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January 16, 2008
Percy Jackson & the Olympians News
Hi everyone,
Just some Percy Jackson news obtained from Rick Riordan's website: www.rickriordan.com:
1. As you know, the fourth book in the Percy Jackson series, The Battle of the Labyrinth, is due out on May 6, 2008. Good news!
2. Fox is planning on making The Lightning Thief into a movie. A second script has been turned in. Great news!
3. There are plans to publish The Lightning Thief as a graphic novel, some time in 2009. Fun news!
4. And finally, if you don't know what to read while waiting for The Battle of the Labyrinth to be published, here are Rick Riordan's suggestions:
Rick's Reading Recommendations
I frequently get asked to recommend other books for kids to read while waiting for the next Percy Jackson. Below are some ideas. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but these all are books that I have enjoyed, and that have been "vetted" by my sons, who are reluctant readers, or other young readers I've worked with. The grade levels are simply my own rough estimates. They are not set in stone.
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The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins. The first in the series is Gregor the Overlander. A boy falls into a fantastical world under New York. For grades 4th-6th, roughly. My son devoured these.
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke. My favorite by this author. It's a fast-paced read with a great premise and interesting characters. Grades 4th-7th.
The Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz. A teen thriller series very much like James Bond. Good action and no-nonsense prose. Grades 6th-8th.
Airborn and Skybreaker by Kenneth Oppel. Adventure novels in the tradition of Treasure Island and Jules Verne, but with a modern sense of storytelling. These take place in a world where airplanes were never invented, and dirigible airships rule the skies. Grades 6th-8th. Again, my son Haley ate these up. (I loved these books. Ed)
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer. Lots of fantasy and humor, perfect for middle grade sensibilities. Grades 4th-7th.
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy. A funny fantasy/mystery featuring a detective who just happens to be a fire-throwing skeleton. Grades 4th-7th. I don't "blurb" many books, but this one I recommend without hesitation.
The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud. The first title is The Amulet of Samarkand. A more challenging series, but brilliant stuff. A young London magician summons an ancient djinn to help him with his problems. Grades 6th-8th. (This is an amazing series. Ed)
Everlost, Downsiders, Dark Fusion series by Neal Shusterman. My son loves these books -- all great adventures, very accessible. Grades 6th-8th.
And for mythology:
Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths by Bernard Evslin. Much better storytelling than D'Aulaires, in my opinion.
The Usborne Illustrated Guide to Greek Myths and Legends by Cheryl Evans. A little hard to find, but very accessible, with high-interest illustrations.
And when in doubt, always ask your local librarian (I added the underlline. Ed) or independent bookseller. They are a wealth of information when it comes to kids' books!
I hope you find this interesting.
Ed Goldberg
Teen Services Librarian
Posted by egoldberg at January 16, 2008 8:44 AM