. . . that I can enjoy a book series as much as Harry Potter!

I really love Percy Jackson and the Olympians, probably even more than the kids. As I have said before, they are even better read-a-louds, to my elementary age children, than the Potter series. The dialogue is rich (work on your many voices) and just about any page is a great stopping point because there are so many cliff hanging action moments. Nothing is ever slow in this series.

Probably the best thing about Percy Jackson in the Olympians and how it compares best to the Potter series is that it is FUNNY. The humor ranges from slapstick to clever, but book 4 is the least humorous of the bunch. What comes more to the forefront in the story is character developement and heartache. Yep, this is the most on target with Greek mythology in terms of tragedy and consequence. The characters are maturing and changing realistically from year to year so Labyrinth is also richer in romance and the dark elements increase as the characters age up. So, another similarity to Potter is that the young characters are always faced with difficult decisions that effect more than just their individual lives. You can change your actions but the impact of your choices can sometimes be everlasting.

In Labyrinth, we also get a more in depth study of some of the most familiar Greek characters, like Daedalus the father of Icarus. I thought the author's take on Daedalus' life after the fall was both original and captivating. (You see Daedalus early in the book so I don't consider this a spoiler. - I sure hope not, I hate those.)

The saddest part of this series is that there is just one more book left. If you or your kids love greek mythology and/or good ya fantasy then definitely try this series out! I haven't had a book in a long time that I just wanted to turn around and read immediately again after. There are more subplots in this story then in the previous ones and I just want to revisit the characters and dwell with them in their many different experiences. And sorry book loyalists but I can't wait until the movies come out! And if any of you want to start a fan club - I am so in.