> Skip to content
Read an extract
Play sample
  • Published: 21 August 2013
  • ISBN: 9780141346809
  • Imprint: Puffin
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 400
  • RRP: $18.99

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (Book 1)




The first book in the bestselling Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Now with a new cover look, read the story that launched Percy Jackson into the stratosphere, before the Disney+ series comes out!

The first book in the bestselling Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Now with a new cover look, read the story that launched Percy Jackson into the stratosphere, before the Disney+ series comes out!

Look, I never asked to be the son of a Greek god. I was just a normal kid. . . until I accidentally vaporized my maths teacher.

Percy Jackson is having a bad week. His life has gone from totally normal to monsters-from-Greek-mythology-randomly-appearing kind of strange. Worse still, the king of the gods thinks Percy has stolen his all-powerful lightning bolt - and it seems making Zeus angry is a very bad idea.

Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to catch the true lightning thief and stop all-out war from erupting on Mount Olympus. . .

What could possible go wrong?

  • Published: 21 August 2013
  • ISBN: 9780141346809
  • Imprint: Puffin
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 400
  • RRP: $18.99

Other books in the series

About the author

Rick Riordan

Rick Riordan is a teacher and a writer, and has won many awards for his mystery novels for adults. He says that the idea for Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief first came to him while he was teaching Greek mythology at middle school in San Francisco. But rumour has it that Camp Half Blood actually exists, and Rick spends his summers there recording the adventures of young demigods. Some believe that, to avoid a mass panic among the mortal population, he was forced to swear on the River Styx to present Percy Jackson's story as fiction. Rick lives in Texas (apart from his summers on Half Blood Hill) with his wife and two sons.

Visit the author online rickriordan.com

Also by Rick Riordan

See all

Praise for Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (Book 1)

Vastly entertaining

Independent

Vastly entertaining

Independent

Vastly entertaining

Independent

Awards & recognition

BILBY Children's Choice Awards

Shortlisted  •  2011  •  Older Readers

Discover more

Article
QUIZ: Which Percy Jackson character am I?

Take this quiz to find out which Percy Jackson character you share the most similarities with.

Article
10 easy book week costumes

In need of some book week costume ideas? Look no further, these book week costumes are super simple and kid approved.

Article
A deep-dive into the 3 Percy Jackson series and their books

Brush up on the three Percy Jackson series. Learn about the mythologies of each, the main characters and the correct order to read the books.

Article
Superproofs are here!

In stores July 2021, until stocks run out.

Article
Binge-worthy books: the ten best kids' series that will keep on giving

Just like a good TV show, a beloved book series can lift our mood. Here are some of the best for kids.