2016
WISE Score
Amazon
Apollo gets fired from godhood, lands in a dumpster, and discovers that being a mortal teenager with acne is way harder than slaying hydras.
4.8
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This isn't just another 'Percy Jackson' clone. By making the protagonist a fallen god rather than a rising hero, Riordan finds a fresh way to talk about ego and empathy.
It’s funny, it’s fast-paced, and it doesn't talk down to kids. It manages to be inclusive and modern without feeling like it’s checking boxes. If your kid likes mythology or just enjoys watching a pompous person get humbled by a dumpster, this is a winner.
Perfect for the 9-13 crowd. If they've read Percy Jackson, they're ready. If they haven't, they might be slightly lost but will still enjoy the snark.
Apollo starts as a Grade-A narcissist, which is hilarious but also sets up a genuine redemption arc. The book handles heavy themes like emotional abuse and gaslighting (via the villain Nero) with surprising grace for a 'kids' book.
Rick Riordan is the undisputed heavyweight champion of dragging ancient gods into the 21st century. Turning the god of poetry and music into a flabby, acne-prone teen named Lester is a stroke of creative genius.
It's standard Riordan fare: fantasy violence with monsters and some peril, but nothing that's going to traumatize a middle-schooler. No graphic gore or 'edge' for the sake of being edgy.
Aside from the stealth mythology lesson, it's a masterclass in empathy. Watching a literal god have to learn what it's like to be 'lesser'—and actually care about people—is great character work.
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