For an American equivalent to Harry Potter that relies more on magical powers than on political drama and reading newspapers, try the Percy Jackson books. Percy learns that the ancient Greek gods (and the monsters that go with them) are alive and well in the modern world, and he must find his place as a demigod in that world by completing his first quest--to retrieve Zeus’s stolen Master Bolt.
This book utterly rocks its ability to place ancient creatures in modern settings Auntie M’s Garden Emporium, anyone?
How to Commemorate:
- Go swimming.
- Learn some Greek. (Try Mango Languages form your local library.)
- Play capture-the-flag.
- Visit the Empire State Building (or another building of Greek design in your city).
Works Cited
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
*Note: Read the book. Do not watch the movie.
