Grace Gardner

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Date
Percy’s Popularity

What is your favorite YA series? Chances are it’s The Hunger Games, Divergent, or even

Percy Jackson. Why Percy Jackson? The Percy Jackson Series is very popular with younger

audiences; whether in middle or high school. The author, Rick Riordan, knew how to write

books that would appeal to kids. While adults might not find this series plausible, or even

entertaining, teens of all ages gravitate towards this series. Percy Jackson and the Olympians:

The Lightning Thief appeals to the common feelings of teenagers, drawing in the audience by

sympathizing with teen feelings of being alone and misunderstood, as well as common aspects

of life for teenagers, like insult concealing friendship.

Percy finds out he is actually half-blood; half god, half mortal. Which is why he never

really seemed to fit in the regular world of mortals. When Percy is disbelieving of his true

heritage Annabeth has to prove it to him. ‘”I bet you moved around from school to school. I bet

you were kicked out of a lot of them”…. “Diagnosed with dyslexia. Probably ADHD, too”….

“Taken together, it’s almost a sure sign. The letters float off the page when you try to read,

right? That’s because your brain is hardwired for ancient Greek. And the ADHD- you’re

impulsive, can’t sit still in the classroom, That’s your battlefield reflexes. In a real fight, they’d

keep you alive. As for the attention problems, that’s because you see too much, not too little,”

(88). Percy had struggled with school and failed to fit in because he is not an average kid. Teens

in real life can empathize with Percy’s failure to fit into society, or in most teens’ cases, school.
Percy doesn’t fit in because of his demigod abilities, which make it hard for him to learn at a

normal school. Kids with disabilities like dyslexia or ADHD understand what Percy goes through

and can see themselves in him. Annabeth finally proves Percy is a demigod by telling him about

nectar and ambrosia. “The food and drink we were giving you would’ve killed a normal kid….

Face it. You’re a half-blood,” (88). Kids who have been diagnosed with disorders or diseases can

definitely attest to how world shattering announcements like Annabeth’s can be. Teens can

empathize with this moment in thinking about how they are in this strange stage between

adulthood and being a kid. Finding out that you have changed in a monumental way, or that

you are different than you thought, is hard for anyone. Riordan writes his books in a style that

appeals to misunderstood teens and their friends.

Many adults overhear teen conversations between friends, and couldn’t even tell they

are friends. Simply because teens often tease their friends so much that it almost becomes a

contest; who can come up with the best insults. Annabeth constantly insults Percy, especially

with his ‘nickname,’ an insult to him and his dad. “Because you’re my friend, Seaweed Brain.

Any more stupid questions?” (251). Annabeth hides a simple compliment within multiple

insults, much like the teens of today. She calls Percy an insulting nickname, ‘Seaweed Brain,’

and calls him stupid. However, she also calls him her friend, a high compliment, and very sweet

thing to say, but like modern teens she can’t just be outright nice, she has to cover it with

insults. Annabeth seems to tease Percy constantly, to hide her affection for him, as a friend, or

more. When Grover places a protective spell on the animals they set free, Annabeth takes the

opportunity to get another jibe in. “’Why can’t you place a blessing like that on us?’ I (Percy)

asked.
 ‘It only works on wild animals.’

‘So it would only affect Percy,’ Annabeth reasoned,” (257). Annabeth previously called

Percy a friend, and yet she continues to tease him? Maybe Annabeth teasing him is showing her

friendship. Just like current teens Annabeth shows her camaraderie through insults and jibes.

While adults and the occasional more sensitive kid might not understand this, most teens

empathize and Riordan played to that. He included lots of bantering in his books to draw in

teen readers, and it seems to have worked.

Rick Riordan used his knowledge of teens to make his book series Percy Jackson and the

Olympians very popular. Once teens read the books they were able to see aspects of

themselves in the books. Teens are also able to see something many aspire to be; self-sufficient

kids who can take care of themselves, even in rough situations. Teens can be inspired by Rick

Riordan’s books, and the independence of his characters. Many of the kids at Camp Half-blood

have tenuous relationships with their parents, godly and human, so most of the kids do

everything relatively on their own. While they might have help from Chiron, Percy, Annabeth,

and Grover ultimately go on a quest and defeat monsters on their own. They use their

friendships, which grow strong through their difficulties and ability to banter throughout even

tough situations, to succeed in their quest. Much like this, teens must rely on their friends

throughout school and life. While many teens see themselves as misunderstood outcasts, many

have at least one friend they can rely on to help them laugh through the tough times. Rick

Riordan creates a book with characters that teens can relate to wholeheartedly. Teens can take

this knowledge and understand that once you find friends that understand you, like Grover and
Annabeth to Percy, you must hold on to them tight. Kids can also take Percy Jackson as an

inspirational book; showing that even kids have the power to change lives.
 Bibliography

Riordan, Rick. The Lightning Thief. Disney Hyperion, 2005.