PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS: The Lightning Thief 
by Rick Riordan 
Meet Percy Jackson. Percy thinks he’s a loser because he has dyslexia and ADHD. He is very depressed and he can’t understand why his life is so difficult. He has 
been kicked out of six schools in six years. Although he works hard at school, he has never gotten a grade above a C in his life. Wherever he goes, strange things happen. Ordinary people suddenly turn into monsters. Buildings and bridges suddenly collapse. He doesn’t remember actually doing anything wrong, but teachers and other 
adults always seem to blame him for everything. 
During the summer of Percy’s 12th birthday, his life changes forever. Percy and his mother are on the way to a summer camp when they are attacked by monsters. Percy is seriously hurt in the fight and the monsters take his mother. He wakes up three days later at the camp, where he discovers why his life has been so difficult. He finds out that he is only half human – his father is one of the Greek gods. This means that Percy has magical powers.