Percy Jackson & the Olympians facts for kids

Rick Riordan at the Texas Book Festival in November 2007

Percy Jackson & the Olympians is a popular series of adventure and fantasy books written by Rick Riordan. The stories are set in the modern United States, but they are based on ancient Greek mythology. This exciting series includes five main books. There are also other special books related to the series, like The Demigod Files and Demigods and Monsters.

The main character, or protagonist, of the series is a boy named Percy Jackson. He finds out that he is a demigod, meaning he is the son of a Greek god—specifically, Poseidon, the god of the sea. On his adventures, Percy meets many other demigods, like Annabeth Chase and Luke Castellan. He also becomes great friends with a satyr (a creature that is half-human, half-goat) named Grover Underwood.

The Percy Jackson series has been very successful. As of March 5, 2010, it had been on the New York Times Best Seller list for children's books for an amazing 138 weeks!

The Main Books in the Series

The Percy Jackson & the Olympians series tells one big story over five books:

• The Lightning Thief
• The Sea of Monsters
• The Titan's Curse
• The Battle of the Labyrinth
• The Last Olympian

Extra Books and Guides

Besides the main adventure, there are other books that add more to the Percy Jackson world:

• The Demigod Files: This book contains short stories and extra information about the characters.
• Demigods and Monsters: This guide helps you learn more about the creatures and gods in the series.
• The Ultimate Guide: This book is a complete guide to the world of Percy Jackson.

Key Characters You'll Meet

Here are some of the most important characters in the series:

• Percy Jackson – He is the main hero of the story. Percy is a demigod, the son of Poseidon. He is usually between 12 and 16 years old during the series.
• Grover Underwood – Percy's best friend. Grover is a Satyr, a mythical creature who protects demigods. Even though he is older (28-33), satyrs age slower, so he seems like a 13-17 year old human. He becomes the Lord of the Wild later in the series.
• Annabeth Chase – A very smart demigod and daughter of Athena, the goddess of wisdom. Annabeth is a strong friend of Percy and later becomes his girlfriend. She is excellent at building and planning strategies.
• Luke Castellan – A demigod son of Hermes. Luke starts as a friend but later becomes the main villain, controlled by the powerful Titan Kronos. He makes a big sacrifice at the end of the series to save Olympus.
• Thalia Grace – A demigod daughter of Zeus, the king of the gods. Thalia is permanently 15 years old. She first appears at the end of The Sea of Monsters and later joins the Hunters of Artemis.
• Nico di Angelo – A young demigod son of Hades, the god of the Underworld. Nico is usually 10-12 years old. He has the power to command the dead.
• Tyson – Percy's half-brother, also a son of Poseidon. Tyson is a Cyclops, a giant with one eye. He often helps Percy throughout the series.
• Clarisse La Rue – A strong demigod daughter of Ares, the god of war. Clarisse is often in conflict with Percy and Annabeth.
• Rachel Elizabeth Dare – A human girl who can see through the magical mist that hides the mythical world. She helps Percy many times and later becomes the new Oracle of Delphi, which means she can see the future.

Other Important Characters

Here are a few more characters who play important roles:

• Chiron - An ancient and wise centaur (half-human, half-horse) who trains demigods at Camp Half-Blood. He also pretends to be a human teacher named Mr. Brunner.
• Sally Jackson - Percy Jackson's loving mother. She is a kind and strong human who supports Percy.
• Bianca di Angelo - Nico's sister and also a daughter of Hades. She is 12 years old permanently. Bianca joins the Hunters of Artemis and makes a sacrifice to save her friends. She appears mainly in The Titan's Curse.

The Movie Adaptation

The first book in the series, The Lightning Thief, was made into a movie by 20th Century Fox. Chris Columbus directed the film. The movie stars Logan Lerman as Percy, Brandon T. Jackson as Grover, and Alexandra Daddario as Annabeth. There is also a sequel book series called The Heroes of Olympus, which continues the story.

Fan Community

The "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" series has a huge fan base. Many websites and online communities have been created by fans who love the books and want to share their excitement.

See also

In Spanish: Percy Jackson y los dioses del Olimpo para niños