Haiku Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 A friend of mine, whose kids are 9 and 11, recommended Percy Jackson and the Olympians to us. She knows my kids quite well and knows their interests. I was reading about the books on Amazon and they look right up my kids' alley. They have heard (and loved) the first two Harry Potters and are begging me to read them #3, but I think it's a little too dark for them yet (they are only 6 and 7). I saw on Amazon that Percy Jackson is recommended for 5th-9th grades, ages 9-12, etc. I frequently read them books for kids ages 9-12, but I was just wondering whether this series would be ok for my kids or whether it would be too intense for them. Two caveats: I don't subscribe to the idea that some books should be saved for when kids can read them to themselves, and, although I am generally opposed to twaddle, the whole family loves a good fantasy adventure! Tara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragons in the flower bed Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 There is traumatic drama in these books, including a major character going missing and assumed for dead and another betraying a friend and going over to the side of the enemy. The characters are constantly in mortal peril, and the fate of western civilization is at stake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgilli3 Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 We are reading the 1st Percy Jackson adventure- "The Lightening Thief"- the kids LOVE this book, and beg for another chapter to be read,as soon as I have finished one. The older 2 are 10 +11, and cant wait for me to pick up the book each morning. DD will ONLY read fiction books ( fairy tales etc)- so this book appeals to her, and DS ONLY reads non fiction, so the talk of Greek mythology captures his interests. I am also enjoying it and am looking forward to the next book already! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenNC Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 We listened to these on cd last year, so my daughter was 7, going into 8 since she has a summer birthday and I can't remember when we started:). She *adores* the books (as do I ;)) and was literally jumping up and down that another one is coming out in May. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom22ns Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 My son started this series when he was 10 and it was one of the most violent things he had ever read at the time. He had read three of the Harry Potters at that point. I would not have let him read them any younger although his reading level was certainly high enough. We have always struggled with the issue of finding books that are interesting, anywhere near his reading level and still age appropriate. Now that he is almost 12, it is much easier, but at 9 and 10 when he was already reading at a high school level, it was terrible! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine State Sue Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 We listened to a few on CD when ds was in 5th or 6th grade. He loved them and even read the books willingly when there were no more CDs. Generally anything over 200 pages overwhelms him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MicheleinMN Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 We love these! I do them as read-alouds after my 12 yo ds (11 when he found the series) has inhaled each new one. They are spooky, but I don't think they are anywhere near as dark as the later HP books. HTH (I have a soft spot for these books as they are the first books ds #2 ever read JUST for FUN.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn. Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 If you have read your dc the first 2 Harry Potter books, then these should be fine. FWIW, I don't consider them twaddle. My dc have learned so much about Greek and Roman Mythology from reading these and then running to the library to learn more. The books have really helped them w/ the who's who of mythology! One word of warning- they might want you to cook them blue food like Percy's mom does! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaik76 Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 We're just beginning this series with our seven-year old. I think it really depends on the kid. I would have been fine with this as a young child...I have some cousins who wouldn't have been. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 Both my boys really love them. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieW in Texas Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 We started the series when my youngest was just 7yo. She's a major scaredy-cat (Tale of Desperaux was terrifying to her), but she has never had any problems with the Percy Jackson series and she's listened to all of them on audio many times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 My dd tried reading the first one when she was 7. It *really* spooked her. And, she was a kid who had read a lot of the Redwall books by then, a lot of Greek mythology in general, etc... & was not generally the type to get spooked by a story. So, I was surprised that it freaked her out. It does get pretty hairy in places the further you go along. You could always give it a try & if it gets to be too much, put it aside until your kids are a little older. Fwiw, I loved the book, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy in NJ Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 both my 10 and 11 yo have read the complete series. My 11 yo is rereading the series in preparation for the release of the last book in May. I think 8 is about the youngest I'd recommend it for. I'd try Peter and the Starcatcher for a little younger kiddo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted March 17, 2009 Author Share Posted March 17, 2009 I'd try Peter and the Starcatcher for a little younger kiddo. Already read it. :) Thanks for your opinions, everyone. Tara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Booklover258 Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 I REALLY dont reccomend this book to kids who are around 10-11. It is ore of a PG-13 book. It includes drinking, abuse, and violence. I just want our kids to be safe from this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeaConquest Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 It is an old thread, but I wish I'd read it before trying the book with my 5 year old (who enjoys lots of late elementary/middle grades read-aloud books). He normally doesn't have a problem with heavier content, and I don't like to censor too much, but this was just...no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristi26 Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 I haven't read the other responses but wanted to share this with you: DS14 loves the Percy Jackson books. He started reading them at 13 and is into the newer series now. He loves fantasy/science fiction/mythology- all of it. DS11 read the first two (maybe three) in the series before he got bored. I can't help but think that, had he been older, he would have enjoyed them more. I suspect this because he has always been a great reader and tried to read Harry Potter in second grade. He declared it "stupid" and refused to touch it again until I made him give it a shot. He's on book four and in LOVE with the series now because he was the right age for it. So while I don't think you have to wait until they can "read it themselves," I do think there is value in waiting until they are old enough to appreciate it. :) ETA: Why is a five year old thread being brought back to life?? Lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted March 13, 2014 Author Share Posted March 13, 2014 OP here! This thread is almost exactly 5 years old! I think we held off on the Percy Jackson books until the kids were around 9. Then they read/listened to all of them and LOVED them. It's a series they have been through multiple times. DS is now listening his way through the Heroes of Olympus series. DD says she can't get into that one. I don't think she likes that the characters changed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kohlby Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Wow, this is an old thread! I'd say it really depends on the kid. My eldest discovered the books when he was at the end of 3rd grade, so almost 9. He was more than ready for them. He'll be 11 in a couple months and still loves all Rick Riordan books, devouring whatever books come out. However, he started Harry Potter at the end of first grade. I think he did books 2, 3, 4, and 5 in 2nd grade. And then the last two Harry Potter's in 3rd grade. He loves HP and Rick Riordian and was able to appreciate it at a younger age than some. But, he was also the kid who refused to listen to picture books as a young child. He wouldn't listen while we read aloud to anything - until he discovered Goosebump books at 4. Goosebumps aren't exactly great literature, but they were the first books he would listen too. Harry Potter is what turned him into loving to read. He continues to read some books that others may have issues with, books that I'm certain my middle child wouldn't be ready for emotionally at the same age - but they work for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagira Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Old thread, but relevant to me. I was considering having DS read these books as part of "fun reading" when we cycle back to ancients next year. He read the first one in 4th grade, but wasn't too impressed. He liked the last battle best. I may try with him again when he's 11. This is the kid who devoured 5 Harry Potter books in 3-4th grade, but stopped because a character died. He told me with an earnest expression on his face, "Mom, I think I better wait until I'm older to read more of these books." He hasn't picked them up again. My fantasy, of course, is to have him reread the Harry Potter books starting at 11, the age when Harry started attending Hogwarts LOL. I'll also have to see how many are in the series. DS does like watching Avengers and is more comfortable with action, but I don't know how well he can handle emotional pain in literature yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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