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Quick answer: If you loved Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, try The Sea of Monsters, The Lost Hero, The Red Pyramid, Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer, Aru Shah and the End of Time and Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky. Each one is a funny, fast mythological adventure with demigods, monsters and kids discovering hidden powers.
Rick Riordan's 2005 novel follows Percy Jackson, a twelve-year-old with ADHD and dyslexia who discovers that he is the son of Poseidon. At Camp Half-Blood he learns he has been accused of stealing Zeus's master lightning bolt, and he sets off with Annabeth and Grover to clear his name before war breaks out among the gods. Readers love its humor and its modern Greek myths. These books share its mythology and its adventure.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Age | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Sea of Monsters | Rick Riordan | 9-13 | readers who want book two |
| The Lost Hero | Rick Riordan | 10-14 | readers who want the next series |
| The Red Pyramid | Rick Riordan | 10-14 | readers who like Egyptian myths |
| Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer | Rick Riordan | 10-14 | readers who like Norse myths |
| Aru Shah and the End of Time | Roshani Chokshi | 9-13 | readers who like Indian myths |
| Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky | Kwame Mbalia | 9-13 | readers who like African American folklore |
| The Storm Runner | J.C. Cervantes | 9-13 | readers who like Mayan myths |
| Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone | J.K. Rowling | 8-12 | readers who like hidden worlds |
| The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones | Rick Riordan | 8-12 | readers who like treasure hunts |
| Mythos | Stephen Fry | 12+ | older readers |
| D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths | Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire | 7-12 | readers who want the original myths |
| Artemis Fowl | Eoin Colfer | 9-13 | readers who like fairies |
| The Hidden Oracle | Rick Riordan | 10-14 | readers who want Apollo's story |
| Amari and the Night Brothers | B.B. Alston | 9-13 | readers who like secret worlds |
| Pandora's Jar | Natalie Haynes | 14+ | older readers who like Greek myth |
1. The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
Percy sails to find the Golden Fleece.
Best for: readers who want book two.
2. The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
New demigods meet Roman myths.
Best for: readers who want the next series.
3. The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
Siblings discover Egyptian gods.
Best for: readers who like Egyptian myths.
4. Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan
A boy learns he is the son of a Norse god.
Best for: readers who like Norse myths.
5. Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
A girl frees an ancient demon by accident.
Best for: readers who like Indian myths.
6. Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia
A boy enters a world of folk heroes.
Best for: readers who like African American folklore.
7. The Storm Runner by J.C. Cervantes
A boy discovers Mayan gods.
Best for: readers who like Mayan myths.
8. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
A boy learns he is a wizard.
Best for: readers who like hidden worlds.
9. The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan
Siblings race for clues.
Best for: readers who like treasure hunts.
10. Mythos by Stephen Fry
The Greek myths retold.
Best for: older readers.
11. D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths by Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire
Illustrated Greek myths.
Best for: readers who want the original myths.
12. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
A boy genius kidnaps a fairy.
Best for: readers who like fairies.
13. The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan
The god Apollo becomes a mortal teen.
Best for: readers who want Apollo's story.
14. Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
A girl joins a supernatural bureau.
Best for: readers who like secret worlds.
15. Pandora's Jar by Natalie Haynes
The women of Greek myth reexamined.
Best for: older readers who like Greek myth.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with the first three picks in the table: they are the closest match to Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most. If a pick is part of a longer series, read the first book before you commit, and check the age or content notes in the table before passing a book to a younger reader.
How to Choose
Continue with The Sea of Monsters, then The Lost Hero. For other mythologies, The Red Pyramid, Magnus Chase, Aru Shah and Tristan Strong are perfect. If you want the original myths, D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths is a classic. Harry Potter is a great pick for hidden-world fans.
Related: Rick Riordan Books in Order Printable List
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Lightning Thief about?
A boy learns he is the son of Poseidon and must recover Zeus's stolen lightning bolt.
What age is it for?
It suits readers about 9 to 13.
How many Percy Jackson books are there?
Five in the main series, plus later books.
Is there a TV show?
Yes. Disney+ released a series in 2023.
Who is Annabeth?
A daughter of Athena and Percy's friend.
What is Camp Half-Blood?
A training camp for demigods.
What should I read next?
The Sea of Monsters.