Monday, May 31, 2010

The Sea of Monsters by: Rick Riordan


The Sea of Monsters is the squeal to The lightening Thief. The book follows Percy Jackson, son of the Greek God Poseidon, on his quest to save Camp Half Blood.

The series in a whole is a good way to teach children about the Greek myths. For the most part the story holds true to the ancient myths. I have only found two errors in the whole book. One Poseidon as Percy's father is unrealistic. As my classical mythology professor put the uglier and smellier a woman was the more attractive she would be to the sea good. Since Percy's mother is described as neither ugly or smelly she would not have attracted the attention of the sea god. Second the pact between the three most powerful gods (Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades) has a flaw. Hades has no need to make an oath because he does not cheat on his wife Persephone. He tried once and was caught and has never tired again. So he really has no reason to make an oath to stop siring half mortal children because the only woman he can have children with is his wife.

Other than these minor errors in the myth I would recommend this book to adults and children alike. For those, like me, who have a background in Greek myth the books can be some what predictable. However the background knowledge helps understand certain parts that those who are new to the Greek world could miss or not comprehend.

This book is a great read regardless of you knowledge of the Greek gods and their myths. So why not grab the kids and this book and have story time around the camp fire at your own Half Blood Hill summer camp.

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