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Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes

Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes

Children's BooksClassics
Pages
528
Published
2015
Language
English

Synopsis

A companion to Percy Jackson's Greek Gods, this myth-retelling collection has Percy Jackson narrate the legends of twelve heroes from Greek mythology in his signature wisecracking, modern voice. It is a reference-style anthology rather than a novel in the main series: each of the twelve chapters profiles a single hero, beginning with Perseus and ending with Jason. In between, Percy recounts the deeds of Psyche, Phaethon, Otrera, Daedalus, Theseus, Atalanta, Bellerophon, Cyrene, Orpheus, and Hercules, deliberately mixing the famous heroes everyone expects with lesser-known figures and several women warriors. Chapter lengths vary widely, from Orpheus's brief tale to nearly a hundred pages devoted to Hercules and his labors, and the titles keep Percy's comic tone with entries like "Phaethon Fails Driver's Ed" and "Hercules Does Twelve Stupid Things." Percy relays the achievements these heroes are still famous for, slaying the Minotaur, retrieving the Golden Fleece, taming Pegasus, founding the Amazons, while being honest about where they went wrong; most of the stories end in tragedy, though not all. Caldecott Honoree John Rocco supplies vibrant full-color artwork throughout the 336-page hardcover. Educational but consistently funny, the book pairs faithful mythology with modern references and snark, and is best read as an illustrated mythology primer or series companion rather than a continuation of Percy's own quests.

Prose complexity
4/10

Vibe

FunnyAdventurousInformativeDarkLighthearted
QuestSacrificeBetrayalReluctant Hero

Genres

Children's Books Classics Fantasy Folklore Mythology

About the author

R
Rick Riordan

An American author born June 5, 1964, in San Antonio, Texas, Rick Riordan writes mythology-based fiction for young readers. Before his publishing career, he taught English and history at public and private middle schools in San Antonio and the San Francisco Bay Area for fifteen years. While teaching, he wrote the adult Tres Navarre mystery series, which won the top three national mystery awards: the Edgar, the Anthony, and the Shamus. Percy Jackson originated as a bedtime story Riordan invented...

Characters

Percy JacksonProtagonist

Narrates the twelve hero myths with sarcastic modern commentary rather than appearing as a character within them.

PerseusSupporting

The son of Zeus who slays Medusa; opens the book as the first hero profiled.

HerculesSupporting

Gets the longest chapter, with his twelve labors framed as 'twelve stupid things.'

TheseusSupporting

The hero famous for slaying the Minotaur, given his own chapter.

JasonSupporting

Leader of the Argonauts who retrieves the Golden Fleece; closes the book.

All characters in Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes

Frequently asked questions

  • Which heroes are covered in Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes?

    Twelve heroes get their own chapters: Perseus, Psyche, Phaethon, Otrera, Daedalus, Theseus, Atalanta, Bellerophon, Cyrene, Orpheus, Hercules, and Jason.

  • Is this a sequel to the Percy Jackson novels?

    No. It is a myth-retelling companion in which Percy narrates classic Greek hero legends; it is not a new novel in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.

  • Who illustrated Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes?

    Caldecott Honoree John Rocco provided the vibrant full-color artwork throughout, as he did for Percy Jackson's Greek Gods.

  • When was Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes published, and how long is it?

    It was published on August 18, 2015, and runs about 336 pages.

  • Why do the hero stories end in tragedy?

    Riordan keeps the myths faithful, so most of the heroes' tales end badly; Percy relays both their famous deeds and where they went wrong, with only some stories ending happily.

  • Does this book continue the main Percy Jackson storyline?

    This collection functions as a standalone companion rather than a continuation of the narrative series, as it consists of retellings of traditional Greek myths presented through the narrator's unique voice.

  • How does the writing style compare to the main novels?

    The text maintains the same irreverent, conversational, and humorous tone found in the author's fiction, often incorporating modern asides and commentary into the ancient tales.

  • Are there any visual elements included in the book?

    The collection features illustrations by Caldecott Honoree John Rocco, which accompany the retellings throughout the volume.