The Lost Hero

Gr 4—7—Rick Riordan does it again with the first title (Hyperion, 2010) in a new series, introducing a young demigod named Jason who finds himself on a bus with no memory of who he is or how he got there. He soon discovers that all of his fellow travelers are juvenile offenders who have been sent to a wilderness boarding school for society's protection and their own re-education. Piper, a strange quiet girl, and Leo, a wise-cracking goof-off, both claim to be his friends, and the three embark on a journey that takes them across the United States, meeting Cyclopes in Detroit, Medea in Chicago, and Midas in Omaha. The final battle takes place at the Wolves Den, former home of Jack London, in Sonoma, California. Percy Jackson and Annabeth are mentioned at times, and at the book's conclusion we know that both will play important roles in the sequels. This tale belongs to Jason, Piper, and Leo, all of whom have suffered terrible losses and have their own insecurities. Each character is distinct in his/her pain and growing self-awareness. Narrator Joshua Swanson makes that clear with his variety of voices, along with conveying the hate of Hera, the greed of Midas, and the wickedness of Medea. Totally engaging.—Edie Ching, University of Maryland, College Park