The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

Type of Read:
Young Adult Fantasy

Plot Summary:
Jason wakes up on a bus surrounded by kids he doesn't remember. Actually, he doesn't remember anything except for his first name. Supposedly he has a girlfriend named Piper and a best friend named Leo. But the fact that he can't remember his past doesn't stop mythical monsters from trying to kill him. On top of all of those problems, he comes to find out that he is a demigod and a part of a Great Prophecy. If he wants to discover his missing memories he, Piper and Leo must take a journey across the United States to stop an ancient evil from rising.

Strengths:
 One of the best things about this series is that the different heroes each bring their own talents to the quest. They are each a hero by themselves. Jason might be the leader of the group, but his abilities don't out shine the others. Everyone is important, even if they sometimes doubt themselves. But that doesn't mean they are in it all for themselves. They work as a team and learn to trust and rely on each other.

Another great strength is the characters are believable. They make mistakes, they misunderstand tricky Greek/Latin words, and they struggle. Even though they each have special powers, they don't depend on them. They use their talents and wits to outsmart the bad guys.

Lastly, this new series introduces the Roman aspects of the gods. After reading Percy Jackson and the Olympians series we have all become accustomed to the Greek names and myths, but this series opens a whole new world.  Riordan is fantastic at bringing to life the Greek myths, but at a level that everyone can understand.This series and the previous one introduces Greek mythology to children, but in a relatable way.

Weaknesses:
I think the biggest weakness in the story is the lack of Percy Jackson. If you've read the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series you have probably fallen in love with Percy. I mean the entire series is from his point of view. He is quirky, brave, and funny. He doesn't immediately know what to do when confronted with a problem, and he leans on his friends abilities just as much as his own. He's the Everyman. In general, he's a great, believable hero...and very much absent in this book. Reading further into The Heroes of Olympus series, it will all make sense, but it can be a bit disappointing to pick up the book thinking it's a continuation of Percy's story and he is merely mentioned a few times in the entire book.

Opinion and Recommendation:
If you haven't read the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series (first of all what's wrong with you!) I would recommend you to read it first. They are five quick reads but well worth it. New characters are introduced in this series and it's possible to read it by itself, but the previous series fills in a lot of background that makes the story more enjoyable.
I am a big fan of Percy Jackson and I would recommend everyone to buy the hard back copy of all the books. They are just so much fun! I remember when I first read through this book, I came to a part where they were describing a certain sorceress (not going to ruin it by telling you her name). It was so exciting to have little hints of who she was and know that her name was on the tip of my tongue. Go read this book. (if you feel strange reading a YA novel, read it to your kids as a cover. I won't tell!)