Summer Reading Club: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

As poor Percy Jackson struggles through school (and does something rather embarrassing to his math teacher)  he begins to suspect that his life is not what it seems. He discovers that his lifelong reading and attention troubles are all signs that he is a half-blood-a child of the Greek gods. After training, Percy and the gang go on a quest to recover Zeus' lost thunderbolt and stop a war between the fickle gods. Along the way, where modern life and mythology intersect to create both humor and excitement, Percy will come to know his father Poseidon, rescue his mother, and discover that he has what it takes to be a hero. Ultimately, Percy learns to trust his friends and his abilities and to choose love over despair. -Scholastic Review  

Discussion Questions:

1. Percy says, "Mr. Brunner expected me to be as good as everybody else, despite the fact that I had dyslexia and I had never made above a C- in my life.  No- he didn't expect me to be as good.  He expected me to be better."  What does this say about Mr. Brunner as a teacher?  

Literary Devices: 

Foreshadowing- When an author hints or gives clues to suggest that something will happen later in the story.

2. What foreshadowing did you pick up on in this story?  (An example could be Percy's love for water.)  What did is lead up to in the story?

Foil-a type pf character who is a contrast or the opposite of another character.

3. Do you think Percy's character is a foil for Luke? Why or why not?

4. SPOILER ALERT: DO not read this last question if you have not finished the story :-)

In the end of the book, do you sympathize with Luke and his feelings of betrayal from his father? Do you think what he did was right or wrong? Why?