Summary
"Il Ladro Di Fulmini" (The Lightning Thief) tells the story of Percy Jackson, a twelve-year-old boy who discovers he is a demigod, the son of the Greek god Poseidon. Percy's life is turned upside down when he learns that the world of Greek mythology is not just a collection of stories but a vibrant and dangerous reality.
The narrative begins with Percy struggling with dyslexia and ADHD, attending Yancy Academy, a school for troubled kids. He finds solace in his friendship with Grover Underwood, who seems to be a constant target for bullies due to his physical disabilities. During a school field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Percy is attacked by his math teacher, Mrs. Dodds, who reveals herself to be a Fury, a creature from the Underworld tasked with punishing wrongdoers. With the aid of his Latin teacher, Mr. Brunner, who provides him with a magical sword, Percy manages to defeat the Fury, but the event is quickly covered up, leaving Percy confused and questioning his sanity.
After being expelled from Yancy Academy, Percy's mother, Sally Jackson, takes him to Montauk, a beach where she met his father. Their escape is cut short when Grover, now revealed as a satyr, arrives with a dire warning: monsters are after Percy, and they must get him to Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods. On the way, they are attacked by a Minotaur, which Percy manages to kill, but not before it seemingly kills his mother. Devastated and enraged, Percy arrives at Camp Half-Blood, a safe haven for children of the Greek gods.
At Camp Half-Blood, Percy learns about his true parentage and discovers that he is the son of Poseidon, one of the Big Three gods, who made a pact not to have any more children due to their powerful nature. He also meets Annabeth Chase, a daughter of Athena, who becomes his friend and ally. Soon after, Percy is accused of stealing Zeus's master lightning bolt, the most powerful weapon in the universe, and he is given a quest to retrieve it and prevent a war between the gods.
With the guidance of Chiron, who is revealed to be the centaur Mr. Brunner, and accompanied by Annabeth and Grover, Percy sets out on a perilous journey to the Underworld, where he believes Hades, the god of the dead, is hiding the lightning bolt. Along their journey, they face numerous monsters from Greek mythology, including Medusa, and discover the power of their demigod abilities.
As the trio travels westward, they find themselves caught in the schemes of Ares, the god of war, who manipulates them into retrieving his shield from a water park in Denver. The journey to the Underworld is fraught with danger, and they discover that someone else is pulling the strings, using them as pawns in a larger game of power.
In the Underworld, Percy confronts Hades and learns that he did not steal the lightning bolt. Instead, Hades reveals that his helm of darkness, another powerful artifact, has been stolen, further complicating the situation. Percy realizes that the real thief intends to provoke a war between Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades, hoping to seize power in the ensuing chaos.
Percy, Annabeth, and Grover escape the Underworld, returning the helm to Hades and deciding to bring the lightning bolt to Zeus. As they race to New York, Percy confronts Ares, who is revealed to have been manipulated by the Titan lord Kronos. In a fierce duel, Percy manages to defeat Ares, proving his strength and bravery, and retrieves the lightning bolt. The triumph, however, comes with a heavy price as Percy feels that Zeus is just letting him live for now to see how things play out.
Finally, Percy arrives at the Empire State Building, where he ascends to Olympus and returns the lightning bolt to Zeus, averting a catastrophic war. In the end, Percy chooses to return to the mortal world, attending a normal school, while promising Annabeth to be there next summer. The story concludes with Percy's realization that being a demigod is a dangerous but extraordinary existence, and he is now part of a larger, more complex world than he ever imagined.