stealing Zeus' lightning bolt.
• Percy discovers Camp Half-Blood, where he meets other demigods and learns about his true identity.
• Percy embarks on a quest to find and return the lightning bolt, accompanied by Annabeth and Grover.

Chapter 2: The Sea of Monsters

• Percy learns about the existence of the Golden Fleece, a powerful artifact that can heal anything.
• Percy sets out on a quest to retrieve the Golden Fleece and save Camp Half-Blood from destruction.
• Percy encounters various mythical creatures, battles with monsters, and confronts the Titan, Kronos.
• Percy successfully retrieves the Golden Fleece and saves his friends and camp.

Chapter 3: The Titan's Curse

• Percy and his friends join forces with Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, to rescue Annabeth, who has been kidnapped.
• They face dangerous challenges and battles with mythical creatures.
• Percy discovers that Luke, a former friend, is working for Kronos and is plotting to overthrow the gods.
• In a final confrontation, Percy defeats Kronos and saves Olympus.

Chapter 4: The Battle of the Labyrinth

• Percy and his friends enter the Labyrinth, a dangerous maze that holds many secrets.
• They face challenges, encounter mythical creatures, and uncover a plot to invade Camp Half-Blood.
• Percy discovers that Daedalus, the creator of the Labyrinth, is secretly working with Luke.
• Percy and his friends defeat Daedalus and prevent the invasion of Camp Half-Blood.

Chapter 5: The Last Olympian

• Percy prepares for the ultimate battle against Kronos and his army of monsters.
• He confronts his destiny as the child of the prophecy and faces personal challenges and sacrifices.
• Percy fights alongside the gods and demigods to defend Olympus.
• In a climactic battle, Percy defeats Kronos and saves the world from destruction.
• Percy learns about his true identity as a demigod and attends Camp Half-Blood.
• Percy embarks on a quest to find and return Zeus' lightning bolt.
• Percy retrieves the Golden Fleece and saves Camp Half-Blood.
• Percy and his friends rescue Annabeth and defeat Kronos.
• Percy and his friends navigate the Labyrinth and prevent the invasion of Camp Half-Blood.
• Percy fights in the final battle against Kronos and saves Olympus.
• Identity and Belonging: Percy grapples with his identity as a demigod and learns to accept and embrace his unique heritage.
• Friendship and Loyalty: Percy's friendships with Annabeth and Grover are tested and strengthened as they face numerous challenges together.
• Power and Responsibility: Percy learns to wield his powers responsibly and understands the importance of using them for the greater good.
• Fate and Prophecy: The series explores the concept of destiny and how individuals can shape their own fate.
• Good vs. Evil: Percy and his friends battle against the forces of evil and learn the importance of standing up for what is right.

"Percy Jackson and the Olympians" is an exhilarating and immersive series that brings Greek mythology to life in a modern setting. With its fast-paced plot, engaging characters, and themes of friendship, identity, and responsibility, the series captivates readers of all ages. The books not only entertain but also introduce readers to the rich world of Greek mythology, sparking their interest in ancient legends and inspiring their imagination.

Rick Riordan's "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" is a thrilling and unforgettable series that takes readers on a journey through a world of gods, monsters, and prophecies. With its relatable characters, captivating plot, and exploration of themes such as friendship, identity, and the battle between good and evil, the series has become a modern classic. Whether you are a fan of Greek mythology or simply enjoy a gripping adventure, "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" is a must-read that will leave you eagerly reaching for the next book in the series.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians FAQ

What is the genre of percy jackson and the olympians.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a fantasy adventure novel series.

Who is the author of Percy Jackson and the Olympians?

The author of Percy Jackson and the Olympians is Rick Riordan.

What is the main storyline of Percy Jackson and the Olympians?

The series follows the adventures of Percy Jackson, a demigod and son of Poseidon, as he discovers his true identity and battles against mythological creatures and gods.

How many books are there in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series?

There are five books in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.

What is the reading order of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series?

The reading order of the series is: 'The Lightning Thief', 'The Sea of Monsters', 'The Titan's Curse', 'The Battle of the Labyrinth', and 'The Last Olympian'.

Is Percy Jackson and the Olympians appropriate for all age groups?

The series is primarily targeted towards young readers aged 9 and above, but it can be enjoyed by readers of all ages.

Are there any movies based on Percy Jackson and the Olympians?

Yes, there are two movies based on the series: 'Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief' and 'Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters'.

Is Percy Jackson and the Olympians part of a larger book series?

Yes, Percy Jackson and the Olympians is the first series in the Camp Half-Blood Chronicles, which includes several other related book series by Rick Riordan.

Where can I purchase Percy Jackson and the Olympians books?

You can purchase the books from various bookstores, both online and offline. They are also available in e-book and audiobook formats.

Is Percy Jackson and the Olympians a complete series?

Yes, Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a complete series. The story arc is concluded in 'The Last Olympian'.

Books like Percy Jackson and the Olympians

PICTURE BOOKS

The Stranger

By Chris Van Allsburg

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

By Lewis Carroll

The Little Prince

By Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Pippi Longstocking

By Astrid Lindgren

How to Read the Percy Jackson Books in Chronological Order

A reading guide for traversing the percy jackson timeline..

When it comes to fantastical book series that shaped our childhoods, Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians is one of the best. With the recent arrival of the Percy Jackson Disney+ series adapting the beloved stories, we're here to lay out what makes the books so special and the order you need to read the books in to make the most of the series.

Jump to Series :

• Percy Jackson and The Olympians Books
• The Heroes of Olympus Books
• The Trials of Apoll Books

Are you excited for the new Percy Jackson Disney+ series?

What Are the Percy Jackson Books About?

Imagine a world where modern Greek gods have children with the powers of demigods. That's the fantastical concept at the center of the Percy Jackson and The Olympians book series. Created by Rick Riordan, the stories begins following the titular son of Poseidon as he traverses the secret world of mythical gods, goddesses, and their superpowered offspring. Over the original series and two sequel series The Heroes of Olympus and The Trials of Apollo, the world has expanded massively bringing new characters and new generations of fans to the Greek-myth inspired universe that has been enchanting readers since 2005.

How Many Books are in the Series?

There are a total of 17 books in the Percy Jackson universe , which are spread across three different series. The original Percy Jackson and the Olympian series features 6 books as of 2023 with the addition of The Chalice of the Gods.

Percy Jackson Book Sets

If you're looking to add a collection of books to your shelves at home, there are a few box sets available. Below are links to both the paperback and hardcover versions for each series:

Includes Poster Percy Jackson and the Olympians 5-Book Paperback Boxed Set

10th Anniversary Edition Heroes of Olympus 5-Book Boxed Set

Trials of Apollo 5-Book Boxed Set

Percy jackson and the olympians books in order.

1. The Lightning Thief

In the original novel that sparked off the series, Percy Jackson, discovers that his normal life is not what it seems. Rather than being a normal 12 year old trying to get through school with ADHD and Dyslexia, he's actually a demigod! His life is turned upside down when he's accused of stealing Zeus' lightning bolt. It's not just that he's accused of being a thief though, as he also learns that he's the son of none other than the god Poseidon. Soon he's swept away to a summer camp for demigods known as Camp Half-Blood where he must solve the mystery of Zeus' stolen master bolt and find his way as the son of a god that he's never known.

2. The Sea of Monsters

After discovering Camp Half-Blood and his new life in the first book, in The Sea of Monsters Percy and his friends have to come together to save the place they first met. When the magic that protects the camp begins to fail the crew must head to the titular ocean in order to find a powerful artifact. But they don't have much time and in case you didn't realize the Sea of Monsters is filled with just that. Many, many dangerous creatures fill the pages of this epic adventure, as Percy navigates rough seas and family secrets as he tries to save the day.

3. The Titan’s Curse

As the title hints, this story pushes the Greek mythology of Percy Jackson into the realm of the legendary Titans. When Percy is enlisted to help his old friend Grover he knows something dangerous must have happened, but not even he can guess what's coming. New demigods are on the horizon and with them comes the threat of one of the oldest beings in the world Kronos who hasn't forgiven the teens for besting him. That's not all though as there's also the matter of a massively powerful ancient monster, and the titular curse to keep them busy.

4. The Battle of the Labyrinth

Though he's starting freshman year, things are far from normal for Percy Jackson. With the war between the Titans and the Gods threatening to spill over into every part of life he can barely catch a break, so when demon cheerleaders show up at school he can't believe his bad luck. Reimagining the classic Greek Myth of Daedalus and the Minataur, Percy and his Camp Half-Blood buds have to venture deep into the depths of the Earth to defeat the challenges of an intricate maze in order to stop the destruction of all that they hold dear.

5. The Last Olympian

It's a race to save the legendary Mount Olympus as Percy and his friends must come together in order to defeat the Titans. Luckily they've been training all year for just this but as Kronos starts his attack on New York, can the young demigods actually stand against him? This is the epic finale to the battle that began long ago in The Lightning Thief and throws the mythical world of Camp Half-Blood onto the streets of Manhattan for a world-changing fight of the ages.

The Heroes of Olympus Books in Order

Heroes of olympus 5-book boxed set, 1. the lost hero.

Introducing a new roster of young characters to root for, this book centers on a demigod named Jason who loses his memory on a school trip and ends up becoming entangled in the world of the Olympians. After revealing his powers and being taken to Camp Half-Blood, Jason and his friends must help find the now missing Percy Jackson. But as they undertake their quest they discover some shocking truths about Camp Half-Blood and come up against its rival Camp Jupiter. This super fun expansion of the Percy Jackson universe melds Greek and Roman mythology to set up a whole new series of Olympian adventures!

2. The Son of Neptune

Fans were desperate to know what happened to Percy and in the second Heroes of Olympus book they got an insight into his new status quo. Just like Jason, Percy has lost his memory and in a shocking twist finds himself on the run in California with nowhere to turn. Helped by Roman deities and new friends, Percy manages to reach Camp Jupiter discovering that Camp Half-Blood isn't the only demigod training ground in America. As always Percy ends up wrapped up in a mythological battle with huge stakes but this time he's surrounded by Roman gods!

3. The Mark of Athena

What should have been a celebratory reunion for Annabeth and Percy is overshadowed by the threat of war as Camp Jupiter prepares to face down a foe of mythological proportions. The young Demigod takes center stage in this epic seafaring adventure that sees our young heroes travel to Rome in order to connect with the Demigods there, all the while Annabeth tries to work out her place in the story as the daughter of Athena and hero of Olympus.

4. The House of Hades

It's a quest to escape the underworld when Annabeth and Percy find themselves there after the events of Mark of Athena. In their journey to find the Doors of Death, the duo and their friends who are still in the mortal world will have to work together in order to survive. As if Hades wasn't enough to contend with someone trying to raise the Greek iteration of Mother Earth, Gaea, which the kids also have to stop. Who said it would be easy being a Demigod?

5. The Blood of Olympus

In the final novel from The Heroes of Olympus series, Percy and Annabeth have to battle the horror of Gaea along with their crew in order to stop the deities' horrific plan. As the title suggests she needs the blood of Demigods to truly rise but luckily the Demigods have each other, though they'll have to solve the brewing tension between Camps' Half-Blood and Jupiter before they can really come together and solve their Titan sized problem.

The Trials of Apollo Books in Order

1. the hidden oracle.

In the second spin-off of the Percy Jackson and the Olypians series, Zeus is back to his old terrible father shenanigans as he transforms his son — the god Apollo — into a teenager and banishes him to New York City. Once on Earth he has to enlist the help of a Demigod named Meg and of course the heroic Percy Jackson to save the day and earn the forgiveness of his father. This means he'll have to wrangle control of the Five Oracles which will take the crew on another mythologically charged adventure through Riordan's fantastical world.

2. The Dark Prophecy

Continuing the story of Apollo and his quest to find the Oracles in order to take his place as a god once again. Alongside his Demigod buddies, Apollo must venture across America in order to free the next Oracle, all the while battling against mythical creatures and the mysterious Triumvirate Holdings, along with one of its leaders Commodus. Expanding the new lore introduced in The Trials of Apollo this is a gripping continuation of the Percy Jackson series.

3. The Burning Maze

Apollo's battle against the evil emperors of Triumvirate Holdings takes center stage here as he comes up against multiple mythological creatures and famed historical figures. You'll catch appearances from Caligula, Madea, Strix, and even Caligula's favorite horse Incitatus. This is another epic adventure that pits Apollo against fearsome foes and tragic losses as he unravels the Triumvirate's shocking plans and tries to regain his immortality while keeping his friends safe. And trust us when we say that's not an easy set of responsibilities to juggle.

4. The Tyrant’s Tomb

The penultimate book in the Trials of Apollo series takes Apollo and friends to the edge as they find themselves up against the brutal Caligula and his followers. In order to help protect Camp Jupiter from the onslaught of Triumvirate Holdings, Apollo and his crew must venture into the ancient tomb of a terrifying tyrant that will put them in more danger than ever before. It'll also lead to the final trial of Apollo, which will define and seal his fate forever.

5. The Tower of Nero

In the final Trials of Apollo book the stage is set for an epic battle back in New York City. It's all been leading to this as the young god and his demigod buds have come up against their biggest foe yet. It's an epic finale with massive stakes as mythical families are reunited, friendships are tested, and Apollo finally learns whether or not he's done enough to return to his place on Mount Olympus. But if you're desperate for more stories in this universe, don't despair as there's one more standalone novel that ties into the world of Percy Jackson.

6. The Sun and the Star

Bringing two fan favorite characters to the forefront of their own story, The Sun and the Star centers on Nico di Angelo and Will Solace who were introduced in earlier Percy Jackson novels. Nico is the son of Hades which means that life is far from easy for him, and as the son of Apollo, Will has had his fair share of adventures too. But when Nico starts hearing a voice calling him to the depths of the underworld the pair are tested like never before, in this story that will sate the appetites of Percy Jackson fans everywhere, especially those who miss Camp Half-Blood.

What's Next for the Percy Jackson Series?

Rick Riordan has announced a seventh book in the mainline Percy Jackson series. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Wrath of the Triple Goddess will be released on September 23, 2024, presumably taking place after The Chalice of the Gods.

As for the TV show, Disney recently renewed Percy Jackson and the Olympians for a second season . With the new season set to start filming this fall, we know for sure the next season will be streaming on Disney+, but a formal release date is still up in the air.

Rosie Knight is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything from anime to comic books to kaiju to kids movies to horror flicks. She has over half a decade of experience in entertainment journalism with bylines at Nerdist, Den of Geek, Polygon, and more. Rosie is a published comics author who has written titles including Godzilla Rivals vs. Battra and The Haunted High-Tops. She co-hosts the weekly Crooked Media pop-culture podcast X-Ray Vision. When she's not writing, you can find her playing Dragon Ball FighterZ or rewatching weird old horror and martial movies in her free time. She loves making comics and zines as well as collecting VHS and reading much manga as humanly possible. You can find her on social at @rosiemarx.

In This Article

Rick Riordan

The Lightning Thief

Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is on the most dangerous quest of his life. With the help of a satyr and a daughter of Athena, Percy must journey across the United States to catch a thief who has stolen the original weapon of mass destruction — Zeus’ master bolt. Along the way, he must face a host of mythological enemies determined to stop him. Most of all, he must come to terms with a father he has never known, and an Oracle that has warned him of betrayal by a friend.

The Lightning Thief, Chapter One

Hear the first part of the first Percy Jackson book, as read by the author (MP3).

More From This Series

Notable Awards

• A New York Times Bestseller
• Selected for Al Roker's Book Club for Kids, The Today Show
• A Best Book of 2005, School Library Journal
• A New York Times Notable Book of 2005
• A Best Book of 2005, Child Magazine
• Bluebonnet Award Nominee, 2006, Texas Library Association
• Askews Torchlight Award (UK) Winner, 2006
• Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book List, 2005
• VOYA Top Shelf Fiction List for 2005
• ALA Notable Book for 2005
• YALSA Best Book for Young Adults 2005
• Red House Children's Book Award Winner (UK), 2006
• CCBC choice award 2006, Cooperative Children's Book Center
• A 2006 Notable Children's Book, National Council for Teachers of English
• A Publishers Weekly National Children's Bestseller
• Warwickshire Book Award Winner (UK), 2007

Parent Teacher Resources

• Percy Posters
• Daily Activity Schedule
• The Lightning Thief: A Teacher’s Guide
• Olympian “Cribs”
• Meet the Greek Gods
• A Complete Lightning Thief Unit
• Projects from Gatesville
• Chiron’s Guide to Greek Mythology
• The Lightning Thief: A Reader’s Guide
• Camp Half-Blood Dining Hall

View All Parent Teacher Resources

The Last Olympian

62 pages • 2 hours read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-4

Chapters 5-8

Chapters 9-12

Chapters 13-16

Chapters 17-20

Chapters 21-24

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Summary and Study Guide

Rick Riordan’s The Last Olympian is the fifth and final installment of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Published in 2009, this fantasy children’s book was a #1 bestseller on the lists of USA Today , the LA Times , and the Wall Street Journal . The novel follows the teenage demigod Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon and of a mortal woman. He and other demigods spend their summers at Camp Half-Blood, located in Long Island, NY.

When the novel opens, two sets of Greek gods are at war: the original race of gods, the Titans, versus the Olympians, their descendants. The demigods fight on the side of the Olympians, whose home, Mount Olympus, is located on the 600th floor of the Empire State Building in Manhattan, NY.

Get access to this full Study Guide and much more!

• 7,900+ In-Depth Study Guides
• 4,800+ Quick-Read Plot Summaries
• Downloadable PDFs

In the first scene of the novel, Percy and his fellow demigod Charles Beckendorf infiltrate Kronos’s ship. The latter is the Titan god of time, and he is leading the fight against the Olympians. Kronos has overtaken the body of Luke Castellan , a demigod who has bathed in the River Styx to become invulnerable. Although Percy and Charles succeed in blowing up the ship, Charles dies before he escapes.

Percy returns to Camp Half-Blood, where he encounters his mentor Chiron (a centaur) and love interest Annabeth Chase (daughter of Athena). The Oracle of Delphi, in the form of a mummified doll, reveals the Great Prophecy—the hero will make a choice to ensure the ultimate success or destruction of Olympus, a choice which will ensure the hero's demise. Although it appears as though Percy is the hero mentioned in the prophecy, the author later reveals that it is Luke. 

The SuperSummary difference

• 8x more resources than SparkNotes and CliffsNotes combined
• Study Guides you won ' t find anywhere else
• 175 + new titles every month

Once deciding to accept the Prophecy, Percy goes on a journey with Nico di Angelo , son of Hades , to learn more about Luke’s background in order to better be able to defeat him. They visit May Castellan , Luke’s mother, who has lost touch with reality. She is a mortal but has the gift of prophecy and tried to take on the role of the new Oracle of Delphi but was cursed.

Percy and Nico next journey to Central Park, which offers a passage to the Underworld. While there, they meet up with Grover Underwood , a satyr and Percy’s best friend. Grover becomes instrumental in helping lead the war efforts. Percy and Nico descend into the Underworld, and Percy bathes in the River Styx, rendering him invulnerable save for a patch on his lower back.

Next, Percy meets his fellow demigods at the Empire State Building. Their main objective is to keep the Titans away from Mount Olympus. They devise a plan to block off all of the entrances to Manhattan, and the various teams disperse. Percy and Annabeth stick together.

The demigods fight several battles against various monsters, such as the Clazmonian Sow, the Lydian pig, and the drakon. They force Kronos’s army back, but the fight wages on. During the battle, Rachel Dare , a mortal with the gift of sight, arrives to tell Percy that he is not the hero in the Prophecy. Rachel is another one of Percy’s love interests.

Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and Thalia finally go to Mount Olympus in a last-ditch effort to defend it. The city is crumbling around them, and Kronos has entered the throne room. Percy fights him, and Annabeth speaks to Luke, whose spirit is still present in Kronos. Annabeth and Luke have a history together, and she is able to get him to turn against Kronos and defeat him. Luke uses his own sword to kill Kronos, effectively killing himself. In this way, Luke fulfills the Prophecy.

Everyone returns to Camp Half-Blood to tend to the wounded and give burials to the dead. Rachel becomes the new Oracle of Delphi and tells Percy that they cannot be together. Percy confesses his feelings to Annabeth, and they two become a couple. The book ends as summer draws to a close, and the various demigods leave to go back to school in the normal world.

Related Titles

By Rick Riordan

Daughter of the Deep

The Battle of the Labyrinth

The Blood of Olympus

The Chalice of the Gods

The Dark Prophecy

The Hammer of Thor

The Hidden Oracle

The House of Hades

The Lightning Thief

The Lost Hero

The Mark Of Athena

The Maze of Bones

The Red Pyramid

The Sea of Monsters

The Son of Neptune

The Sun and the Star

The Sword of Summer

The Throne of Fire

The Titan's Curse

The Tower of Nero

Featured Collections

View Collection

Percy Jackson & the Olympians Book Summary

The Lightning Thief

by Rick Riordan

Percy jackson & the olympians.

Percy Jackson, a seemingly ordinary teenager with ADHD and dyslexia, discovers he’s actually a demigod, the son of Poseidon. Accused of stealing Zeus’ lightning bolt, he embarks on a perilous quest across the United States to clear his name, prevent a war among the gods, and come to terms with his newfound identity.

Table of contents

Author & writing background, percy’s identity, the quest for the lightning bolt, camp half-blood, friendship and loyalty, facing challenges, the power of prophecy, family relationships, the twist of the true thief, what age group is this book appropriate for, is this book part of a series, does this book accurately portray greek mythology, percy jackson & the olympians quotes.

Rick Riordan, a former middle school teacher with a passion for Greek mythology, crafted the Percy Jackson series drawing inspiration from his son’s struggles with ADHD and dyslexia. Riordan’s engaging writing style blends humor, action, and mythology, making complex stories accessible and exciting for young readers. His success with Percy Jackson led to several other popular mythological series, including The Heroes of Olympus and The Kane Chronicles.

Key Takeaways

Percy learns he is a demigod, the son of Poseidon, which explains his unique abilities and challenges. This discovery forces him to confront a world he never knew existed and grapple with his place within it.

Falsely accused of stealing Zeus’ master lightning bolt, Percy, along with Annabeth and Grover, embarks on a dangerous quest across the United States to find the true thief and prevent a catastrophic war among the gods.

Percy discovers a safe haven and training ground for demigods at Camp Half-Blood, where he learns about Greek mythology, hones his skills, and forms strong bonds with other demigods.

Throughout his journey, Percy develops deep friendships with Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena, and Grover Underwood, a satyr. Their loyalty and support are crucial to his success and survival.

Percy encounters numerous monsters and obstacles on his quest, testing his courage, wit, and resilience. He learns to embrace his demigod abilities and use them to overcome adversity.

An ancient prophecy hangs over Percy, foreshadowing a great conflict and a pivotal role he will play in the fate of Olympus.

Percy struggles with his strained relationship with his absent father, Poseidon, and his complicated feelings towards his stepfather.

The climax of the story reveals a surprising betrayal and the true identity of the lightning thief, forcing Percy to make difficult choices and confront powerful enemies.

FAQ about Percy Jackson & the Olympians

The Lightning Thief is suitable for readers aged 8-12, but its exciting plot and relatable characters can be enjoyed by teens and adults as well.

Yes, The Lightning Thief is the first book in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, followed by four other novels and several companion books.

While the book takes creative liberties with the myths, it remains largely faithful to the core stories and characters of Greek mythology.

• ”Look, I didn’t want to be a half-blood."
• "If my life is going to mean anything, I have to live it myself."
• "Being a hero doesn’t mean you’re invincible. It just means that you’re brave enough to stand up and do what’s needed.”

Readers also enjoyed

Chains summary, summer i turned pretty summary, love & gelato summary.

• Teen Young Adult

The First Percy Jackson Book Ends With A Twist

The new Disney+ series adapts Rick Riordan’s The Lightning Thief .

Disney+’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series isn’t the first adaptation of author Rick Riordan’s books — but it might be the most faithful.

That’s because Riordan, who previously slammed the film versions starring Logan Lerman as the titular hero, has been involved in the series since its inception. “I feel comfortable telling fans of the books who have been waiting — in some cases, decades — for this kind of faithful adaptation, that this is the one you’ve been waiting for,” the writer told Entertainment Weekly.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians follows the storyline of Riordan’s original five-book series, beginning with 2005’s The Lightning Thief in Season 1. Here’s a quick refresher on the plot and ending of his first Percy Jackson novel.

Percy Is A Demigod

In Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief , readers meet 12-year-old Percy Jackson, who’s sent to a boarding school for troubled youths in upstate New York because he has ADHD and dyslexia. During a stormy beach getaway with his mother Sally, Percy’s friend Grover reveals himself as a satyr and informs him that Percy is a Greek demigod.

Grover has kept a watchful eye on Percy until he was old enough to attend training at Camp Half-Blood. Now that dark supernatural forces are after Percy, they flee to the Long Island summer camp for young demigods to help him learn the skills to become battle-ready and protect the mortal world from monsters such as Medusa and the Minotaur.

While en route to Camp Half-Blood, the Minotaur attacks the trio, and though Percy defeats the monster, his mother disappears in a shower of gold and is presumed dead.

Welcome To Camp Half-Blood

While learning the ins and outs of his secret identity at Camp Half-Blood, Percy discovers that sea god Poseidon is his father, and there’s trouble in Olympus. Zeus’ master bolt has been stolen, and he believes Percy was the culprit, as part of Poseidon’s supposed scheme to overthrow him.

Zeus gives Poseidon 10 days to return the master weapon, under the threat of an all-out war. Believing that Hades set him up, Percy embarks on a quest to the Underworld (located in Los Angeles) to confront him, return the master bolt to Olympus, and ultimately prevent a war between the gods. He’s joined by his friends Grover and Annabeth.

Battling The Gods

After a perilous cross-country journey, the three arrive in the Underworld and discover that a defeated titan named Kronos — not Hades — was behind the theft, hoping to start a war. With an assist from another then-unknown human hero, Kronos used his powers of manipulation to trick Percy into delivering the master bolt, which was hidden in his magic backpack, to the Underworld.

Meanwhile, Hades is convinced that Percy stole Zeus’ lightning bolt and his magic helm of darkness. He is holding Percy’s mother, who’s not actually dead, hostage in a shower of gold. Hades demands Percy hand over his magic helm to save her.

Surrounded by armies of the dead, Percy realizes he has only three magic pearls. He ultimately decides to use them to save Grover and Annabeth, promising his mother he’ll return for her. After escaping and winning a battle against the god of war, Ares, Percy arranges for the helm’s return to the Underworld and returns to Mount Olympus (now located in New York City) with Zeus’ lightning bolt to prevent the impending war.

The Book Ending, Explained

Back at Olympus, Percy finally meets Poseidon, who informs him that Hades has returned his mother as a peace offering — and that he has an important choice to make when he returns home to his family’s small Upper East Side apartment.

Once there, Percy finds Medusa’s head, a trophy he’d forgotten he collected and mailed home earlier, and realizes he can use it to petrify his abusive stepfather, Gabe, thus saving his mother from her miserable marriage. However, Sally begs him not to, and he agrees, allowing her to save herself. In the process, he also saves himself from the tragic hero prophecy Poseidon had feared.

Upon returning to Camp Half-Blood, Percy’s friend Luke betrays him and is revealed to be the human hero Kronos used for the theft. After Luke conjures a scorpion to poison Percy, he warns that Kronos will rise and destroy the age of the gods. Percy survives the poisoning, thanks to his teacher Chiron’s help, and realizes his fight against the rise of the titans has only just begun.

As Riordan’s website states, The Lightning Thief is “ultimately about Percy coming of age, learning to trust his friends and his own abilities, accepting his parents for who they are, and choosing love and loyalty over resentment and despair.”

Book Series Recaps

So what happened in book one.

What happened in The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1)?

*Our site contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases....hey, we had to upgrade our hosting due to our amazing number of readers...we're just trying to pay for it! ;)*

Read a full summary of The Lightning Thief , book #1 in Rick Riordan’s popular Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, right here! This page is full of spoilers, so beware. If you are wondering what happened in The Lightning Thief , then you are in the right place!

Special thanks to Baala, a new BSR contributor who wrote this great recap! Check out her work at the Book Fairies and visit her Instagram page , too.

Author Rick Riordan

Ratings 4.7 stars on Amazon 3.27 stars on Goodreads Add The Lightning Thief on Goodreads.

***** Everything below is a SPOILER *****

Main Characters and Other Information

Percy Jackson – Demigod son of Poseidon and Sally Jackson, also known as Perseus. Narrator and protagonist of the series.

Annabeth Chase – Demigod daughter of Athena and Professor Frederick Chase. 

Grover Underwood – Satyr Guardian and Best Friend of Percy Jackson. Served as protector to Annabeth Chase, Thalia Grace, and Luke Castellan when taking them to Camp Half-Blood.

Luke Castellan – Demigod son of Hermes and May Castellan. Arrived at Camp Half-Blood with Annabeth Chase.

Chiron – The director at Camp Half-Blood. He is an immortal centaur, son of Kronos and the Oceanid Philyra, and a famed trainer of heroes. Chiron went under the alias “Mr. Brunner” when he posed as a teacher at Yancy Academy.

Sally Jackson – Mortal mother of Percy Jackson and widow of Gabe Ugliano.

Gabe Ugliano – Ex-Husband of Sally Jackson and Step-father of Percy Jackson.

What happened in The Lightning Thief ?

Percy Jackson, a twelve-year-old boy diagnosed with ADHD and Dyslexia, is on a field-trip when he spots his classmate, Nancy Bobofit, bullying his best friend, Grover Underwood. Because of his anger, a water fountain suddenly explodes, drenching Nancy from head to toe. Because of the Mist, the supernatural event was made to seem as if Percy pushed Nancy into the fountain. Their pre-algebra teacher, Mrs. Dodds, then takes Percy for a private talk, presumably to scold him; however, she turns into a Fury, a mythical creature from Greek mythology. She attempts to kill him, but the Latin teacher, Mr. Brunner, suddenly charges in and throws Percy a pen that changes into a sword when he uncaps it. 

For the remainder of the school year, everyone on campus believes Mrs. Dodds had never existed, and their pre-algebra teacher is instead Mrs. Kerr, a teacher Percy has never seen before. Percy suspects something is amiss because whenever he asks Grover, he hesitates. Percy is almost led to believe Mrs. Dodds was a fantasy, too, until he eavesdrops on Grover and Mr. Brunner whispering otherwise about Mrs. Dodds.

On his way home with Grover, he spots three old crones (who we later learn are the Fates) knitting and then cutting a piece of string. Grover remarks on how things are worse than they seem and explains to Percy the Fates are the ones who decide the lifespan of a being. The string in their hand is the lifeline of a person. When cut, it signifies their death. Frightened by this, Percy assumes the string of yarn the Fates cut was his. When they reach Manhattan, Percy ditches Grover, thinking he is crazy. Percy reaches his home and sees his mother, Sally Jackson, who tells him they are leaving immediately for a vacation in Montauk.

In the middle of a storm in Montauk, Grover appears at their vacation home to tell Sally that Percy must flee to Camp Half-Blood. While driving to the camp, Percy discovers his mother and Grover are familiar with one another and Grover is a goat from the waist down, making him a Satyr. As they travel closer to the camp, they are attacked by a Minotaur. While trapped inside the car, Sally tells Percy to escape and run for the pine tree. Percy disagrees and shouts that he is not leaving her behind. Sally distracts the Minotaur, helping Percy and Grover reach the tree. The Minotaur then grabs her, and she dissolves into a golden shower of light. Percy becomes outraged and charges towards the Minotaur, grabs its horn, and stabs it, causing the monster to crumble into dust. 

Percy is able to walk to the camp’s borders with Grover before he collapses on the porch in front of a man and a girl. Weaving in and out of consciousness, he sees a girl is tending to him. When he finally becomes stable, Grover gives him back the Minotaur horn and takes him to the man he had seen earlier. He learns the man is Mr. Brunner and is told everything he had learned in Greek mythology is true.

Percy is introduced to Mr. D, who is the Greek god Dionysus, and Mr. Brunner reveals himself to be the centaur Chiron. Chiron hands Percy over to the girl, Annabeth Chase, who took care of him while he was unconscious. She gives him a tour of the camp and explains in detail their identity as demigods. He is taken to the Hermes Cabin, where he will be staying, and is introduced to the head counselor, Luke Castellan.

During a game of Capture the Flag, Percy learns he is healed by water after he is attacked by a hellhound. He is then claimed as a son of Poseidon through a hologram of a glowing green trident above his head. This comes as a surprise to the camp, because it is revealed the three elder gods—Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades—had taken an oath to not have any demigod children. Percy was proof that Poseidon broke his oath.

Percy is granted a quest to find Zeus’ Master Bolt, which Chiron believes Hades has stolen; however, Zeus believes Percy was the one who stole the bolt. Zeus gives Percy ten days before the summer solstice to find the Master Bolt. Before the quest, Percy is also given magic shoes as a “gift” from Luke. However, Chiron tells him it is a terrible idea to use the shoes because he would be interfering with Zeus’ domain. So Percy gives the pair to Grover. Chiron also gifts a pen to Percy, claiming it is a gift from Poseidon. When uncapped, a sword called Riptide (also known as Anaklusmos) appears. Accompanied by Annabeth and Grover, Percy travels west toward the Underworld in Los Angeles.

When the Trio get on the bus to New Jersey, three old ladies step on as well. Percy recognizes one of them as Mrs. Dodds and discovers the old ladies are the notorious Furies. The Furies attack them, and the Trio then escapes to Aunty Em’s Garden Gnome Emporium. After they are served food, Aunty Em lures them to the back of her emporium, saying she wants to take their picture to serve as her models for her next art piece. She instead tries to turn them to stone, revealing herself to be Medusa. Percy manages to cut off her head and proceeds to get on a train with Annabeth and Grover to the Gateway Arch.

When Percy is in an elevator on the way to the top of the Arch, a lady reveals herself to be Echidna, along with her dog, which is actually the Chimera. Percy battles the Chimera and is poisoned during the fight. Knowing the water beneath him will purge the poison from his system, Percy jumps into the Mississippi River to escape the Chimera.

After Percy lands in the river, he discovers he has the power to breathe and stay dry underwater. Then Percy finds his friends, and they get back on the train and are taken to Denver. When stopping at a diner, Ares comes in and tells them to retrieve his shield from Waterland, and in turn, he will give them a ride west and information about Percy’s mom. They go to Waterland and find out the ride was set up with a trap by Hephaestus. They manage to escape the trap with Aphrodite’s Scarf and Ares’ shield and go back to the diner. Ares shows them a truck and reveals Percy’s mother is not dead; instead, she has been taken as a hostage by Hades.

Once they reach Las Vegas, a bellhop from the Lotus Hotel and Casino invites them to come in. Immediately, without even having to pay for anything, the trio are given a room and are led down to the arcade. After a while of playing, Percy finds a boy name Darrin who believes the current year is 1977, as well as others who believe it is 1985 and 1993. Percy finds Annabeth and Grover, and they immediately leave the hotel, believing it to be some sort of magical trap. They are relieved to find out from a newspaper it is still the same year; however, five days have already passed, leaving only one day to retrieve the Master Bolt.

They eventually make it to the ocean, which a Nereid from the Mississippi River had instructed Percy to go to. Percy meets the same Nereid again, and she gives him three pearls, instructing him to use them when they are in great need. While searching for the entrance to the Underworld, the Trio encounters Procrustes. He traps Annabeth and Grover using his signature technique—causing them to lie down on a bed while being stretched by ropes until they are exactly the same height of the bed—until Percy tricks him into lying down on one such bed. Procrustes is killed, and the trio proceed to DOA Recording Studios, the cover place for the gates to the Underworld. Percy bribes Charon into letting them ride across the River Styx with him.

How did The Lightning Thief end?

Once inside, they discover the entrance to the Underworld proper is being guarded by Cerberus. Annabeth then plays with the giant dog by using a red ball, distracting him and giving Percy and Grover enough time to slip past. They walk through the Fields of Asphodel and pass by the path to the pit of Tartarus. As they approach the entrance to Tartarus, Luke’s shoes try to pull Grover into it, but he manages to slip free.

They manage to get to Hades’ palace, where Percy confronts Hades, who believes Percy stole the Master Bolt as well as his Helm of Darkness. Percy realizes Ares has tricked him when he discovers the Master Bolt is in his backpack. He and his friends then use the pearls to flee from the Underworld without his mother, as he was forced to leave her, thus fulfilling the line in the prophecy that states, “ You shall fail to save what matters most in the end “.

The pearls return Percy, Grover, and Annabeth back to the ocean, where Percy had received the pearls from. They reach the shore, where they meet Ares and confront him. Percy then challenges Ares to a fight, using Riptide to battle. Percy eventually stabs him in the heel, and Ares starts to bleed ichor. Ares is about to kill Percy when an evil force in the form of a dark aura convinces him to not strike Percy. Ares then leaves, giving Percy the Helm of Darkness. Percy tosses it to the Furies, and they take it back to Hades.

Percy flies back to New York City to give the lightning bolt to Zeus, despite the dangers of flying, due to the Poseidon-Zeus rivalry. He proceeds to the Empire State Building and reaches the top, where Olympus is currently located. Zeus accepts the bolt and Percy has a short talk with his father Poseidon before returning to camp, where he learns his mother is alive. He bumps into Luke in the woods surrounding the camp, where he reveals he stole the bolt and helm for Kronos, and then calls out a poisonous scorpion which stings Percy, nearly killing him.

Luke then manages to escape from Camp Half-Blood.  At the end of the book, Chiron cures Percy and they, along with Annabeth, discuss Luke’s betrayal. The camp beads are also awarded, and the bead for Percy’s first year is a black bead painted with a green trident in the middle. Annabeth and Percy part ways, with her leaving Camp Half-Blood for the first time to live with her dad, step-mother, and two half siblings and Percy leaving to attend another school.

There you go! That’s what happened in The Lightning Thief . We hope you enjoyed this The Lightning Thief summary with spoilers.

Ready to read The Lightning Thief ? Click to buy and help us pay for hosting!

Don’t forget to check out Baala’s work at the Book Fairies and her Instagram page ! Follow Book Series Recaps on Instagram and Twitter . Friend us on Goodreads: Sara and Stacy . Check out awesome art, quotes and more on Pinterest .

Oh and share this with your friends who might like to read a recap of The Lightning Thief .

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Allen Cheng

The lightning thief book summary, by rick riordan.

Want to learn the ideas in The Lightning Thief better than ever? Read the world’s #1 book summary of The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan here.

Read a brief 1-Page Summary or watch video summaries curated by our expert team. Note: this book guide is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher or author, and we always encourage you to purchase and read the full book.

Video Summaries of The Lightning Thief

We’ve scoured the Internet for the very best videos on The Lightning Thief, from high-quality videos summaries to interviews or commentary by Rick Riordan.

1-Page Summary of The Lightning Thief

Overall summary.

Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson warns the reader that if they recognize themselves in the story to follow, they should stop reading: being a demigod is rough. His story begins with a school field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Percy has ADHD and dyslexia, and he’s gotten expelled from six schools already. He tries hard to be good because he admires his Latin teacher, Mr. Brunner, but the evil math teacher Mrs. Dodds ruins everything. She takes Percy into the museum alone and transforms into a monstrous creature…

Percy and Grover are on a bus when it breaks down. They see an old fruit stand where three old ladies are knitting. This scares Grover, so he asks Percy to walk him home. Percy ditches Grover and goes back to his apartment without Smelly Gabe (Mom’s husband). He waits for Mom, who tells him they’re going to the beach house in Montauk for the weekend without Gabe. The vacation starts out normal—they talk about Dad, who left when Mom was pregnant—but then there’s a hurricane. A goat shows up at their door, claiming that “he” is after them; this turns out to be true because soon after they leave home someone attacks them with lightning and kidnaps Mom. They try to get past a huge pine tree but end up getting attacked by a Minotaur instead; luckily Percy manages to kill it before passing out from exhaustion afterwards. When he wakes up Chiron takes him into camp where Mr. D reveals himself as Dionysus (the god of wine) while Annabeth is revealed as Chiron’s daughter Athena’s child (Athena being one of Zeus’ children). Camp Half-Blood is full of demigods like Percy—children of one human parent and one god parent whose parents were unable or unwilling to raise them themselves, so they were brought here for protection against monsters such as the Minotaur that attacked earlier on the road trip with his mother

Percy settles into camp life, but he is still focused on the possibility that his mother is held captive in the Underworld. He also begins to understand why some of the other kids resent their immortal parents. Several odd things happen: Percy performs a tricky sword maneuver after dumping water on himself and he’s exceptionally good at canoeing. One afternoon, Grover shares that his assignment to protect Percy isn’t over yet and tells him why there are no children of Zeus, Poseidon, or Hades at camp: they promised after World War II not to father more children. Zeus messed up 17 years ago by having Thalia; monsters killed her when she was just a baby. Later that day, the camp plays capture the flag; Clarisse and other Ares kids accost Percy near a stream but as soon as he falls into it (which was entirely accidental), he feels strong enough to fight them off singlehandedly with nothing but his fists (he has never fought before). As soon as this happens, two things happen simultaneously—a hellhound attempts to kill Percy (the first time one has ever come so close) and Neptune’s trident appears above his head signaling for everyone else present that Poseidon is indeed his father!

The next day, Percy has a nightmare about two men fighting. Chiron tells him that Zeus’s thunderbolt is missing and he thinks Percy took it. The oracle says that he must go west to face the god who turned against his father, find what was stolen, and return it. He will lose a friend in the process, but will succeed at what matters most to him. On their way down from Mount Olympus (where they were training), Annabeth tries to convince Percy not be friends because Poseidon and Athena are rivals. On the bus on their trip home, they’re attacked by furies who are looking for something called “it.” They escape after finding out Aunty Em runs an emporium of garden gnomes which she uses as her disguise when she turns into Medusa when people come over so she can turn them into statues with her gaze; this explains why there aren’t any other shoppers besides them at her store! While eating dinner at Aunty Em’s place (the three had smelled burgers cooking outside), Grover smells monsters nearby while Annabeth insists that there isn’t anything wrong…until Medusa shows up and attacks! After defeating Medusa using Riptide, they ship off her head back to Mt Olympus before going on another journey together: this time heading towards Los Angeles where Hades lives since he has Zeus’ thunderbolt.

• ← Me Before You Book Summary, by Jojo Moyes
• Wings of Fire Book Summary, by A. P. J. Abdul Kalam →

You May Also Like

What’s a Concierge MVP? How Do You Build One?

Takeaways from Mark Zuckerberg: How to Build the Future (YC’s The Macro)

The Best Things I Learned from Ashton Kutcher, Tech Investor

Best Summary + PDF: The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg

The Best Things I Learned from Sara Blakely, Spanx Founder

Best Summary + PDF: How Not to Die, by Michael Greger