The Lightning Thief
Name __________________________
By Rick Riordan
Book Number ___________________
Dear Student,
Welcome to 7th grade! This year your language arts teachers have chosen a novel by the author
Rick Riordan entitled The Lightning Thief from the Percy Jackson & The Olympians series
which is the New York Times #1 bestselling series. The Lightning Thief will tie into our first unit
that blends the ideas of choice and Greek mythology. Also what you learn about Greek gods in
this unit will help you better grasp ideas in your social studies class when you study the ancient
Greek civilization later in the year.
We want you to read, enjoy the book, become familiar with Greek myths and revisit some of
the previously learned literary concepts. Some of you may have already read The Lightning
Thief. That is OK. Read it again with 7th grade eyes. Whenever you read a book for the second
time, you always see and understand something new, especially now that you are a more mature
reader. There is a movie of this novel (because the book is so amazing), but do not be tempted
to only watch the movie as it is different on many levels and may sway you to incorrect
responses on the summer reading guide, class discussions and activities.
By reading the book and completing the comprehension and response guide, you will be
prepared to start your 7th grade language arts class. This guide is to be completed during
summer and is due on the first day of school. Also, there will be activities that revolve
around the book and a quiz over the reading during the first week of school in which you are
expected to participate. The Lightning Thief is a book we hope you will enjoy, and we will
discuss this novel not only in the beginning of the year but also throughout the year as we look
at the various elements of literature.
Enjoy your summer; enjoy the book. Come prepared for success!
We will see you in August!
Mr. Alessandro and Mrs. Kampschmidt
Before you start reading………
Think about the following questions and write down your responses.
1. What is the craziest thing you ever learned about your family (that you are willing to share)? This could
be a story that you have heard about a relative or something you have learned through your own
experience. Please detail who, what, where, when, why and how.
2. If you were granted one magical item of your choice, what would it be? What power would it have?
Explain your choice.
3. In ancient times, the Greeks had gods for many important forces in their lives – the sea,
thunderstorms, farming, music, medicine, poetry, archery, etc. Why do you think they imagined many
different gods instead of just one? Would this make life more confusing or less confusing? How so? Be
sure to answer all three questions for full credit.
Adapted: Teacher’s Guide to Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan
As you read…
In order to understand and appreciate the story, you will need a little background in mythology. We’ve provided some
web pages that will introduce you to the author and some of the characters and creatures in the book. You can use this
site as a reference when you are reading the book. Use a computer with Internet access to visit the following site for the
novel. Go to www.rickriordan.com
OPTIONAL (requires speakers or headphones)- Listen to author read an excerpt from Chapter 1
(pages 11-15 which lasts 4 minutes and 46 seconds):
 Scroll to bottom of www.rickriordan.com and click on picture of novel The Lightning Thief.
 Click on yellow words just under image of book, “The Lightning Thief, Chapter One. Hear the
first part of the first Percy Jackson book, as read by the author.”
Only this listening part is optional. All other parts are required.
1. Use this to learn about the author:
 On homepage www.rickriordan.com look beneath the photo and information about Rick Riordan.
 On the bottom of the page, click on the words “Rick’s Biography.”
 Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on “Ad Lit’s Video Interview with Rick Riordan.”
 Click on the blue box that says “View Transcript.” It will list the various sections of interview.
 You can listen to them all, but we specifically want you to listen to three sections “What I was like as a
kid,” “Mythology for the middle school” and “The origins of Percy.”
What did you learn about the author that surprised you?
Use this as a reference as you read the novel so you can become familiar with the Greek gods:
 On homepage (www.rickriordan.com) scroll to the bottom grey box.
 Under “The Fun!” click on “Meet the Greek Gods.”
 Click on each name, and see a picture and information about that Greek god.
Which god did you find to be the most interesting and why?
Use this as a reference as you read the novel so you can become familiar with the mythological figures:
 On homepage (www.rickriordan.com) scroll to the bottom grey box.
 Click on “Greek Mythology guide.”
 Click on name to see picture and information about mythological figures.
Which mythological figure would be the last one you would want to meet in a dark alley (most scary) and why?
The 12 Olympian Gods + 2
Fill in the information in the empty blocks to represent what you know and learn as you read
about each god/goddess. See Demeter, Apollo or Hestia for a completed example.
god/goddess
sphere of Control
eagle, lightning bolt
Zeus
motherhood, marriage
cow, lion, peacock
horse, trident
Poseidon
Demeter
animal/symbol
agriculture, hearth
red poppy, barley
anvil, quail(hops funny like him)
Hephaestus
wisdom, battle, useful arts
owl
Aphrodite
dove, magic belt (that makes men fall for her)
Ares
wild boar, bloody spear
Apollo
music, medicine, poetry,
archery, bachelors
mouse, lyre
(Apollo’s twin sister) maiden
girls, hunting
she-bear
travelers, merchants, thieves,
messengers
caduceus, winged helm and sandals
tiger, grapes
Dionysus
Hestia
home and earth
crane (gave up her council seat for Dionysus)
underworld
helm of terror
Adapted: Teacher’s Guide to Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan
5 Literary Elements
1. The setting- where and when the story takes place.
The Lightning Thief begins in New York City and on Long Island, New York. Percy travels across the country
throughout the story. On the timeline below, add five more places showing where Percy travels on his
journey.
2. Point of View
When a character in the story tells the story, it is written in the first person point of view. When a narrator
outside the story tells the story, it is written in the third person point of view. From what point of view is this
novel written?
Consider the benefits of this choice and list two reasons why you think the author chose this point of view?
3. Plot
The plot is the storyline or sequence of events. For each chapter below write a two sentence summary of
what happened in that chapter. The first chapter has been done for you.
Chapter 1: On a field trip, Percy saw a teacher turn into a monster, and he made her disappear with a magical
pen. Afterwards, he doesn’t understand why his friends don’t know anything about the teacher’s existence.
Chapter 2:
Chapter 5:
Chapter 9:
Now choose 4 more chapters (after chapter 9) to summarize in two sentences each.
Chapter
_____
Chapter
____
Chapter
____
Chapter
____
4. Characterization the author’s way of developing what we see, think and know about a
character and their personality in a story.
Choose one of the characters from the novel. Write his or her name on the box below the picture. As you
read, write in the picture frames words, phrases, or sentences that help you get to know the character.
Indicate the page number on which you find the descriptive words/phrases/quotes.
Words
Physical Appearance
diret
2 examples from novel that show
your character’s appearance
Actions
2 examples of your character’s
actions -What did he or she do?
After you read
2 direct quotes from character which
reveal something about him or her
character
Thoughts
2 thoughts from character that reveal
something about his or her character
What Others Say
2 direct quotes of what others say
about your character
When you have finished the book, using the example given, complete a summary statement about The
Lightning Thief:
Story of Cinderella as an example
Now you complete one using The Lightning Thief
Somebody Cinderella
Somebody
Wanted to go to the ball,
wanted
But her step mother would not allow her to go.
but
So her fairy godmother helped her .
So
Then she went to the ball and fell
Then
in love with the prince.
5. Theme
A theme is a broad idea, message, or moral of a story and may be about life, society, or human nature.
Themes can explore timeless and universal ideas or truths and are usually not stated directly but are more
implied.
Consider the theme or author’s message in this novel. What do you think he wanted to say about life, society
or human nature?