The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series #2) by Rick Riordan

From Barnes & Noble

The heroic son of Poseidon makes an action-packed comeback in the second must-read installment of Rick Riordan's amazing young readers series. Starring Percy Jackson, a "half blood" whose mother is human and whose father is the God of the Sea, Riordan's series combines cliffhanger adventure and Greek mythology lessons that results in true page-turners that get better with each installment. In this episode, The Sea of Monsters, Percy sets out to retrieve the Golden Fleece before his summer camp is destroyed, surpassing the first book's drama and setting the stage for more thrills to come.

From the Publisher

After a summer spent trying to prevent a catastrophic war among the Greek gods, Percy Jackson finds 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 which 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 by the Cyclops Polyphemus 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.

Now Percy and his friends-Grover, Annabeth, and Tyson-must retrieve the Golden Fleece from the Island of the Cyclopes by the end of the summer 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.

Child Magazine

In a comic blend of Greek mythology and modern life, our protagonist, Percy (a half-god, half-human with ADHD), finds himself in a seventh-grade dodgeball game overrun by giant cannibalistic monsters. Trouble continues to follow Percy and his classmates as they journey to the Sea of Monsters -- aka the Bermuda Triangle -- to save not only Camp Half-Blood (a summer haven for demigods), but Percy's satyr friend Grover, who's being held hostage by a Cyclops, and, oh yes, all of Western Civilization. Featuring the cliff-hangers and sassy attitude kids loved in The Lightning Thief -- plus a surprising new family secret -- this outstanding sequel should win over a fresh legion of fans. (Ages 8 to 12)
Child magazine's Best Children's Book Awards 2006

Publishers Weekly

Seventh grader Percy Jackson, who found out he was Poseidon's son in The Lightning Thief, returns in The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan, and with his fellow Olympian myth mates tries to save their beloved Camp Half-Blood from an evil and mysterious enemy. Narrator Jesse Berns is back on board, too, with the snappy delivery and all the right funny touches that make this action-packed fantasy such fun. (May) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Judy Crowder - Children's Literature

Percy Jackson deals with many issues of his age group: navigating seventh grade, dealing with school yard bullies, being the son of a single mom, and wishing it were summer so he could be at camp. But this seemingly typical adolescent life has a major wrinkle—his father happens to be Poseidon, the Sea God. Percy—short for Perseus—is a half-blood, with one human parent, the other a god. Half-bloods like Percy are more prevalent than you think. Camp Half-Blood, on the northern end of Long Island, is their refuge and training ground. But this year something's wrong. Chiron, their favorite activities director and centaur, is being forced out, and their camp has been poisoned by a mysterious enemy. Percy finds himself saddled with Tyson, a well-meaning but mentally handicapped Cyclops. Percy also finds himself having nightmares about his friend, Grover, a satyr. Suddenly it is up to Percy, his half-blood friend, Annabeth, and Tyson to travel to the Sea of Monsters in order to find the cure and try to rescue Grover. Here comes trouble in the form of Luke, once Percy's half-blood friend, who will try to thwart him at every turn. This book, sequel to The Lightning Thief, is an amazing mixture of mythology and young adult fiction. It is filled with characters from Greek mythology, Homer, and even legend (the pirate Blackbeard and his ship, The Queen Anne's Revenge). What extraordinary writing! Young readers may want to keep a guide to gods handy or bone up beforehand. What a great addition to a classroom unit on mythology this would be! Modernization of mythological characters is a joy—the Gray Sisters Taxi the teens catch is driven by Tempest, Anger, and Wasp,with one eye among them; Circe becomes C.C., who changes her victims into guinea pigs instead of hogs; and so on. Here's hoping this magical series continues for many, many books. This is the second book in the "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" series. 2006, Hyperion Books for Children, Ages 12 to 16.

David Goodale - VOYA

Percy Jackson, half-blood son of the Greek god Poseidon, makes it through seventh grade without incident-until the last day. Then a deadly game of dodge ball destroys the gym and sets Percy on a new quest. Percy's friend, the satyr Grover, is being held captive on an island in the Sea of Monsters. Furthermore the refuge for half bloods, Camp Half-Blood Hill, is now under threat because of the poisoning of its guardian tree. Percy and friends, including his newly discovered half-brother, Tyson (a cyclops), must navigate the Sea of Monsters and rescue Grover. They must also return with the Golden Fleece in order to heal the guardian tree and secure the camp. There is an interesting subplot between Percy and Tyson involving acceptance. An unexpected development at the end leaves unanswered questions and augurs a third book. In the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, Riordan introduces classic Greek myths and characters into the modern world with comical results. Circe turns men into guinea pigs instead of real pigs ("much more convenient"), and Hermes wears "nylon running shorts and a New York City Marathon T-shirt." Also there is logic behind Riordan's fantasy that allows him to create a believable universe (the Sea of Monsters is now known as the Bermuda Triangle). Riordan's books are developing into a great series for fantasy fans who enjoy action, quick pacing, and humor. Purchase multiple copies if fantasy is popular. It is best to read The Lightning Thief (Hyperion, 2005/VOYA August 2005) first. VOYA CODES: 3Q 5P M J (Readable without serious defects; Every YA (who reads) was dying to read it yesterday; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to9). 2006, Hyperion, 352p., Ages 11 to 15.

School Library Journal

Gr 5-9-In this second installment in the series, Percy, Poseidon's 13-year-old demigod son, is desperate to rescue his friend Grover, captive of the bloodthirsty Cyclops Polyphemus, and to retrieve the healing Golden Fleece. The sheepskin is needed to restore the protection around Camp Half-Blood, the only safe haven for the children of gods and humans, heroes-in-training in our modern world. However, the camp has already been compromised and the quest for the Golden Fleece has been awarded to the bully Clarisse. Encouraged by Hermes, Percy sets off for the Bermuda Triangle anyway with his friend Annabeth and classmate Tyson, who turns out to be a half-brother and a Cyclops as well. Adventure follows chaotic adventure at a rapid pace, and readers with even a passing acquaintance with the Odyssey will enjoy this fresh use of familiar stories. Percy is an appealing kid, and the subject of a chilling prophecy may resonate with readers. Those who start the series with this title will be drawn in by the clever humor and have the opportunity to go back to The Lightning Thief (Hyperion, 2005) before the inevitable sequel appears.-Kathleen Isaacs, Towson University, MD Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Percy (Perseus) Jackson, the half-blood son of Poseidon, returns for a second quest across a modern America secretly ruled by the Greek Gods. His school year has been strangely uneventful until Laestrygonians, man-eating giants from the Odyssey, attack him on the dodgeball court. Percy, along with Annabeth, daughter of Athena, and new friend Tyler, street kid and secret Cyclops, escape first to Camp Half-Blood, also beset by monsters, and then on a quest for the Golden Fleece. They need the Fleece to cure Thalia's tree that used to protect the camp from monsters. They run afoul of Circe, Scylla and Charybdis and Polyphemus among others. They also butt heads with Luke, deviant son of Hermes, who is determined to bring Kronos, Titan Lord, back from dismemberment to overthrow the gods. Potter parallels continue to pile up, but fans of The Lightning Thief (2005) won't care. Though it's doubtful Percy wouldn't guess Tyler's otherworldly connection immediately after the dodgeball game, and though some of the humor will zip over the heads of the target audience, Percy's sardonic narration and derring-do will keep the pages turning. (Fiction. 10-14)

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