As+You+Read+Questions


 * __The Lightning Thief__** **“As You Read” Questions**


 * Chapter 1**
 * 1) What kind of school is Yancy Academy ?
 * 2) What bad experiences has Percy had on past field trips?
 * 3) Why can’t Percy get back at Nancy when she starts teasing Grover on the bus?
 * 4) Why doesn’t Percy get along with Mrs. Dodds?
 * 5) When do you first suspect that something may be unusual/supernatural about Mrs. Dodds?
 * 6) In the story about the gods and titans, who was Kronos and what happened to him after the gods defeated him?
 * 7) Why does Percy get angry at Mr. Brunner? How would you have felt in his position?
 * 8) What do you learn about Percy’s home life as he’s watching the taxis on Fifth Avenue?
 * 9) How does Percy get in trouble with Mrs. Dodds? Do you think it’s his fault?
 * 10) How have things changed when Percy returns to the front steps of the museum?


 * Chapter 2**
 * 1) Why does Percy think the whole school is playing a trick on him?
 * 2) Why does Percy decide to study for the Latin exam even though he’s given up on his other subjects?
 * 3) What leads Percy to believe that Grover and Mr. Brunner think he’s in danger?
 * 4) After the Latin test, what do you think Mr. Brunner was trying to say to Percy? Why does Percy react angrily to Mr. Brunner’s words?
 * 5) How does Percy say he’s different than the other kids at Yancy Academy?
 * 6) Why does Percy tell Grover he’s a really bad liar?
 * 7) What responsibility does Grover claim to have, and why does this strike Percy as strange?
 * 8) How do Percy and Grover end up on the side of the highway?
 * 9) How does Grover react when Percy tells him about the yarn-cutting?
 * 10) What does Percy think the yarn-cutting means? Does Grover seem to agree or not?


 * Chapter 3**
 * 1) Why does Percy leave Grover at the bus station? What would you have done in his place?
 * 2) Percy says “the best people get the rottenest luck.” How does this apply to his mom?
 * 3) Describe Gabe.
 * 4) Why doesn’t Percy tell his mom the truth about Mrs. Dodds and the ladies at the fruit stand?
 * 5) How does Percy get even with Gabe as they’re loading up the Camaro?
 * 6) Why is Montauk special to Percy’s mom?
 * 7) Why does Percy’s mom eat blue food, and why does Percy love this about her?
 * 8) What knew information does Percy learn about his dad as he and his mother are roasting marshmallows?
 * 9) Describe Percy’s dream. What do you think it means?
 * 10) How does the title of the chapter, “Grover Unexpectedly Loses His Pants,” come true?


 * Chapter 4**
 * 1) What does Percy say that insults Grover?
 * 2) According to Grover, who is after Percy?
 * 3) What happens to make the car crash?
 * 4) What does Percy's mom tell him to do when they get out of the car and why does Percy disobey?
 * 5) What does Percy find strange about the bull-man's appearance?
 * 6) What happens to Percy's mother?
 * 7) Why does Grover keep attracting the monster's attention?
 * 8) After the monster disintegrates, what gets Percy moving when all he wants to do is collapse?
 * 9) What's the last thing Percy remembers?
 * 10) Take a guess: Who is the "familiar face" that Percy thinks he sees?


 * Chapter 5**
 * 1) What does the blond girl ask Percy as she's feeding him pudding?
 * 2) What is strange about the man who is guarding Percy as he sleeps?
 * 3) Why does Grover say he retrieved the Minotaur horn?
 * 4) How does Percy feel after he tries the strange drink?
 * 5) As he's gazing out from the front porch, what surprises Percy about the summer camp?
 * 6) Describe Mr. D. Anticipate: Will he be a hero or a villain? Why?
 * 7) What does Percy find striking about Annabeth's appearance?
 * 8) What clues help Percy guess Mr. D's identity?
 * 9) What evidence does Chiron use to prove that the Greek gods are in America?
 * 10) According to Chiron, what is the big question that everyone wants answered? Take a guess: what's the answer?


 * Chapter 6**
 * 1) What does Percy noticed about the farm house as he walks away from it? What bothers him about the attic?
 * 2) Why does Percy feel guilty about Grover getting in trouble?
 * 3) Why do you think Percy asks Chiron about the Underworld? He says: "The beginnings of an idea – a tiny, hopeful fire – started forming in my mind." What does he mean?
 * 4) Based on the description, what Greek god is cabin three dedicated to?
 * 5) Why is Annabeth upset with Percy after they leave Cabin Eleven?
 * 6) How does Annabeth know that Percy is "one of us"?
 * 7) Percy says the big girl from the Ares cabin reminds him of Nancy Bobofit. Is Clarisse like Nancy? Why or why not?
 * 8) Why doesn't Percy want Annabeth's help when he gets into the fight with Clarisse?
 * 9) What happens to Clarisse and her friends in the bathroom?
 * 10) How does this incident change Annabeth's attitude toward Percy?


 * Chapter 7**
 * 1) Who are Annabeth's parents?
 * 2) What does it mean to be "undetermined"?
 * 3) Why are some kids summer campers and others year-'rounders? Which would you rather be?
 * 4) What do the beads mean on Annabeth's necklace?
 * 5) Why is Annabeth frustrated when she and Percy talk about quests?
 * 6) Why does Luke feel bitter?
 * 7) Why does Percy ask for a blue Coke at dinner?
 * 8) What does Percy wish for as he puts his dinner into the fire?
 * 9) In what way does Percy feel different once he gets to the bonfire?


 * Chapter 8**
 * 1) Why are the counselors having a hard time deciding who Percy’s Olympian parent is?
 * 2) How does Percy surprise everyone during his first sword class? How do you think he was able to do this?
 * 3) According to Grover, why did the “Big Three” gods swear never to have any more children?
 * 4) Why does the story about Thalia make Percy feel “hollow and guilty”?
 * 5) In capture-the-flag, why does Percy feel like he’s being left out of the action?
 * 6) How does Percy manage to overcome the kids from Ares’s cabin?
 * 7) What was Annabeth’s plan to win the flag?
 * 8) Why does Annabeth make Percy stand in the water?
 * 9) What does Chiron say about how the hellhound got into camp?
 * 10) When you find out Percy’s true identity, are you surprised or did you see it coming? What clues were given earlier in the book?


 * Chapter 9**
 * 1) Why does Percy feel miserable once he gets his own cabin?
 * 2) Based on the newspaper article Percy finds under his door, what is happening in the real world while Percy is in camp?
 * 3) What is the master bolt?
 * 4) Why does Zeus think Percy stole the bolt?
 * 5) Why can’t the gods retrieve the bolt themselves?
 * 6) What bothers Percy about the Oracle’s prophecy?
 * 7) According to Chiron, what evidence suggests that Hades stole the lightning bolt?
 * 8) Why does Percy have to travel overland?
 * 9) What will happen on the summer solstice if the lightning bolt is not returned?
 * 10) What is unusual about the storm that moves in over camp?


 * Chapter 10**
 * 1) Who is Argus and why can he never be surprised?
 * 2) What gift does Luke give to Percy? Why can’t Percy use them?
 * 3) What special properties does Riptide have?
 * 4) What is Mist?
 * 5) What are some of the reasons Annabeth gives for why Poseidon and Athena don’t get along?
 * 6) According to Grover, why did Percy’s mom marry Gabe?
 * 7) Percy says he’s not going on the quest to retrieve the lightning bolt. What’s his real reason for going?
 * 8) How does Percy sneak to the front of the bus?
 * 9) Why doesn’t Percy leave the bus when he has the chance?
 * 10) How do Percy, Grover and Annabeth lose their luggage?


 * Chapter 11**
 * 1) Why is Annabeth upset with Percy for risking his life on the bus?
 * 2) What does Aunty Em look like when she opens the door?
 * 3) How does Percy explain why he went into the garden gnome emporium? Does this explanation make sense to you?
 * 4) Why does Grover start to get nervous at the emporium? (There are several reasons)
 * 5) How can you tell that Percy isn’t thinking straight after he eats his meal?
 * 6) Did you guess Aunty Em’s true identity before Percy did? If so, what clues gave her away?
 * 7) Why does Annabeth say they have to kill Medusa? Why can’t they just run away?
 * 8) Medusa’s head doesn’t disintegrate along with the rest of her. Why not?
 * 9) What important information does Percy find in Medusa’s office?
 * 10) Why do you think Percy sends Medusa’s head to Mount Olympus? Do you think this is a good idea?


 * Chapter 12**
 * 1) Why does Grover want a searcher’s license?
 * 2) Why does Grover’s dream sound so hopeless to Percy?
 * 3) What new information do you learn about Grover’s past and how it relates to Annabeth?
 * 4) According to Grover, why did Percy mail Medusa’s head to Mount Olympus?
 * 5) Describe the place Percy sees in his dream.
 * 6) What terrible realization does Percy make toward the end of the dream? What does the voice want from him?
 * 7) Who do think is talking to Percy in the dream? Who is this voice from the pit?
 * 8) Who is Gladiola?
 * 9) What is Grover’s plan to get money for the trip?
 * 10) If you were offered the choice in Percy’s dream – to save your own parent’s life or complete your quest and prevent a terrible war – what would you choose?


 * Chapter 13**
 * 1) Why does Percy try to keep a low profile on the train?
 * 2) What new information does Annabeth tell us about her father in this chapter?
 * 3) Annabeth says a couple of unexpected friends took care of her when she ran away from home. Any guesses who these might be? Why?
 * 4) Why does Percy laugh when Annabeth tells him what she wants to be?
 * 5) What magic item does Hades have? What are its powers?
 * 6) Describe the Chimera.
 * 7) Echidna says Percy should feel honored to be killed by her. Why?
 * 8) What is Percy’s “fatal mistake” while battling the Chimera?
 * 9) Why does Percy decide he has no choice but to jump? What would you have done in his place?
 * 10) How would the battle have been different if there were no mortal spectators in the Arch?


 * Chapter 14**
 * 1) When he lands in the Mississippi River, what does Percy realize that amazes him?
 * 2) Why does Percy feel ashamed that Poseidon saved him?
 * 3) What message does the woman in the water bring to Percy? What is her warning?
 * 4) What does Percy learn by overhearing the reporters outside the Arch?
 * 5) What happened to the family that was in the Arch with Percy?


 * Chapter 15**
 * 1) What is Iris-messaging? How does it work?
 * 2) Why does Annabeth want to leave as soon as Luke appears in the mist?
 * 3) Luke says: “Tell Grover it’ll be better this time! Nobody will get turned into a pine tree . . .” What does this tell you about Grover’s past?
 * 4) What does Ares say that convinces Percy to help him?
 * 5) According to Annabeth, how does Hephaestus deal with his wife and Ares having an affair?
 * 6) Grover doesn’t smell any monsters at the Thrill Ride O’ Love, even though it’s a trap. Why is that?
 * 7) Why can’t Annabeth help Percy when they get trapped in the pool?
 * 8) How does Annabeth put her knowledge of physics to work on the water ride?
 * 9) How does Grover save the day?
 * 10) At the end of the chapter, whom do you think Percy is angrier with – Hephaestus or Ares? Why?


 * Chapter 16**
 * 1) What’s in the backpack Ares gives Percy? If you were him, would you have accepted this gift?
 * 2) What news does Ares give Percy about his mom?
 * 3) Annabeth says Percy wasn’t smart to anger Ares. Was Percy right to talk back to him? Why or why not?
 * 4) What do the beads mean on Annabeth’s necklace?
 * 5) Percy says that Annabeth should write her father a letter. What would you advise her to do?
 * 6) Percy’s dream has three different parts – what does he see in each scene?
 * 7) How does Grover make sure the animals will be safe after they are released?
 * 8) Percy, Grover and Annabeth are attracted to different types of games at the Lotus Casino. What does each one like, and what does this tell you about their personality?
 * 9) When does Percy start to realize the casino is a trap?
 * 10) How does Percy snap Annabeth out of her trance?


 * Chapter 17**
 * 1) How does Annabeth pay for the trip to Los Angeles?
 * 2) Annabeth seems worried when they discuss the voice from the pit. Percy thinks she has an idea what it might be. Do you have any guesses?
 * 3) Who is the spirit in the sea? What does she give to Percy?
 * 4) Why is Annabeth uneasy about the gifts Percy received?
 * 5) According to Percy, how is L.A. different from New York?
 * 6) Why doesn’t Riptide work on the kids who jump Percy in the alley?
 * 7) What does Crusty do to his customers?
 * 8) Why can’t Percy simply fight Crusty?
 * 9) How does Percy trick the giant?
 * 10) How does Percy find the address for the Underworld?


 * Chapter 18**
 * 1) Why does the DOA security guard get annoyed with Percy?
 * 2) How does Charon realize Percy and his friends are not really dead?
 * 3) How does Percy finally convince Charon to take them into the elevator?
 * 4) What does the River Styx look like? Why does it look this way?
 * 5) Describe the entrance to the Underworld.
 * 6) If you were standing in that line, would you rather choose EZ Death and go straight to Asphodel, or risk being judged for your actions on earth?
 * 7) What is Percy’s plan to get past Cerberus? Why doesn’t it work?
 * 8) How does Annabeth save them? Why is she able to do this?
 * 9) What does Percy realize about monsters at the end of the chapter?
 * 10) Do you feel sorry for Cerberus? Would you have risked playing fetch with him, if you were Annabeth?


 * Chapter 19**
 * 1) What does the Field of Asphodel look like?
 * 2) What do you have to do to enter the Isles of the Blest?
 * 3) How do Grover, Percy and Annabeth end up at the pit of Tartarus?
 * 4) How is Hades’ aura different than Ares? How does Percy feel when he’s in Hades’ presence?
 * 5) Describe the guards at Hades’ palace.
 * 6) What sort of problems does Hades complain about?
 * 7) Why was Percy’s backpack getting heavy?
 * 8) What terrible choice faces Percy when he decides to use the pearls? Would you have made the same choice he does? Why or why not?
 * 9) How do Annabeth and Grover prove themselves to be real friends to Percy?
 * 10) What is the power of the pearls?


 * Chapter 20**
 * 1) Why does Percy will himself to get soaked in the water?
 * 2) Ares says the best kind of war is when relatives fight each. Why would this be the most vicious kind of fight?
 * 3) Why does Percy begin to suspect that Ares wasn’t acting alone – that he was taking orders from someone?
 * 4) Which failures does Ares point to when he says Percy “doesn’t have what it takes”? Is this a fair criticism? Why or why not?
 * 5) What deal does Percy make with Ares?
 * 6) How does Percy’s ADHD keep him alive in the fight?
 * 7) What strategy does Percy use to beat Ares?
 * 8) After Percy wounds Ares, something strange happens that makes Ares back off. What is it?
 * 9) Why is important that the Furies witness Percy’s battle?
 * 10) At the end of the chapter, what does Percy decide he must do to complete the quest?


 * Chapter 21**
 * 1) When the Los Angeles reporters interview Percy, how does he get back at Gabe?
 * 2) Why do Percy, Annabeth and Grover split up when they arrive back in New York?
 * 3) How does Percy convince the guard at the Empire State Building to let him see Zeus?
 * 4) What are some of the things Percy sees on his way through Olympus?
 * 5) Why Percy start feeling a little sorry for Hades when he sees Zeus’ palace?
 * 6) Percy says he is glad, in a strange way, that Poseidon is so distant. Why? Does this make sense to you?
 * 7) How does Zeus reward Percy?
 * 8) Who was speaking from the pit? Why do think Zeus doesn’t want to talk about it?
 * 9) How do you think Poseidon feels about Percy? How can you tell?
 * 10) Why doesn’t Percy petrify Gabe when he has the chance? What would you have done?


 * Chapter 22**
 * 1) What’s the tradition for campers who return from quests? How did the Ares cabin “honor” Percy?
 * 2) How does Percy’s mom get enough money to go to college?
 * 3) What happens to Grover in this chapter? Speculate: Will he come back in another book?
 * 4) What is the bead for Percy’s first summer?
 * 5) Why do you think Percy has so much trouble deciding whether to stay year round or go to seventh grade? What would you choose?
 * 6) What is unique about Backbiter, Luke’s new sword?
 * 7) Why is it dangerous to litter at Camp Half-Blood?
 * 8) Luke says, “Western Civilization is a disease.” What do you think he means by that?
 * 9) What turned Luke so bitter?
 * 10) How did Annabeth take Percy’s advice?