The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

Amazon Product Description

“After saving Olympus from the evil Titan lord, Kronos, Percy and friends have rebuilt their beloved Camp Half-Blood, where the next generation of demigods must now prepare for a chilling prophecy of their own:

Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,
To storm or fire the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.

Now, in a brand-new series from blockbuster best-selling author Rick Riordan, fans return to the world of Camp Half-Blood. Here, a new group of heroes will inherit a quest. But to survive the journey, they’ll need the help of some familiar demigods.”

When I first heard that Rick Riordan was writing another series about Camp Half Blood, I prepared myself to be disappointed.  It’s often hard for the next book in a series to be as good as the first one, much less for a sequel to a series (I’m not sure that’s the right phrase) to be as good as the original series.  But Riordan more than meets the challenge.  This new Olympian series is a perfect continuation of the original one.

In The Lost Hero we meet three of the seven mentioned in the prophecy: Jason, who has no memory of his life before he wakes up on a school bus with Piper, who has the gift of persuasion, and Leo who is more than handy with his hands. As is the case with heroes, things get off to a rocky start and the trio soon finds themselves battling monsters before being transported to Camp Half Blood where they will learn their true identities and begin to prepare for their quest.

Riordan keeps things fast paced and suspenseful. The gods, especially Hera, know what is going on, but no one is willing to share that information with our heroes. Never fear, this intrepid trio does not let that slow them down.

If you enjoyed Percy and his adventures or if you enjoy mythology, this new series is a must read.  One of the things I enjoy about Riordan’s work is that it inspires me (and I’ve had students say this is true for them as well) to do a little research to refresh my memory on mythology.  Any book that students not only enjoy but encourages them to learn more is a definite winner.

Recommended for Grades 4 and up. (Even if you are an adult, you might consider reading this series. Not only will you be up to date on what the kids are reading, but you just might enjoy yourself.)

Mrs. Archer’s rating 5 of 5.