What age for Percy Jackson and the Olympians?

[TaraTheLiberator]

A friend of mine, whose kids are 9 and 11, recommended Percy Jackson and the Olympians to us. She knows my kids quite well and knows their interests.

I was reading about the books on Amazon and they look right up my kids' alley. They have heard (and loved) the first two Harry Potters and are begging me to read them #3, but I think it's a little too dark for them yet (they are only 6 and 7). I saw on Amazon that Percy Jackson is recommended for 5th-9th grades, ages 9-12, etc. I frequently read them books for kids ages 9-12, but I was just wondering whether this series would be ok for my kids or whether it would be too intense for them.

Two caveats: I don't subscribe to the idea that some books should be saved for when kids can read them to themselves, and, although I am generally opposed to twaddle, the whole family loves a good fantasy adventure!

Tara

[dragons in the flower bed]

There is traumatic drama in these books, including a major character going missing and assumed for dead and another betraying a friend and going over to the side of the enemy. The characters are constantly in mortal peril, and the fate of western civilization is at stake.

[sgilli3]

We are reading the 1st Percy Jackson adventure- "The Lightening Thief"- the kids LOVE this book, and beg for another chapter to be read,as soon as I have finished one.

The older 2 are 10 +11, and cant wait for me to pick up the book each morning.
DD will ONLY read fiction books ( fairy tales etc)- so this book appeals to her, and DS ONLY reads non fiction, so the talk of Greek mythology captures his interests.

I am also enjoying it and am looking forward to the next book already!

[KarenNC]

We listened to these on cd last year, so my daughter was 7, going into 8 since she has a summer birthday and I can't remember when we started:). She *adores* the books (as do I ;)) and was literally jumping up and down that another one is coming out in May.

[Momto2Ns]

My son started this series when he was 10 and it was one of the most violent things he had ever read at the time. He had read three of the Harry Potters at that point. I would not have let him read them any younger although his reading level was certainly high enough. We have always struggled with the issue of finding books that are interesting, anywhere near his reading level and still age appropriate. Now that he is almost 12, it is much easier, but at 9 and 10 when he was already reading at a high school level, it was terrible!

[Sue in St Pete]

We listened to a few on CD when ds was in 5th or 6th grade. He loved them and even read the books willingly when there were no more CDs. Generally anything over 200 pages overwhelms him.

[MicheleinMN]

We love these! I do them as read-alouds after my 12 yo ds (11 when he found the series) has inhaled each new one.

They are spooky, but I don't think they are anywhere near as dark as the later HP books.

HTH

(I have a soft spot for these books as they are the first books ds #2 ever read JUST for FUN.)

[Unicorn]

If you have read your dc the first 2 Harry Potter books, then these should be fine. FWIW, I don't consider them twaddle. My dc have learned so much about Greek and Roman Mythology from reading these and then running to the library to learn more. The books have really helped them w/ the who's who of mythology! One word of warning- they might want you to cook them blue food like Percy's mom does!

[chaik76]

We're just beginning this series with our seven-year old.

I think it really depends on the kid. I would have been fine with this as a young child...I have some cousins who wouldn't have been.

[Laura Corin]

Both my boys really love them.

Laura

[AngieW in Texas]

We started the series when my youngest was just 7yo. She's a major scaredy-cat (Tale of Desperaux was terrifying to her), but she has never had any problems with the Percy Jackson series and she's listened to all of them on audio many times.

[Stacia]

My dd tried reading the first one when she was 7. It *really* spooked her. And, she was a kid who had read a lot of the Redwall books by then, a lot of Greek mythology in general, etc... & was not generally the type to get spooked by a story. So, I was surprised that it freaked her out. It does get pretty hairy in places the further you go along.

You could always give it a try & if it gets to be too much, put it aside until your kids are a little older.

Fwiw, I loved the book, lol.

[Stacy in NJ]

both my 10 and 11 yo have read the complete series. My 11 yo is rereading the series in preparation for the release of the last book in May. I think 8 is about the youngest I'd recommend it for. I'd try Peter and the Starcatcher for a little younger kiddo.

[TaraTheLiberator]

I'd try Peter and the Starcatcher for a little younger kiddo.

Already read it. :)

Thanks for your opinions, everyone.

Tara