Monsters invade Camp Half-Blood in exciting sequel.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
some
Skirmishes with monsters using swords, fists, cannons, and arrows. One monster spits acid, others fire dodgeballs and boulders, some monsters threaten to eat people, Sirens use their powerful song and mental manipulation, a flock of evil birds pecks away at a crowd of people. Half-blood injuries are healed with ambrosia, monsters die and turn to dust. A ship explodes and one character is thought dead and mourned. People are turned into animals. Someone punches a bullying school kid. The Fates share one eyeball that gets dropped on the floor of a cab. Many crashes and injuries in two chariot races. Two characters are held captive by a monster, and one is almost cooked for dinner. The story of a character kidnapped by monsters who tie up and almost eat her friends. Tantalus reminds everyone of the ancient story of how he was cursed after feeding his children to the gods.
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A kiss on the cheek. Much talk of gods having affairs with mortals and their resulting kids, the half-bloods. A special mention that Percy is ashamed that his father got "moony-eyed for a nature spirit," which resulted in the birth of his cyclops half-brother, Tyson.
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Hermes reminds Percy that families can have their difficulties, but you don't give up on your family. Strong messages about teamwork, friendship, resilience, resourcefulness, and bravery in the face of danger.
Educational Value
some
Many references to characters and creatures in Greek mythology and their stories: the major gods, Laistrygonians (a kind of man-eating giant), the Fates, Colchis bulls, Tantalus, Polyphemus, Stymphalian birds, Jason of Jason and the Argonauts, Hippocampi, Hydras, Charybdis and Scylla, Circe, Sirens, and cyclops. Many references to Odysseus' sea journey and the Golden Fleece and one to the book The Lord of the Flies. Some details on chariot races and why they're so dangerous. Some descriptions of what it's like to have dyslexia and ADHD.
Positive Role Models
some
Percy is embarrassed of Tyson, his half-brother, and admits it's because he wants others to see him as cool and Tyson isn't. But by the end of the book he's ashamed of his behavior, apologizes, and sticks up for Tyson. He also sees the quest he's on from his rival Clarisse's perspective and does a very selfless thing to help her succeed.
Diverse Representations
a little
There's good neurodiverse representation here: all kids with one god parent (Percy and all other Camp Half-Blood campers) have dyslexia and ADHD. Also, girl characters are the smartest (Annabeth) and the most battle-ready (Clarisse). There's one Black character mentioned at this early point in the series, Charles Beckendorf.
Parents need to know that Rick Riordan's The Sea of Monsters is the second book in the Percy Jackson series. They made a movie of it, but the book is better (of course). Like the first book, The Lightning Thief, you'll find plenty of action in the way of monster skirmishes, but this time the fighting is more often on ships and islands teaming with mythological creatures. One monster spits acid, others fire dodgeballs and boulders, some monsters kidnap and threaten to eat people, Sirens use their powerful song and mental manipulation lure prey. Half-blood injuries are healed with ambrosia, while monsters die and turn to dust. A ship explodes and one character is thought dead and mourned. A bullying schoolmate calls kids "retards," "losers," and "freaks" and eventually gets punched in the face. There are many characters from Greek mythology included in the story, especially the ones you find in The Odyssey, but also Tantalus, the new camp director, who reminds readers of why he was cursed: because back in the day he fed his own children to the gods. Yuck. Expect lots of mentions of Coke products and references to how half-bloods came to be -- because the gods had/have lots of affairs with mortals. Also, expect some more great things from our favorite ADHD, dyslexic hero, Percy. He learns lessons about honoring friendships, even with kids who aren't considered cool, and sets aside rivalries to do what's right.
This book was about how a group of teenage boys and girl went on a mission to find a cure for thalia so the border that keeped camp of half bloods will be safe will be gone for ever and all the monsters in the greek mythology will be able to go into the school and kill the last of the greek gods children. While going into this mission one the demigods luck captured grover that lead to percey finding his half brother that is a cyclopes. While that missions continues on luck releases cronus and the prophecy of one of the childs of the three main god has to kill and cronus while doing so he or she will either die or live. One of the central conflicts of the story is how percy and annabeth and tyson have to go on a mission to find their best friend grover and have to find luke before he releases cronus . i thought this book was alright because i'm personally not a huge fan of this book but i also don't like to read so i think it was a good book. I will recommend this book to kids or teens that like history as their favorite subject.
Camp half blood was in danger. Percy was having dreams of Grover being captured. Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson disobeyed Mr.D and went to save Grover. Clarisse brought the golden fleece back and they brought Grover back. The tree that was Thalia turned into a human. Percy struggled against Luke about Thalia the tree being poisoned. In the book it said that Luke had poisoned the tree of Thalia to destroy Camp Half Blood. The theme is don't judge on how someone looks judge them on how they act. In the book there is a cyclops called Tyson and he was described like big monster but Tyson acted like hero. Tyson saved Percy and his friends from Polyphemus the cyclops. I thought the book was good because Tyson risked his life to save his friends. Tyson put his friends first than his life. Tyson saved everyone from the big mean cyclops. I also thought the book was good because everyone helped each other to save Grover even though some people didn't want to save him. Everyone in Camp Half Blood wanted to save Grover. I would recommend this book to other people because it talks about how friends help each other in the good or bad times. In the book it said that when the camp was in danger the people in the camp were sure that the camp was going to be saved with the golden fleece. I will also recommend this book to other people because it talks about never giving up on saving one of your friends. In the book Percy never gave up on saving Grover. I choose the age 12 and up because it talks about monsters attacking other people. Kids that are in 12 and up are not going to get scared. Kids in 12 are going to understand why the monsters are attacking the people. I also choose the age 12 and up because they will understand how the gods are connected to the tree of Thalia. Thalia is the daughter of Zeus. I choose 5 stars because the book shows people how to work together. Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson work together to save Grover. Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson worked together to get the golden fleece. I also choose 5 stars because it shows to never give up on someone. Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson never gave up on looking for Grover. I choose great role models because Percy is a great role model. Percy saved Grover from the cyclops and brought back the fleece. I also choose great role models because Tyson is one of the great role models. Tyson helped save Grover by fighting the cyclops. I choose great messages because it shows you to be confident. Percy was confident to succeed on his adventure to save Grover. Another great message is to fight for what is right. Tyson fought the cyclops to bring back Grover and the fleece. Tyson fought for what was right for him. I choose educational value because the book talks about the Greek gods. In social studies you learn about the Greek gods. The Greek gods are educational value you will learn. I didn't choose too much violence, too much sex, too much swearing, too much consumerism, too much drinking, drugs, smoking because the book didn't have any of those things.
What's the Story?
In THE SEA OF MONSTERS: PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS, BOOK 2, Percy makes it to his last day of the school year and he's excited to go back to Camp Half-Blood the next day. Then everything goes wrong. Laistrygonians (man-eating giants) join the dodge ball game and the fight that ensues puts flaming holes in the gymnasium. His friend Annabeth arrives in time to whisk Percy and his school friend Tyson off to camp in a cab driven by the Fates. The creepy old ladies drive like maniacs through New York with their shared eyeball and dump them in the middle of a battle with fierce mechanical bulls. This is how Percy discovers that camp isn't the safe-haven it used to be. The enchanted tree protecting the boundaries has been poisoned and the monsters are pouring in. The only thing that can save the camp is a quest. And because the quest will lead them straight into the dreaded Sea of Monsters, Percy, son of the sea god, would be the perfect one for the job. So, of course, Clarisse, Ares' daughter and Percy's least-favorite demigod camper, is chosen to go instead.
Young demigod heroes fight mythological creatures in this thrilling, fresh, and funny seafaring quest. It's full steam ahead in this sequel to The Lightning Thief, whichwill launch many more Percy Jackson sequels and spin-off series. The journey through monster-infested waters will remind the older classics fans of Odysseus' quest -- same monsters, Sirens, and man-hating sorceress -- but without all the pathos and 10 years of wandering. Instead of 10 years, Percy and Annabeth have mere days to save their friend Grover and return to camp with a certain magical object of lore. And then there's the added complication that they're banned from leaving camp at all -- this is Percy's rival Clarisse's quest, and crossing any child of Ares is always a bad idea. But when Percy gets a surprise visit from Hermes and some magical parting gifts, he knows there was no question he would be going.
While this story could have stuck to monster madness action, it has a heart, too. Percy has to accomplish something almost more difficult for a middle schooler than fighting a giant cyclops: staying loyal to someone uncool in the face of peer ridicule. Author Rick Riordan, a former middle school teacher, really gets the social monsters kids this age must deal with and how sometimes they have to make the wrong choices in order to learn. He also writes about Percy and Annabeth's friendship with a true understanding for the awkwardness of first crushes. After The Sea of Monsters, readers are sure to want more of both the wild mythical monsters and relatable characters. Luckily for them there's a lot more to come in the world of Percy Jackson.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Percy's relationship with Tyson in The Sea of Monsters. Why is it so hard for him to be friends with someone not considered cool? Why do half-blood campers laugh at him when he's with Tyson? How does Percy react at first? How does he feel about himself? How does he react after the quest? Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation? What did you do?
What is hubris? Annabeth says it's her "fatal flaw" after listening to the Siren song. Would you choose to do what Annabeth did and listen to the Sirens to know your own weaknesses? What would you do with the information if you did?
What do you think of the series so far? What have you learned about Greek mythology? Will you read more of this series? What about the other spin-off series? Why do you think there are so many Percy Jackson books out there? What do kids love about them?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
The Sea of Monsters: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 2
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
