The Drew children are on holiday in Cornwall, renting the old Captain's house while he is away. They explore through the dusty attics of the house and discover what appears to be an ancient map with the name Arturus Rex. They embark on an adventure to recover a lost treasure that tells the true story of King Arthur. But there are others who also search for the treasure for their own nefarious purposes. The children's Great-Uncle Merry warns them of the constant battle between good and evil, and tries to protect them as they search for the treasure.

I love this first book in the series! I've read and reread it many times, and I am always delighted with the plot, the characters, and the writing.

The plot is mysterious and deep, as the children follow the ancient clues that lead them down paths where King Arthur walked.

I love how the Drew children interact. I just love stories about siblings! These children bicker and tease each other, but they know they can count on each other when it really matters. They each have such different personalities, different strengths and weaknesses, and it is evident through every step of the adventure that it will take all of their combined talents to solve the clues.

The writing is so powerful and immersive. I love that with just a few words, the author plunges the reader into the middle of the scene, and you FEEL what the characters are feeling. I actually felt out of breath while reading about the characters running. I actually felt heat on my skin when one character got a sunburn.

I love how the story incorporates Arthurian legend into the adventure, and we get a whole new perspective on ancient times and the age-old fight between good and evil.

Percy Jackson discovers that he is a demi-god, and he is being pursued by monsters from the Underworld. He escapes to Camp Half-Blood where demi-gods like himself can find safety from monsters. They spend their summers training to fight monsters and learning about the Greek gods.

I just loved re-reading this favorite book again this year. Percy is so sassy and hilarious. Grover, the satyr, is adorable and ridiculously funny. And of course, my favorite character is Annabeth, the daughter of Athena. She is not nicknamed Wise Girl for nothing. I love how she doesn't really like Percy that much in the beginning, but through their adventures, they become friends.

The writing is snappy, the adventures are imaginative, and I love learning about the Greek legends! This book is such a perfect beginning to one of my favorite series!
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