Why the edition matters
The Disney Books page for ISBN 9780786838653 gives an age range of 9-12. The Disney Books page for ISBN 9781368098168 gives an age range of 10-14 and identifies that edition as the Disney+ tie in paperback. Both records refer to The Lightning Thief, but the publisher metadata belongs to the named edition.
What this page covers
This page covers Disney Books edition facts, Rick Riordan's series identity, and exactly five linked Common Sense Media review notes for the original five books. It is not a direct full text review, and its claims stop at what those sources report.
Independent rating and linked review notes
Common Sense Media rates The Lightning Thief at 9+ and reports fantasy fights, injuries, vehicle crashes, references to family abuse, and grief around Percy's mother. That 9+ rating belongs to Common Sense Media. Shelf Checkout reports the categories and does not replace the publisher or reviewer with its own universal age rating.
Five linked publisher and review records
Rick Riordan's official series page identifies the Percy Jackson and the Olympians books and current continuations. The original arc follows Percy from The Lightning Thief through The Last Olympian.
- Book 1 Disney Books lists ages 9-12. Common Sense Media assigns 9+ and reports fantasy combat, injury, grief, and a reference to family abuse.
- Book 2 Disney Books lists ages 9-12. Common Sense Media reports monster battles, bullying, peer ridicule, and crush material.
- Book 3 Disney Books lists ages 9-12. Common Sense Media reports deadlier monster encounters and two major character deaths.
- Book 4 Disney Books lists ages 9-12. Common Sense Media assigns 10+ and reports larger monster battles, two camper deaths, romance, and kissing.
- Book 5 Disney Books lists ages 9-12. Common Sense Media assigns 10+ and reports a prolonged Manhattan battle, casualties, some gore, romance, and kissing.
LGBTQ research scope
Disney Books lists The Sun and the Star at ages 10-14. The official publisher description states that Nico di Angelo travels with his boyfriend, Will Solace, and that their relationship is tested during the Tartarus quest. This extended saga title falls outside the original five book arc. The cited review summaries for the original five books do not establish the absence of LGBTQ characters or relationships, so this guide does not infer absence.
Use the evidence for one reader
Start with the exact ISBN and its publisher band, then review the content categories and any attributed independent rating. The Shelf Checkout app connects those categories with the sensitivity settings selected for one reader. The series guide method explains how to keep those evidence types separate.
