about the book
Percy Jackson has had a pretty difficult time coming to terms with the fact that dear old dad is Poseidon, the Greek God of the Sea. On top of that, Percy is just beginning to accept the idea that he himself is a demigod, with powers!
Just as he gets a handle on the whole situation, he and the friends from Camp Half Blood end up in real trouble. Greek Camp Half Blood and Roman Camp Jupiter are heading toward a war. And humankind is threatened by the reawakening and angry mother of Earth, Gaea! Arachne has dragged Percy and Annabeth (the daughter of Athena) into the deep abyss of Tartarus, a horrible place full of torment.
All kinds of frightening monsters and hilarious creatures have been cast into this toxic hell. Percy and Annabeth journey toward their goal—to find the Doors of Death. They must seal these doors to prevent the vengeful Earth Mother Gaea from escaping into the mortal world and rising to power.
Meanwhile Percy’s demigod friends Hazel, Frank, and Leo are facing all sorts of harsh trials and difficult decisions. While flying over the Italian Apennine Mountains aboard the flying ship Argo II, they must evade the deadly mountain gods and decide whether to follow the sorceress Hecate’s prophecies. In one direction is the statue of Athena Parthenos—and the only way to stop the camp wars.
But if they go that way, they will not be able to find the House of Hades and the mortal side of the Doors of Death. They will not be able to let Percy and Annabeth out of Tartarus nor seal the doors against Gaea.
These teens may be merely half-bloods, but with determination, they might be able to overcome whatever the wily Greek and Roman Gods throw at them!
about the author
Rick Riordan was born in 1964 in San Antonio, Texas, to parents that were both teachers. An artistic family, his dad created ceramics pieces, his mother was a musician as well as an artist, and Rick played the guitar.
In middle school Rick discovered reading, especially Greek and Norse mythology. He read The Lord of the Rings ten times! He also started writing. He won awards for his writing as high school newspaper editor and got in trouble for underground newspaper articles criticizing the school and its losing football team.
Rick graduated with a double major in English and history and received a teaching certificate from the University of Texas. He taught for fifteen years in the San Francisco Bay area in California and in San Antonio, Texas.
Rick now writes full time for both adults and children. He got the idea for Camp Half Blood and Percy’s story while working as the music director at a summer camp when he was at college. He lives in San Antonio with his wife, two sons, a dog, and three black cats.
Sources:
Author website
Also by Rick Riordan:
The Blood of Olympus (Heroes of Olympus, Book 5). Hyperion Press. October 2014.
The Lost Hero : The Graphic Novel. Disney-Hyperion. October 2014.
Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods. Disney-Hyperion. 2014.
The Titan’s Curse : The Graphic Novel. Hyperion Press. 2013.
The Mark of Athena (Heroes of Olympus, Book 3). Hyperion Press. 2012.
Heroes of Olympus : The Demigod Diaries (Heroes of Olympus). Hyperion Press. 2012.
The Kane Chronicles Survival Guide. Hyperion Press. 2012.
The Sons of Neptune (Heroes of Olympus, Book 2). Hyperion Press. 2011.
The Kane Chronicles series. Hyperion Press. 2010-2012.
The Lost Hero (Heroes of Olympus, Book 1). Hyperion Press. 2010.
The Percy Jackson & the Olympians series. Harper Collins. 2005-2009.
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