The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
Released: April 1st, 2006
Published by: Miramax
Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book Two
Page Amount: 279 pages, US hardcover

This is the second book in the Percy Jackson & The Olympians series. Although we do not post intentional spoilers in our reviews, please do not continue reading unless you have read The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.

"After a summer spent trying to prevent a catastrophic war among the Greek gods, Percy Jackson is finding his seventh-grade school year unnervingly quiet. His biggest problem is dealing with his new friend, Tyson, a six-foot-three, mentally challenged homeless kid who follows Percy everywhere, making it hard for Percy to have any normal friends. But things don't stay quiet for long.

Percy soon discovers there is trouble at Camp Half-Blood: the magical borders that protect Half-Blood Hill have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and the only safe haven for demigods is on the verge of being overrun by mythological monsters. To save the camp, Percy needs the help of his best friend, Grover, who has been taken prisoner on an island somewhere in the Sea of Monsters, the dangerous waters Greek heroes have sailed for millennia. Only today, the Sea of Monsters goes by a new name: The Bermuda Triangle.

Together with his friends, Percy must retrieve the Golden Fleece from the Island of the Cyclopes or Camp Half-Blood will be destroyed. But first, Percy will learn a stunning new secret about his family, one that makes him question whether being claimed as Poseidon's son is an honor or simply a cruel joke."
Information from Goodreads.com

REVIEW: 

I cannot get over how adorable this series is. Based on the covers and the section you can most easily find this series in (the children's section) you would expect a very sugary, well, child's book. But it is not that way at all. There is a lot of depth to the story and the plot as well as each of the characters. I thought maybe it had just been good luck with the Lightning Thief, but I am glad to say that I found this book even better than the first.

The characters that were introduced in the first book develop a lot in this book. I think Percy is an incredible main character that young men who are reading this should look up to. He is constantly trying to save everyone, and he goes about his life with an optimistic humor that I strongly appreciate. I also really like Annabeth. She is a good female role model and she adds a seriousness to this book that would change the dynamics of the plot entirely were she not written in.

I think that this plot can compete with a lot of the stronger YA novels out there, especially when you consider this book is meant for children. The mythical background of the story adds so much flavor without feeling too cheesy. I think Rick Riordan could write anything at this point and I would read it. I was left with this very relaxed feeling after devouring it, and yet I still felt like I took something from this book with me when I set it down.

Do not miss out on this adorable, deep and hilarious read.

FIRST LINE: 

"My nightmare started like this."

RATING BREAKDOWN: 

Plot: 18/20
Characters: 18/20
Writing: 18/20
Creativity: 18/20
Ending: 8/10
The 'It' Factor: 10/10
=90/100, A ()

PARENTAL SUGGESTION: 

This book contains the following:
Violence
Mild/Excessive Cursing
Mild/Excessive Sexual Content
Drug/Alcohol Abuse