The Titan's Curse

The third Percy Jackson adventure raises the series' stakes considerably — Annabeth is missing, a world-ending monster is on the move, and Percy joins the Hunters of Artemis on a genuinely dangerous cross-country quest. Riordan's pacing and humor are as strong as ever, and the themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and growing up under impossible pressure resonate clearly with the middle grade audience he's writing for. A debut at No. 1 on the New York Times list and a Booklist starred review reflect how well it works. Faith-concerned parents should note the series is built on Greek polytheism presented as real, with exclamations referencing the gods throughout and Aphrodite depicted as unfaithful. Fantasy violence is present but not gratuitous. A great read for the right audience, with those caveats noted.