Lost+Hero

//Lost Hero// by Rick Riordan

People must be sick of me saying this, but is the purpose of the Flume to get students to read books they might not normally choose/think of? Riordan is so popular that we always have a waiting list for his books regardless of the number of copies we have purchased. Kelly B. Keene High School, 2/9/12

We do also, but this is a list selected by teens, for teens. If we look at past winners, they have always been hugely successful books not unknowns. It would be great if this were possible. My understanding of the Flume Award is that it is the most popular book from a juried list of teen recommended books. The Lost Hero has universal appeal with boys and girls. My concern with it is that we locate Riordan's books in the children's room, not the YA section. The reading and interest level is much younger and this book would be a better fit on the Isinglass list. Sally Nelson, Leach Library, Londonderry, 2/16/12

In addition to being at a younger reading and interest level, The Lost Hero is also the first book in a sequel series. I'm sure most teens who will read it have already read the entire Percy Jackson series, but I'm not convinced the book truly stands on it's own. Many of the characters are carried forward from Percy Jackson, as is the Camp Half-Blood setting. Annabelle's concern about the missing Percy is not fully explained for those who haven't read the first series. Nancy Lang, Dunbarton Public Library, 3/2/12

I believe that The Lost Hero would fit equally well on either the Isinglass or Flume lists, and is definitely not a children's book (I recommended that my sister not give it to her 11 year-old son to read). The main characters are 16, and they are awfully concerned with dating issues. I do think that it stands alone, as, while Percy is mentioned, and it takes place at Camp Half-Blood, we've got a whole new cast of characters with new issues. I don't think that the book's popularity should prevent its inclusion on the list -that's why it //should// be on there. 3/9/12 Kirsten Rundquist Corbett Lane Memorial Library, Hampton