Even more horrible, Ministry of Magic functionary Dolores Umbridge descends upon Hogwarts with a tinkly laugh, a taste in office decor that runs to kitten paintings, and the authority, soon exercised, to torture students, kick Harry off the Quidditch team, fire teachers, and even to challenge Dumbledore himself. Rowling again displays her ability to create both likable and genuinely scary characters, most notable among the latter being a pair of Dementors who accost Harry in a dark alley in the opening chapter. The Potternaut rolls on, picking up more size than speed but propelling 15-year-old Harry through more hard tests of character and magical ability. The sardonic tone of the narrator’s voice lends a refreshing air of realism to this riotously paced quest tale of heroism that questions the realities of our world, family, friendship and loyalty. Along the way, Percy and his cohort run into Medusa, Cerberus and Pan, among others. Dodds transformed into a shriveled hag with bat wings, a Fury, and was trying to kill him? Did he really vanquish her with a pen that turned into a sword? One need not be an expert in Greek mythology to enjoy Percy’s journey to retrieve Zeus’s master bolt from the Underworld, but those who are familiar with the deities and demi-gods will have many an ah-ha moment. What if it isn’t his fault? What if all the outrageous incidents that get him kicked out of school are the result of his being a “half-blood,” the product of a relationship between a human and a Greek god? Could it be true that his math teacher Mrs.

Officially diagnosed with ADHD, his lack of self-control gets him in trouble again and again. Twelve-year-old Percy (full name, Perseus) Jackson has attended six schools in six years.

12+)Įdgar Award–winning Riordan leaves the adult world of mystery to begin a fantasy series for younger readers.

It makes for a quieter novel than her readers may be used to, but one that will suit those who stop to think about their own mortality once in a while.

Levine strikes a somber and more contemplative note with this book than in previous outings, pondering the nature of faith alongside her usual romancing. Deeply in love with one another, Olus’s discovery of Kezi’s imminent doom causes him to urge her to consider a way out of her predicament: Why not become a goddess instead? Separately these lovers must pursue their own quests-she to the land of the warkis, he to the god of wisdom on Enshi Rock-if they wish to remain together, and soon it becomes clear to Kezi that even immortality doesn’t mean knowing all the answers. Olus, the Akkan god of winds, has come to live among mortals to ease his own loneliness. Kezi, the talented daughter of a palace official, is willing to sacrifice her life to save her beloved aunt from the wrath of the god Admat.

Ever by gail carson levine