Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Book Two, Harry Potter Series)

After defeating the Dark Lord Voldemort and his host, Professor Quirrell, in the chamber of the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry is now known throughout Hogwarts School (in truth, he was already known just for being Harry Potter) and is ready for a second year of magic. However, before he sets off for Hogwarts, a house elf named Dobby appears in his new, slightly larger room at the Dursley's and warns him not to return to Hogwarts this year for fear of dire consequences. When his attempts fail, and Harry refuses, the elf gets Harry grounded. After Harry escapes with help from his his friend, Ron Weasley, Harry is troubled by the elf's warning but travels to Hogwarts all the same. As the school year begins in full, Harry realizes the truth in Dobby's words. Students are being attacked at Hogwarts, including Harry's friend Hermione, who, with no way to resuscitate them, are being paralyzed. A warning has been written on the walls in blood: "The Chamber of Secrets has been opened, enemies of the Heir beware." Soon, a shocking revelation comes to light: a monstrous creature is stalking the halls of Hogwarts, threatening to bring about the end of the school forever. Now, it's up to Harry to put a stop to the terror and to solve the mystery once and for all.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, equal parts mystery and fantasy, is one of my favorite books of the Harry Potter series. J.K. Rowling spins a web of suspense that will leave you craving more and wanting to read past midnight.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Book One, Harry Potter Series)

In this first installment of the instant classic, a young Harry Potter has lived a tragic life. According to his abusive, adoptive family, the Dursleys, his parents died in a terrible accident when he was young. He suffers in silence in the cramped broom closet that is his bedroom beneath the stairs, and wishes for his life to be different. During an outing to the zoo, Harry begins to realize that all is not all as it seems -- he understands and talks to the snakes in the reptile room. On his eleventh birthday, Harry's life changes forever when he and the Dursleys receive a surprise visitor: an enormous man with hands the size of garbage-can lids who claims to have known Harry since he was a baby. The man, called Hagrid, brings to light a startling revelation: Harry is a Wizard and is eligible to attend the wizarding school, Hogwarts. Stunned by the revelation, Harry is escorted to Hogwarts and trains to master the arcane arts. Thrown into a world of magic and mystery, Harry makes both friends and foes and learns that there is more to himself then he could ever have imagined. However, darkness is brewing. The Dark Lord Voldemort is regaining strength. Eleven years ago, he tried to kill Harry and failed, his body and soul scattered in the process. Now, with his supporters regrouping and Voldemort himself searching for a host, Harry must learn what it means to be a wizard and the true meaning of friendship if he is to face Voldemort.

The Harry Potter series is arguably one of the most loved books of all time and has sold the most number of copies in history!  J. K, Rowling's first installation, Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone had me hooked from the start. I loved it, children and adults alike love it, and you will love it too.  If you haven't already gotten to it, it's never too late and no one is to old to appreciate this timeless neo-  classic.

The Last Olyimpian (Book Five, Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series)

 The time has come for the final showdown between the Demigods and the omnipotent might of Kronos' monster army. As Kronos nears, Percy and the other Demigods must prepare Manhattan, and the Empire State Building, for the assault. The Titan Lord has chosen Luke, Percy's nemesis, as a host. Meanwhile, Grover has gone missing, again, and the campers soon learn that there is a traitor in their midst, feeding vital information to Kronos. The campers learn that Typhon, the father of all monsters, has been unleashed in the American Mid-West, recking havoc across the countryside. The gods will offer the Demigods no help, they must fight Typhon and defeat him before he reaches Olympus. Poseidon is fighting his own war under the waves, completely isolating himself from the Demigods and the other gods, while Hades remains underground. The campers are alone, forced to fight Kronos by themselves. Will they? No. Can they defeat him?

The Last Olympian is full of action, awesome battles, suspense, romance and an unexpected ending. The book is loosely based on the battle between the gods and the titans at the beginning of time.

The Battle of the Labyrinth (Book Four, Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series)

 So far, the summer has been peaceful for Camp Half-Blood, there have only been a few raiding parties from Kronos' army, that is, until one warm Friday. During a Capture-the-Flag game, Percy and Annabeth stumble upon a secret tunnel in the middle of the woods. Even though they have only been gone for a few minutes, when they emerge, the other campers say that they have been looking for Percy and Annabeth for hours. The camp is alarmed at the appearance of the tunnel but pay it almost no mind. Later that night, Percy has a dream of his nemesis, Luke, talking to Kronos about how he has plans to lead an army through this tunnel to attack Camp Half-Blood from the inside and that the tunnel is an entrance into . . . The Labyrinth! Accompanied by Annabeth, Grover, and Tyson, Percy ventures into the tunnel to stop Luke's invasion. In the vast reaches of the Labyrinth, there are forces, some good some evil, that are waiting for a chance to resurface for good.

The Battle of the Labyrinth is full of mythology, laughs, action, suspense and fun for the whole family. The book is loosely based off of the adventures of Thesis in the Labyrinth and it's creator, Daedalus.

The Titan's Curse (Book Three, Percy Jackson and The Olympians Series)

 It is winter, and the Titan Lord Kronos' power is growing immensely. Meanwhile, Percy, along with Annabeth, Grover and Thalia, is sent to recruit two kids that are suspected of being Half-Bloods. However, the mission goes horribly wrong and Annabeth plunges 500 feet down the side of a cliff. Believing her to be dead, the whole of Camp Half-Blood is distraught. One night, Percy has a dream of Annabeth and the Goddess Artemis chained to the ground, holding up an immense weight. Accompanied by his friends, Thalia and Grover, as well as their new found allies, the Hunters of Artemis, Percy sets out to rescue her and the goddess Artemis. The journey is long, unrelenting, and filled with friends and foes alike, but Percy is determined to rescue his friend.

Riordan weaves a story filled with despair, hope, monsters and gods that all ages will enjoy. This third installment gives backstory on Riptide's past. It is also loosely based on the Tasks of Hercules.

The Sea of Monsters (Book Two, Percy Jackson and The Olympians Series)

 Desperate times have come to Camp Half-blood. The tree that holds together the camp's magical border is dying. Desperate times call for desperate measures so Percy Jackson, Son of Poseidon, along with his friends, must travel to the Sea of Monsters, otherwise known as the Bermuda Triangle, to retrieve the Golden Fleece. However, the optimistic operation becomes a frantic recovery mission when Percy learns that his satyr friend, Grover, has been captured. The going is rough, filled with magic, people, monsters and surprises of all sorts. Amid the chaos, could there actually be an ally lurking in the depths of the waters. And, what would happen if the Golden Fleece does its job, a bit too well.

Riordan's second epic novel in the Percy Jackson series is filled with laughs, action, suspence, and numerous plot twists. Like the first, this book is a great read for people who appreciate Greek mythology and, like the rest of the series, it is loosely based on Greek myths such as The Argonauts, Hercules, the Labyrynth and the struggle between Gods and Titans.

The Lightning Thief (Book One, Percy Jackson & The Olympians Series)

Aside from being dyslexic and having ADHD, Percy Jackson is an average twelve-year-old boy, until now. One day, his Pre-algebra teacher transforms into a winged hag and demands that Percy return Zeus' master lightning-bolt...but wait...isn't Zeus a myth? Plunged into a realm of gods, monsters and Greek warfare, Percy realizes that he is a half-blood, the child of a Greek god and a mortal. Now, with a group of friends, Percy must find the master bolt while at the same time he must accept his true destiny before the gods declare war and end all life as we know it. However, deep in the depths of Tartarus, the bottom of the Underworld, a great evil is growing, one that will require both gods and mortals to defeat.

The Lightning Thief is a great book for people who like Greek mythology and action, along with humor of course. Riordan spins a tale that children of all ages, and even adults will enjoy for years to come. A film version of the book was released in 2010.