Scan barcode
A review by smashattackash
Demigods and Monsters: Your Favorite Authors on Rick Riordanas Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series by
Read this at Smash Attack Reads! http://www.smashattackreads.com/2011/07/review-demigods-monsters-your-favorite.html
The Percy Jackson books are some of the best middle grade fiction I’ve ever read, and I think Rick Riordan is a god in his own right. He owns that market, and it is well deserved. When SmartPop offered to send me some of their catalog for review, I jumped at the chance to read other authors’ thoughts on Percy and friends. Rick Riordan’s introduction was very interesting and heartfelt. He created Percy, flaws and all, to validate his son’s dyslexia and ADHD. His introduction was the best part of the book, and quite uplifting.
I enjoyed the life lessons some of the authors discussed. Topics included finding your identity while remaining unique and not conforming, as well as embracing and working with your differences and disabilities instead of letting them rule you. Some brought up the message that everyone is flawed, even heroes, and that sometimes disabilities can be advantageous. Good messages all around.
One essay titled Eeny Meeny Miney Mo(m) analyzed what it would be like to have the Greek Gods and Goddesses as parents. That was a pretty fun analysis. One author lectures the reader on how to spot a monster. And for those that need a refresher, the book also has a Glossary of Ancient Greek Myths.
Unlike The Girl Who was on Fire essays, which I found excellent, this set of essays did not win me over as much. I think it was because the essays were less on Percy and the books and more on Greek mythology. Don’t get me wrong. I love Greek Mythology. A lot. But I wanted a more direct focus on Percy and gang, and not just comparisons and such. Not that the essays weren’t great and interesting, but just not what I expected.
The Percy Jackson books are some of the best middle grade fiction I’ve ever read, and I think Rick Riordan is a god in his own right. He owns that market, and it is well deserved. When SmartPop offered to send me some of their catalog for review, I jumped at the chance to read other authors’ thoughts on Percy and friends. Rick Riordan’s introduction was very interesting and heartfelt. He created Percy, flaws and all, to validate his son’s dyslexia and ADHD. His introduction was the best part of the book, and quite uplifting.
I enjoyed the life lessons some of the authors discussed. Topics included finding your identity while remaining unique and not conforming, as well as embracing and working with your differences and disabilities instead of letting them rule you. Some brought up the message that everyone is flawed, even heroes, and that sometimes disabilities can be advantageous. Good messages all around.
One essay titled Eeny Meeny Miney Mo(m) analyzed what it would be like to have the Greek Gods and Goddesses as parents. That was a pretty fun analysis. One author lectures the reader on how to spot a monster. And for those that need a refresher, the book also has a Glossary of Ancient Greek Myths.
Unlike The Girl Who was on Fire essays, which I found excellent, this set of essays did not win me over as much. I think it was because the essays were less on Percy and the books and more on Greek mythology. Don’t get me wrong. I love Greek Mythology. A lot. But I wanted a more direct focus on Percy and gang, and not just comparisons and such. Not that the essays weren’t great and interesting, but just not what I expected.