Description:

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 and his friends—Grover, Annabeth, and Tyson—must retrieve the Golden Fleece from the 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...

About the Author:

Rick Riordan grew up in Texas and spent many years teaching middle school English and history before writing became his full-time work. His background in the classroom shaped his sense of pacing, humor, and character—he wrote for the students he knew, especially those who struggled to find books that felt alive to them. His breakthrough came with the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, inspired in part by bedtime stories he invented to help his son connect with mythology.

Before fantasy took over his career, Riordan wrote award-winning mysteries for adults, and that early discipline shows in his plotting: clear stakes, tight structure, and a storyteller’s instinct for momentum. As he expanded into Norse, Egyptian, and other mythological frameworks, he kept his signature blend of accessibility, wit, and heartfelt character work. He continues to support emerging writers and works closely with educators, always aiming to keep myth, imagination, and adventure within reach of young readers.