
The Sea of Monsters
by Rick Riordan
In Book Two of “Percy Jackson & The Olympians,” our hero – son of the
Greek god Poseidon – almost makes it through seventh grade without
getting expelled from a school. But on the last day of classes, P. E.
turns into a deadly game of monster dodgeball that leaves the school in
ruins. Once again, Percy flees to Camp Halfblood, whose boundaries
protect demigods – children with one mortal parent and one who is a god.
And when he gets there, he finds those very boundaries under attack.
A lot of things have changed at Camp Halfblood. The lone pine tree whose
spirit provides a shield that no monster can penetrate (don’t ask; it’s
a long story) has been poisoned, and will die soon unless someone goes
on a perilous quest. The centaur Chiron, Percy’s mentor and supporter,
has been fired and replaced by a nasty piece of work called Tantalus
(even Snape comes off looking like Teacher of the Year next to this
jerk), and Tantalus refuses to let Percy go on the quest. Spurred on by
a visit from a god, helped by two friends, and driven to greater urgency
by a series of nightmares about his satyr pal Grover, Percy risks
explusion from the camp and countless other dangers to bring the golden
fleece back to Camp Halfblood...and to keep it from falling into the
hands of a treacherous enemy who aims at nothing short of the end of
Western Civilization.
In this hilarious, exciting, and fast-paced story, many old myths get
dusted off for a fresh, 21st-century treatment. Here a chain of donut
shops conceals the nest of a many-headed monster. Here a cyclops wears a
T-shirt emblazoned with the words “World Sheep Expo 2001.” Here the
gaping maw of Charybdis wears braces, and the key to understanding
centaur behavior is revealed (OK, I won’t give that one away). The pain
of coming from an eternally messed-up family combines with heartbreaking
betrayal, the needs and obligations of true friends, and the threat of a
truly chilling evil power to add moments of touching tenderness, moving
heroism, and gnawing dread to the adventure. Plus, at the very end there
is a surprise twist that will propel you right into the series’ third
book, The Titan’s Curse...and, I would guess, beyond.
Robbie Fischer
USA
Recommended Age: 12+
If you would like to contact Robbie, you may do so here.
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