Someone I would like you to meet....

Percy is a 12 year old boy in Sixth Grade. He has some learning disabilities. ADHD and Dyslexia are chief amongst them. He has never known his father, and his mother has raised him since his birth. He lives in New York City. He has been kicked out of every school he has ever been in.

He doesn't sound like some kind of hero...

Percy is the main character in an amazing series of books that are called Percy Jackson and the Olympians. The first book is "The Lightning Thief" and the author is Rick Riordan.

Like many kids with issues, Percy isn't meaning to get into trouble, but for some reason he can't stay out of it. He really wants to do well, and he really wants to please his mom. Fortunately, she knows the source of his problems and loves him no matter what happens.

You see, Percy is the son of a Greek God, and what we interpret as impediments are really characteristics of his supernatural nature.

Rick Riordan has done an absolutely incredible job with this series. He has masterfully woven Greek Mythology into the modern world and created an amazing story. In the process he may be helping a lot of children regain some self esteem. Children with ADHD spend a lot of time in trouble. They really mean to do well, but often cannot control their impulses. Any child with ADHD will immediately identify very closely with Percy, the quandaries he finds himself in, and the expected punishment to follow. Percy gets bullied and punished a lot.

My son started reading the book to me out loud in the car and was cracking up saying things like "Who does that remind you of Dad?" And he is right, it did remind me of him.

Rick is able to then turn those traits from problems into assets as Percy realizes his true heritage and his destiny.

These books are great for any middle school child and I highly recommend all five. You may even be tempted to read them yourself, but I would warn you against it. You may find yourself drawn into the story and strangely unable to put the books down.