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.-David Goodale.

In this second adventure in Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, Percy is anticipating the end of seventh grade and a summer at Camp Half-Blood with kids who are the offspring of Greek gods and mortals. He dreams that his pal Grover, a satyr, is in danger. After monsters attack in his school gym class, Percy and Tyson, a homeless kid, are picked up by Annabeth, a half-blood friend, and rushed to the camp, which is under attack. The tree that guards the camp is dying, and Chiron, the activity director, has been dismissed. Another dream reveals that Grover, whose peril is increasing, is on the same island as the legendary Golden Fleece, which may be the cure for the troubled camp. With the help of Hermes, Percy and his pals set off to the Sea of Monsters, where they encounter legendary dangers. Riordan's clever mix of classical mythology, contemporary teen characters, and an action-packed adventure will bring new readers to the series.

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)

In a feat worthy of his heroic subjects, Riordan crafts a sequel stronger than his compelling debut in this second adventure in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. After a group of Laistrygonians (giant cannibals) infiltrate the dodgeball game at Percy's alternative Manhattan school, and his friend Annabeth (a daughter of Athena, introduced in the first book) comes to the rescue, the two take the homeless scholarship student Tyson with them to Camp Half-Blood, where trouble is brewing. Percy soon realizes that Tyson is a Cyclops (meaning they're half-brothers and possibly enemies—both sons of Poseidon) and learns that someone poisoned the sacred Thalia's tree, which protects the "magic borders" of the demigod camp. Riordan catches readers up seamlessly on this world in which gods still reign; he builds on existing subplots and rivalries, and introduces harrowing new challenges as Percy and Annabeth set off across the Sea of Monsters on a quest to find the Golden Fleece, which will heal Thalia's tree. Percy's relationship with Tyson and their battle against the Cyclops guarding the Fleece (Polyphemus) brings up probing questions about shame, family and loyalty. With humor, intelligence and expert pacing, the author uses this tale of believable teens and their high-stakes struggle to bring the mythical lore up to date (e.g., Hermes, appropriately, invented the Internet). A cliffhanger imparts new meaning to the prophesy (mentioned in the first book) and leaves no question that Percy's high-stakes battle for Western Civilization will continue to surprise even himself. Ages 10-up. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(Apr.)

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.

Percy Jackson--hero, ADHD labelee, and half-human son of Poseidon--is on another quest touched off by the war among the Olympian gods, this time to the Sea of Monsters, a Homerian collection of Scylla and Charybdis, Polyphemus the cyclops, Circe, etc., all transported to the Bermuda Triangle, natch. Riordan balances intensity with humor throughout the cleverly constructed adventure.