Starred Review Just after finding Bianca and Nico, two newly discovered half-bloods, Percy, Grover, Annabeth, and Thalia end up trapped between a helicopter and a manticore. Artemis and her Hunters save the day, but Annabeth disappears over a cliff; then Artemis rushes off to hunt a dangerous monster. Back at Camp Half-Blood, the Oracle foretells that Artemis must be rescued and makes a prediction that bodes ill for one of their number t which one? Percy, who is supposed to remain behind while others pursue the quest, follows in search of the missing Annabeth. Their adventures range widely across the U.S., taking them to locales that include Washington, D.C., and the deserts of the Southwest and pitting them against the usual assortment of colorful adversaries. The Percy Jackson & the Olympians series is built around a terrific idea at the half-mortal offspring of Greek gods live among us, playing out struggles of mythic scale d Riordan takes it from strength to strength with this exciting installment, adding even more depth to the characters and story arc while retaining its predecessors' nonstop laughs and action.

Percy Jackson, modern-day half-blood son of Poseidon, returns to face mythical monsters while on a cross-country trip. Percy's kept occupied fighting skeleton warriors and Atlas himself. The plot may seem a little muddled to those unfamiliar with the earlier books. However, the high-powered action sequences, humorous transposition of Olympian legends to the modern day, and direct, unassuming narration remain big draws.

<p>The stirring of monsters has begun. Monsters not seen for thousands of years threaten to unleash death and destruction on an unprecedented scale and destroy Olympus, and it's up to Percy Jackson and his friends Grover, Annabeth and Thalia to stop them, though Percy is embarrassed to have to depend on his mother to drive him to his battles. Percy, Annabeth and Thalia are demigods, Grover is a satyr and their quest is to find the missing Artemis and the monster she was hunting. This third in the Olympians series makes the Greek myths come alive in a way no dreary classroom unit can. Apollo driving his Maserati Spyder sun chariot, attacks by skeletal zombie soldiers, dragons and a 20-foot-tall metal warrior and the contests between the gods will have readers wondering how literature can be this fun. This can stand alone, though newcomers to the series will race back to the first two volumes and eagerly await a fourth installment. (Fiction. 10+)</p>

Gr 6-9-In this installment, Riordan continues to enliven ancient mythology with wit, contemporary staging, and teenage heroics. Percy Jackson is now 14, a bit older and wiser, yet still entangled with the Fates. Friends, monsters, dysfunctional gods, and the romantic stirrings of all things natural and mythological are encountered. His good friend, if oft-time rival, Annabeth (daughter of Athena) is missing, as is Artemis, goddess of the hunt. Joined by best buddy Grover-the-goat-boy and an argumentative array of accomplices, Percy sets off to fulfill, and hopefully foil, the foreboding prophecy of the Oracle. Plagued by ominous dreams, thwarted by hideous monsters, and challenged by conflicting partnerships, the search party's success hinges on unlikely unity. The droll pitch is teen-perfect, as when Apollo heats up the scene by arriving in his fire-red Maserati, wearing jeans, a sleeveless T-shirt, and loafers. "Wow,' Thalia muttered,Apollo is hot.' He's the sun god,' I said.That's not what I meant.'" Intricate prophecies and relationships are neatly braided into the adventurous plot. Teachers will cheer for Percy Jackson and the Olympians as they inspire students to embrace Greek mythology and score the ultimate Herculean challenge: getting kids to read. All in all, a winner of Olympic proportions and a surefire read-aloud.-Alison Follos, North Country School, Lake Placid, NY Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

Percy Jackson is loyal, humble, and defends his friends. What's not to like? It seems, however, that the evil Dr. Thorn wants Percy, the son of Poseidon, dead. Percy, Thalia (daughter of Zeus), and Annabeth are summoned by Grover to creepy Westover Hall where the satyr has located two new half-bloods. It is a setup. Dr. Thorn mocks the heroes and then boldly kidnaps Annabeth. The despicable act launches Percy and company on a cross-country rescue mission, allowing the author to work in classic myths, gods, and creatures. Action comes fast and furious here and only lets up when the characters pause to plan their next move. Several persons are repeated from the previous books, such as the wine-soaked Dionysus and Chiron, Camp Half-Blood's activity director. Key new arrivals are Artemis and her unit of hardened archers. These tough girls do not play around and conduct themselves as a deadly special-forces platoon-and it is a good thing, too. Artemis's warriors protect Percy's crew from a death squad of deranged skeletal soldiers as they zoom across the American West to save Annabeth. The screenplay-like story line and almost over-the-top action might alienate literary purists, but this reviewer is betting that teens will be thrilled by the wicked pace. Especially gripping is a brawl through the gods' junkyard with seventy-foot-tall Talos, a scene hinting of a manga title's mecha battle. Mixing humor with fantasy and rousing swordplay, this installment in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series is a hero's epic quest reminiscent of cyberpunk science fiction or addictive videogames. Librarians should lock and load for requests.-Rollie Welch.