The Lightning ThiefThe Lightning Thief
Score Modern
What it's about
Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson learns that he's the son of a Greek god. With the help of a satyr and a daughter of Athena, he must cross the United States to catch the thief who stole Zeus's master bolt, facing mythological monsters, a father he has never known and an Oracle that warns him of betrayal by a friend.
Why it's worth reading
It launched Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series, which made Greek mythology a favorite for a generation of young readers. It's funny, fast and full of heart.
You'll love it if you liked
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold
The Hunger GamesGood to know
It's written for middle-grade readers, but adults enjoy it too. It's the first of five books, plus many spin-offs.
By the numbers
- Readers70 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller68 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #42 of the 219 young adult books we rank
- #87 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #347 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #685 of the 2,816 books we rank
Reads as
Adventurous
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Quick answers
Is The Lightning Thief worth reading?
Yes. It launched Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series, which made Greek mythology a favorite for a generation of young readers. It ranks #685 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 76.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Lightning Thief about?
Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson learns that he's the son of a Greek god. With the help of a satyr and a daughter of Athena, he must cross the United States to catch the thief who stole Zeus's master bolt, facing mythological monsters, a father he has never known and an Oracle that warns him of betrayal by a friend.
How long does it take to read The Lightning Thief?
About 9 hours (377 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Lightning Thief?
If you liked it, try Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling, Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold by Stephen Fry or The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.