Last ‘Percy Jackson’ book is released as Fox shoots movie version of earlier title

From the Wall Street Journal, Publisher’s Weekly,  Austin American-Statesman:

Former middle-school teacher Rick Riordan, left, is “one of the hottest writers on the planet today,” thanks to his series of children’s books that pairs Greek mythology with a hero who has learning disabilities.

The series, which has already sold more than five million copies in the U.S., culminates this week with the release of the fifth and final installment, “Percy Jackson and the Olympians.” Central to the concept is a hero who learns that he is the son of Poseidon. He also has ADHD and dyslexia — traits he shares with Riordan’s son, who inspired the series — and comes to understand that his learning disabilities are signs he was sired by one of the gods.

Dyslexia, you see, is simply the natural confusion that arises when you’re hard-wired to read ancient Greek but forced to read English. And ADHD? A side effect of the need to constantly survey your surroundings for monsters eager to destroy children who are part-mortal, part-god.

Twentieth Century Fox is shooting a movie version of the first book in the series. Starring Uma Thurman and Pierce Brosnan, it is expected to be released next February.

(Photo from Wall Street Journal)

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 6th, 2009 at 11:16 am and is filed under ADHD, books, dyslexia, movies, NOT2BEMISSED. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.