The Sea of Monsters

The Sea of Monsters

• Genre: Fiction; middle grade fantasy
• Originally Published: 2006
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 740L; grades 5-9
• Structure/Length: 20 chapters; approximately 280 pages; approximately 7 hours, 54 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: Percy Jackson, a 13-year-old demigod and son of Poseidon, embarks on a dangerous quest across the Sea of Monsters—the Bermuda Triangle in the modern world—to save his satyr friend Grover and Camp Half-Blood, a safe haven for demigod children, which is under threat due to the poisoning of its magical protective tree.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Violence and battle scenes; themes of abandonment and betrayal

Rick Riordan, Author

• Bio: Born 1964; former middle school teacher; creator of multiple bestselling series with a focus on mythology in modern settings; received the Mark Twain Award; advocates for greater diversity in children's literature; active in the writer's community
• Other Works: The Lightning Thief (2005); The Titan's Curse (2007); The Battle of the Labyrinth (2008); The Last Olympian (2009); The Lost Hero (2010)
• Awards: Book Sense Top Ten Summer Pick (2006); Child magazine Best Book (2006); Barnes & Noble Best of 2006 for Kids & Teens (2006); Kirkus Reviews Best Fantasy Sequel (2006); Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) Top Shelf Fiction Pick for Middle School Readers (2006); Cooperative Children's Book Center choice (2007); Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Best Book for Young Adults (2007); Mark Twain Award (2008); Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award (2009); Indian Paintbrush Book Award (2010)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Unit:

• Knowledge Isn’t Always Good for You
• Not All Members of a Group Are the Same
• Acceptance Leads to Resolution

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

• Gain an understanding of the historical and cultural contexts surrounding Greek mythology that influence the characters and the way they are depicted in The Sea of Monsters.
• Study paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of Knowledge Isn’t Always Good for You, Not All Members of a Group Are the Same, and Acceptance Leads to Resolution.
• Analyze and evaluate the plot and character details to draw conclusions in structured essay responses regarding opposing viewpoints, character traits, and other topics.