The Last Olympian

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

• Genre: Fiction; Middle grade fantasy adventure
• Originally Published: 2009
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 620L; Grades 5-9
• Structure/Length: 24 chapters; approximately 432 pages; approximately 11 hours on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The story centers around Percy Jackson, a demigod son of Poseidon, as he leads the defense of Mount Olympus against the Titan lord Kronos and his army. Set in a contemporary world where Greek mythology intertwines with the modern day, the novel delves into the ultimate showdown between the Olympian gods and the Titans. It explores themes of heroism, sacrifice, and destiny.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Mild fantasy violence; perilous situations; Greek mythology themes

Rick Riordan, Author

• Bio: Born 1964; former middle school teacher; enjoys writing about mythology and blending it with modern settings; created the popular Percy Jackson & the Olympians series; advocates for literacy and education; received numerous awards, including the Shamus Award for his adult mystery series; collaborated with other authors on various projects
• Other Works: The Lightning Thief (2005); The Sea of Monsters (2006); The Titan’s Curse (2007); The Battle of the Labyrinth (2008); Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods (2014); Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes (2015); Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series (2015-2017); The Trials of Apollo series (2016-2020)
• Awards: Mark Twain Award (2008 and 2009); Children’s Choice Book Awards Author of the Year (2011); Stonewall Book Award (2017); #1 Bestseller on the lists of USA Today, the LA Times, and the Wall Street Journal

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• The Hero’s Journey
• Predestination Versus Free Will
• Otherness Versus Interconnectivity

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Gain an understanding of the novel’s historical and mythological sources and background.
• Discuss paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of The Hero’s Journey, Predestination Versus Free Will, and Otherness Versus Interconnectivity.
• Use creative thinking and active learning to write their own prophecy.
• Evaluate the novel in structured essay responses on mythical creatures, the use of humor in the novel, and other topics.