TL;DR
If your middle-schooler is suddenly obsessed with Greek gods or trying to figure out if their math teacher is actually a Fury in disguise, you’ve hit the Percy Jackson phase. It’s a win for parents. The series—both the classic books and the Disney+ show—is high-quality, action-packed, and famous for reframing ADHD and dyslexia as "demigod traits." It’s the perfect antidote to mindless scrolling.
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At its core, Percy Jackson is about a 12-year-old kid who discovers his absent father is actually Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. Percy isn't a "perfect" hero; he’s a kid who has been kicked out of every school he’s ever attended, struggles to focus, and feels like a permanent outsider.
The story takes him to Camp Half-Blood, a training ground for other demigods, where he teams up with Annabeth (daughter of Athena) and Grover (a satyr) to prevent a war between the gods. It’s funny, fast-paced, and manages to teach a masterclass in Greek mythology without ever feeling like a textbook.
The biggest reason Percy Jackson has stayed relevant for twenty years isn’t just the monsters; it’s how Rick Riordan handles learning differences. Percy’s dyslexia is explained as his brain being hardwired for Ancient Greek, and his ADHD is actually his "battlefield reflexes."
For a kid who feels "broken" in a traditional classroom, this is a massive perspective shift. It moves the conversation from "what’s wrong with you?" to "what are you built for?" If you have a child navigating an IEP or 504 plan, this series is often the first time they see themselves as the hero of the story rather than a problem to be solved.
Learn more about how Percy Jackson helps kids with ADHD
The Disney+ show is a rare "do-over." After the 2010 movies (which fans generally agree were a disaster), this series was developed with Riordan’s direct involvement.
The show is exceptionally well-cast, using actors who are actually the age of the characters—which matters because it makes the stakes feel real. When a 12-year-old is facing down a Minotaur, it looks a lot different than when a 20-year-old does it.
Season 2 Update: As the Sea of Monsters arc unfolds in the upcoming season, expect the themes of family and "who can I trust?" to deepen. It’s a great time to start a family watch-party if you haven't already.
If your kid is a "reluctant reader," this is the gold standard. The chapters have titles like "I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher," which is exactly the kind of hook that keeps a middle-schooler from reaching for Roblox.
This is the source material for the upcoming Season 2. It introduces Tyson, Percy's half-brother (who happens to be a Cyclops), and tackles some pretty heavy themes about what makes someone "monstrous" versus "human."
Ages 8-10
This is the "sweet spot" for starting the books. The reading level is accessible, and the humor lands perfectly.
- Scare Factor: There are monsters (Medusa, Furies, the Minotaur), but they usually dissolve into "monster dust" when defeated. It’s not gory, but it can be intense for sensitive kids.
- Parental Note: The Disney+ show is rated TV-PG. It’s safe, but maybe watch the first episode with them if they’re prone to nightmares about shadows.
Ages 11-13
Middle schoolers will appreciate the snark and the evolving social dynamics at Camp Half-Blood. This is also when they start noticing the "absent parent" themes—Percy’s relationship with Poseidon is complicated, and the show doesn't sugarcoat the fact that the gods are often pretty terrible parents.
Ages 14+
Older teens might find the early books a bit "young," but many stick around for the Heroes of Olympus spin-off series, which gets significantly more complex and diverse.
Ask our chatbot for book recommendations for a 12-year-old who finished Percy Jackson
Compared to the "wild west" of YouTube or the predatory monetization in Fortnite, Percy Jackson is a very safe space.
- Violence: It’s fantasy violence. Swords, shields, and magic. The show handles it with a lot of weight—actions have consequences—but it never veers into "slasher" territory.
- Themes: The series deals with abandonment, identity, and the burden of expectations. It’s "heavy" in a healthy, conversational way.
- Community: The "PJO" fandom is generally one of the more positive spaces online, though as always, be cautious if your kid is looking for fan art or fan fiction on platforms like Tumblr or TikTok, where things can get "weird" or "adult" quickly.
1. It’s a Gateway Drug to Literacy
I’m not kidding. Many parents find that after their kid finishes The Lightning Thief, they suddenly want to read everything Rick Riordan has ever written. This is called the "Riordanverse," and it includes:
- The Kane Chronicles (Egyptian mythology)
- Magnus Chase (Norse mythology)
- The Trials of Apollo (Greek/Roman)
2. The Diversity is Intentional
Riordan has been very vocal about making his world look like the real world. The Disney+ show features a diverse cast that sparked some "anti-woke" noise online, but for the vast majority of families, it’s a non-issue. The books also feature LGBTQ+ characters (mostly in the later series), handled with grace and age-appropriateness.
3. It’s Better Than "Brain Rot"
If you’re worried about your kid saying "Ohio" or "Skibidi" every five seconds, get them into this. It replaces low-effort memes with actual narrative structure and historical references. Even if they’re just watching the Disney+ show, they’re engaging with a story that has a beginning, middle, and end—which is more than you can say for most YouTube Shorts.
If you want to actually engage with your kid about the series without sounding like you’re conducting an interview, try these:
- "If you were a demigod, who do you think your godly parent would be? (And please don't say Aphrodite just because you like your hair.)"
- "Do you think the gods are actually 'good' guys, or are they just the ones in charge?"
- "Why do you think Percy is so loyal to his friends, even when it gets him in trouble?"
- "If you had to choose between living at Camp Half-Blood or staying at your current school, what would be the hardest thing to leave behind?"
Check out our guide on how to talk to kids about fantasy violence
Percy Jackson is a rare parenting win. It’s high-quality entertainment that actually builds character and vocabulary. Whether you start with the Disney+ show or the original books, it’s a world worth letting your kids inhabit.
It’s one of the few franchises that respects its audience’s intelligence while still delivering the "cool" factor that middle-schoolers crave. In a world of digital noise, Percy Jackson is a signal worth tuning into.
Next Steps:
- Check if your local library has the Graphic Novel version if your kid is a visual learner.
- Set up a Disney+ profile for your kid if they don't have one.
- If they finish the series and want more, check out the game Hades (for teens) or Minecraft mythology packs.
Ask our chatbot for a customized reading list based on your child's interests