When I say that we need to make more original work and fewer spin-offs or adaptations, I am not talking about Percy Jackson and the Olympians. I will complain about another live-action remake of a beloved Disney animation, or the twentieth book in a YA series initially published fifteen years ago, but all bets are off when it comes to Percy.

Rick Riordan’s middle-grade series follows middle-schooler Percy Jackson as he discovers his godly lineage, and is quickly thrusted into a world of magical quests, where myths have come to life. Beginning in 2005 with the release of The Lightning Thief, the story has been adapted into a Hollywood film, a Broadway musical, and a Disney+ series releasing later this year.

I made my parents rent the movie the moment it came out on Redbox as a kid, I watched musical bootlegs on YouTube as a teenager, and now, as an adult, I have already replayed the show’s trailer a dozen plus times. Between all these adaptations are my countless re-reads of the original series, as well as any of Riordan’s spin-off books that even briefly mention Percy.

The Lightning Thief may not have been the first book to get me into reading, nor the first book I fell in love with, but it is certainly the book that has stuck with me the most since I first picked it up as an eight-year-old. I adored Percy’s sarcastic humor, Grover’s big heart, and Annabeth’s undeniable intelligence; I can remember the strong feeling I had of wanting to be just like the kids at Camp Half-Blood. Even more so, I remember the joy I felt upon discovering that other people around me felt the same way, from when I was an elementary school reader to the college senior I am today. Knowing someone is a Percy fan truly feels like an instant friendship for me because I know the series impacted them just as much as it did me.

“Percy and the gang became like friends to me, and I got to grow up with them as the series matured to Heroes of Olympus, and even more with Chalice of the Gods,” UMass Lowell student Irene McCarthy said about the newest book that arrived on shelves this year. “Percy’s resilience and humor in the face of tough battles, and his undying loyalty for the people he cares about inspires and influences me in ways I can’t even describe, and parts of him and his story end up in everything I create.”

McCarthy’s sentiments are echoed by countless fans who grew up alongside Percy and his friends. While our experiences may not have been the same as his (no one I know was fighting monsters during summer vacation), most of the series’s audience can relate to the struggles of middle school and everything that came along with those years. The interpersonal storylines, subtracting the fantastical plot points, feels so easy to connect with. The characters are authentic—they don’t simply exist as words on a page.

“As a queer kid with ADHD, confidence in myself blossomed after uncovering more about characters like Nico DiAngelo, Piper McLean, Annabeth Chase,” said Eliott Svenson, a 22-year-old salon assistant who has been a fan of the series since the fourth grade. “I think what I love best about these books is how casually Rick will write in these details. Like, yes, Nico is gay, but it doesn’t become his entire personality or purpose to be included in the books. There is so much more to his character—as with any queer person-–and there has never been any unnecessary or inappropriate focus on the topic.”

The relatability of the series is also why so many fans, despite being grown up, are elated at the quickly approaching television adaptation. Riordan allows readers to be seen through his books, from representation of learning disabilities as godly powers in the original series, to queer youths, and diverse ethnicities in the spin-offs. The television adaptation will not only allow for the fans of the past to see themselves once again, but for future generations to be seen as well.
The Lightning Thief is nearly twenty years old, but its story and its impact are still far more alive than ever. I was lucky enough to have this story steal my heart so many years ago and am amazed to see it do so for a brand new generation.

The Lightning Thief Stole My Heart