I feel as deeply invested as I should have when I was in elementary and middle school. Time to buy the rest of the series and read them again too! (I borrowed the rest from my 6th grade teacher, bless her).

But anyway...wow I loved this so much this time around. I can't believe I ever disliked it. Honestly the only flaws in my mind are the unbelievability of the adults (the cops would never let 12 yr olds fly alone on a plane after being kidnapped, sorry, and I have to think that they would be chaperoned on their quests, not just sent into the wilderness to fend for themselves) and how Percy didn't really seem 12 (maybe more like 14 or 15). But honestly? I'm so in love with this concept, this world, this book, and Rick's writing (which I used to hate? weird?)

Wish I could go back to middle school, shake myself, and tell her that she could love this book so much more.

But that's the past, I guess. Better late than never, right?