The Sea of Monsters is the second book in Rick Riordan’s wildly popular Percy Jackson Series.  Annabeth, Percy, and Grover are back with some new characters and a new quest.  Wildly careening from encounter to encounter, the action is non-stop.  Riordan’s gift for modern dialogue is a large component of this book’s appeal to young readers.  Couple that with more Greek mythology, and it is easy to understand the series’ popularity.  This series can be enjoyed by both elementary school and middle grade students.   The Sea of Monsters is also a good book for reluctant readers as it’s a roller-coaster ride of adventure.  Fans of Greek mythology will love it as will anyone looking for a fun, quick read. 

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  6 religious exclamations; 1 mild obscenity.

Violence/Gore:  Extended battle scene with explosions and fireballs resulting in property damage and vaporization of monsters; various verbal threats of death and violence; extended scene where characters battle mechanical animals with swords, punching, etc.; scene in which birds attack characters; characters fight mythical creatures with objects, fists; characters fight mythical creature with sword, etc. and kill mythical creature with explosion; report of ransacking; animals eat another animal (no details); explosions with destruction of property; extended fight scene with a mythical creature with bashing, hitting, swords, etc. resulting in injuries;  extended battle scene with humans and mythical creatures with swords, arrows, paintball guns, resulting in the vaporizing of monsters; chariot race with non-fatal injuries, explosions.

Sex/Nudity:  A character kisses another on the cheek.

Mature Subject Matter:

None

Alcohol / Drug Use:

None