Percy Jackson's Greek Gods

Re-imagining of Greek myths

Re-imagining of Japanese myths

Which do you prefer?

Riordan, Rick and Rocco, John. Percy Jackson's Greek Gods. Los Angeles : Disney-Hyperion Books, 2014.

Plot: Percy Jackson reviews the life histories of some of his most famous relatives. The epic origins of the Greek gods and their roles are discussed and illustrated with classic, empowering images. Percy then promptly deconstructs the gods' "heroics" and bad behavior with call-outs, insults, and modern allusions. As a result, the text provides a guide to ancient mythology through the lens of current viewpoints.

Genre: Mythology, Folklore

Reading Level: Grades 3-8

Similar Titles: Have a Hot Time, Hades!, It's All Greek to Me

Personal Thoughts: It is honestly difficult to read Greek myths with modern sensitivities. Mistreatment, cannibalism, treachery, and incest pepper most stories, making for awkward, mixed emotions toward the "heroes." Instead of glossing over the unpleasant aspects of the tales, Percy Jackson coats the negative with humor and snide comments to the reader. However, he still relates the myths accurately. Greek mythology influences modern storytelling, so the text may be a gentler introduction to the stories than some conventional resources.