Welcome to the World of Myth!

In this virtual book talk, learn about the role that real-world mythology plays in the young adult fiction series by Rick Riordan, Percy Jackson & the Olympians. This is an excellent series for reluctant readers, particularly boys, who crave some action, adventure, and a hint of romance in a series rooted in classical mythology. The beings that Percy and his friends encounter in the series are accurately represented with additional back story that discuss the original myths.

So, what next?

Percy Jackson's adventures are limited to a five book series and only scratch the surface of Greek mythology. The second part of this book talk focuses on the study of classical mythology. Using the teases and adventures in the novel, students can then explore the full stories of these characters using online tools, references, and databases, as well as books like Classical Myth by Barry B. Powell which focuses on the nature of myth and its impact on cultures throughout history.

Powell's text bridges the gap between the classical and contemporary by talking about how myths have impact on artists and filmmakers today while presenting the history, context, and depth to the myths that an audience craving more knowledge would gratefully soak up.

All of the myths and legends hinted at during Percy's adventures are covered within Powell's text, making it the perfect companion piece and reference guide to help young readers to learn, explore, and grow.

In addition to the many stories both classical and contemporary, there is a full index, tons of pictures and images, and a handy table of contents to guide readers to the areas they're most interested in.

For now, let's explore each text and get a feel for their value as we watch a virtual book talk done by librarian Brian Wilkinson.

Percy Jackson & The Olympians

Written by Rick Riordan and published by Hyperion Books, the five-volume series of Percy Jackson & the Olympians follows the titular character as he discovers that the father who has been absent all of his life is actually the Greek god, Poseidon! Having a father who is the god of the sea certainly explains why Percy feels so at home in the water.

If that weren't enough, Percy is forced from his peaceful, comfortable life by outside forces who want to destroy him. The old Greek myths are alive and kicking as they search out new heroes to hunt and destroy, putting Percy on a path that will forever change who he is.

Percy is helped in his quest by his friends Annabeth (daughter of Athena, goddess of wisdom) and Grover, a satyr (half man, half goat) who work together to help the world of man survive the ever-present threat presented by the world of myth.

Book 1, The Lightning Thief, description from the author:

"Humans and half-bloods alike agree—Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a series fit for heroes! Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can’t seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. When his mom tells him the truth about where he came from, she takes him to the one place he’ll be safe—Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island). There, Percy learns that the father he never knew is actually Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon Percy finds himself caught up in a mystery that could lead to disastrous consequences. Together with his friends—a satyr and other the demigod daughter of Athena—Percy sets out on a quest to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods."


What makes Percy Jackson such a great story is that it teaches core aspects of Greek mythology to students. The characters, tales, and stories that come alive for Percy are the same stories that have come alive for thousands and years and many different cultures.

Some of these beings include:

Medusa
Ares
Athena
Hades
Aphrodite
Zeus
Hephaestus
Hermes
The Labyrinth
Sirens
Titans, including Atlas, Kronos, and Calypso
Daedalus
Icarus
The Minotaur
Dionysus

While the characters are pure classical myth, the author, Rick Riordan, has moved them to the new 'power center' of the world, New York city, with Olympus itself being accessible through the Empire State Building's '600th floor' that only gods and half-bloods can reach.

The Lightning Thief was recently made into a motion picture. The trailer for the film can be seen below.

Trailer:



While the book diverges in a few key places from the film, it is still an excellent adaptation of an amazing story. Watch now as librarian, Brian Wilkinson, gives his thoughts and impressions of the book and showcases other volumes available in the series and universe of Percy Jackson.

Book review:

Mythology Texts

Percy Jackson might be the latest fictional hero to tackle the subject of gods, goddesses, monsters, and the wide world of the supernatural, but did you know that the creatures that Percy encounters are... real?

For thousands of years, human beings have believed in the existence of powers and forces beyond our ability to understand or control. We told stories to one another to explain how life came to be on our planet, why the stars shine, why there is lightning, and much more, as a way of feeling connected to life. Now, whether or not any actual beings walked the Earth is a matter of debate (or faith) but there are hundreds of texts and resources that examine who these beings are and what purpose they served here on Earth.

Here is one such resource:

Classical Myth by Barry B. Powell is an excellent resource for those looking to know more about the Greek gods and goddesses. This book has information on all of the creatures and events told about in the popular young adult series, Percy Jackson & The Olympians, making it the perfect companion piece for those looking to dive more into the myths themselves.



From the publisher:
"Classical Myth differs from other texts by putting the divine myths and principal legends of the Greeks and Romans in the contexts - anthropological, historical, religious, sociological, and economic - from which they emerged, including their debt to the ancient Near East. Barry B. Powell presents the classical muyths as told by authors from Homer to Vergil, then analyzes and interprets them. Interspersed are short essays on the later history of the myths and their importance to writers, artists, film-makers, and philosophers down to our own times. The many photographs of ancient works of art show how the myths were visualized. The book concludes with a history of later theories about classical myth, demonstrating their continued importane for us today."

Powell's text takes us from the nature of myth to the role it plays in our culture. He makes comparisons to modern day figures, such as Darth Vader from Star Wars, to give as broad an audience as possible something to connect and relate with. From there, Powell talks about the origins of the gods, the wars on Olympus, to individual stories dealing with death, sacrifice, hope, and courage.

The text presents a broad overview of myths and is merely a launching pad for further investigation. If you check your local library, you'll be sure to find many more texts and explorations of mythology and its impact on our culture.

Again, let's see what librarian Brian Wilkinson thinks about this resource: