Escape to Camp Half-Blood: How to Read the Percy Jackson Books

If you haven’t already read the Percy Jackson books, you’re missing out! Get the inside scoop on Rick Riordan’s most popular series today and feel inspired to live every day like a demigod.

A Bit About Rick Riordan

Any kid who grew up reading in the early 2000s knows the name Rick Riordan! A former middle school teacher and now #1 New York Times bestselling author (a few times over), Riordan is best known for writing the Percy Jackson books. With a reputation for humorous writing, diverse characters, and a love of ancient mythology, it’s no wonder he’s sold over 30 million copies of his titles in the United States alone.

Other Series by Rick Riordan:

• The Kane Chronicles
• Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard
• The 39 Clues
• The Trials of Apollo
• Tres Navarre (adult fiction)

What Age Are the Percy Jackson Books Meant For?

While there are plenty of adults who find enjoyment in escaping into Camp Half-Blood, the Percy Jackson books are generally geared towards ages 9 to 12. The fast-paced adventures, witty dialogue, and lovable characters of this middle-grade series have managed to grab the attention of even the most resistant readers. There are even graphic novel versions and audiobooks for kids who prefer those!

How Many Percy Jackson Books Are There?

For years, Percy Jackson and the Olympians consisted of five books, all published between 2005 and 2009. But in 2023, Riordan surprised fans by adding a sixth Percy Jackson book to the lineup, following Percy as he applies for college—and another in 2024! Now, in total, the original series technically has 7 titles.

Reading the Percy Jackson Books in the Correct Order:

The Percy Jackson books are technically made up of two series, both of which can be bought at independent bookstores. If you want to experience the full range of this middle-grade series, there’s a very specific order in which to read them. Here’s how we recommend enjoying Percy and his friends’ grand adventures:

The Lightning Thief (#1)

In The Lightning Thief, 12-year-old Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school—and not for the first time. But it’s not his fault! He just can’t seem to stay out of trouble. How could he stand by when bullies pick on his scrawny best friend, Grover? Or not try to defend himself when a substitute teacher turns into a monster and tries to kill him?

When his mom finally tells him he’s the son of a god and brings him to Camp Half-Blood, everything begins to make sense. That is, until Zeus’s master lightning bolt is stolen and Percy becomes suspect number one! With Grover, now clearly a satyr, and his new friend Annabeth, Athena’s daughter, Percy must go on a quest to find the stolen bolt, clear his name, and bring peace to a feuding Mount Olympus—even if that means putting himself in harm’s way. 

The Sea of Monsters (#2)

After a quiet seventh-grade year with his new friend, Tyson, an unnervingly tall yet sweet homeless kid who follows him everywhere he goes, Percy is ready for another summer spent at Camp Half-Blood. But when he learns that the magical tree that protects their beloved camp has been poisoned, weakening the border, he and his friends must travel to The Sea of Monsters (or, to humans, the Bermuda Triangle) to retrieve the healing Golden Fleece from the Island of the Cyclopes before it’s too late.

The Titan’s Curse (#3)

In The Titan’s Curse, Artemis, the Goddess of the Hunt, was kidnapped—and it’s up to Percy, his gang, and the di Angelo siblings to find out what happened. They must find her before the winter solstice, when the Olympian Council is scheduled to vote on the war with the Titans. Could the reason for her disappearance have something to do with the rare monster she was hunting before she vanished? A monster thought to be so powerful it could destroy Olympus forever? There’s only one way to find out!

The Battle of the Labyrinth (#4)

Time is running out, and war is brewing between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos. Even Camp Half-Blood feels less and less safe. In a wild attempt to protect their home, Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and their new friend, Rachel Elizabeth Dare, set out on a quest through the mythical, sprawling underground maze known as the Labyrinth. But with startling surprises waiting behind every turn, they’ll have to fight to make it out alive in The Battle of the Labyrinth. 

The Last Olympian (#5)

In the fifth Percy Jackson book, The Last Olympian, Kronos’ army grows stronger than ever. With the gods distracted by Typhon’s attacks, Mount Olympus stands unguarded. It’s up to Percy Jackson and the young army of demigods to stop the Lord of Time. But as the long-awaited prophecy about Percy’s 16th birthday unfolds, it becomes clear that winning the battle might mean sealing his own fate.

The Heroes of Olympus Series

Once you finish the original five Percy Jackson books with your book club, stop! While there are technically two more titles included in the series, there’s an entirely separate sequel series that chronologically takes place beforehand. The Heroes of Olympus introduces a whole new cast of characters, following a new generation of both Greek and Roman demigods as they unite and fight against the primordial giant, Gaea.

• The Lost Hero (#1)
• The Son of Neptune (#2)
• The Mark of Athena (#3)
• The House of Hades (#4)
• The Blood of Olympus (#5)

The Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series Continued:

The Chalice of the Gods (#6)

After saving the world not once, but twice, all Percy Jackson wants is to have a normal senior year—but the gods have other plans. In order to get three letters of recommendation for college applications from Mount Olympus, he’ll have to fulfill three quests. The first? Help Zeus’s cupbearer retrieve Ganymede’s goblet before it falls into the wrong hands. Will Percy, Grover, and Annabeth find it in time? Find out in The Chalice of the Gods.  

Wrath of the Triple Goddess (#7)

After successfully handling the first quest, the goddess of witchcraft, Hecate, is offering Percy Jackson a seemingly simple second quest: pet sit her polecat, Gale, and mastiff, Hecuba, for the week of Halloween—and don’t touch anything. Percy, Annabeth, and Grover settle into the endless mansion, thinking this mission will be a piece of cake. But when Grover can’t resist drinking a strawberry-flavored potion, turns into a giant goat, and rampages through the house, Hecate’s beloved pets escape. Together in Wrath of the Triple Goddess, they’ll have to find the pets, restore the house, and set things right again before she comes back and enacts her wrath.

Does Percy Jackson Appear in Riordan’s Other Series?

If you love Percy, you’ll be happy to hear that he makes plenty of guest appearances in Rick Riordan’s other series. With cameos in The Kane Chronicles, The Trials of Apollo, and Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, the Percy Jackson books are not the last you’ll see of our adorable hero. Find them all at your local Michigan bookstore.

Percy Jackson books have been a favorite for kids for the last 20 years. If you have a young reader in your life, head to your favorite indie bookstore or shop online to grab the first in the series today!