by Ethan Atwell

I’m not sure how many of you are aware, but on December 20th Disney will release a new TV adaptation for “Percy Jackson and the Olympians”. This has been a popular topic of discussion for the numerous youth and teens that come to the Library. And honestly, I have high hopes for it since the film adaptations were a let down, to say the least.

Anyway, I thought now might be a good idea to spread the word about Percy Jackson read-alikes. There is of course the Rick Riordan Presents series, which focuses on highlighting middle grade authors and their books about their underrepresented mythology and folklore. These books are great and easily found.

I want to highlight a few other middle grade and young adult Percy Jackson read-alikes.

“Lei and the Fire Goddess” by Malia Maunakea is a middle grade novel about twelve-year-old Lei, who spends summers with her grandma in Hawai’i. Lei resists her grandma’s efforts to share family moʻolelo, but all that changes when Lei insults the Goddess of Fire causing a curse on her family. “The Pearl Hunter” by Miya T. Beck is another middle grade novel about pearl hunting twins, Kai and Kishi. Everything changes when Kishi is killed by the Ghost Whale. Kai goes after the Ghost Whale in hopes of finding a way to bring her sister back to life. “Mwikali and the Forbidden Mask” by Shiro Nguru is my final middle grade suggestion. Mwikali just wants to live a normal life, but after arriving at a new school in Nairobi that isn’t possible. She learns she is descended from a legendary line of Kenyan warriors and she must harness the power from her ancestors to save the world.

“The Sunbearer Trials” by Aiden Thomas is a Young Adult book about 17-year-old Teo, a semidiós and trans son of Goddess of Birds. Teo is unexpectedly chosen to participate in The Sunbearer Trials with 13-year-old Mala Suerte. Now they have to complete five trials against stronger opponents or lose their lives. My final suggestion is the Young Adult book “Threads that Bind” by Kika Hatzopoulou. Io is the youngest of the Ora sisters, descendants of the Fates, but turned private investigator. Her latest job has her trying to find a killer, facing her estranged sister, and catching feelings for Edei Rhuna, who works for the infamous Mob Queen.

Whatever happens with the new Percy Jackson series, fans will always find plenty to read at the Library