Author Rick Riordan’s eighth grade English teacher first introduced him to The Lord of the Rings, a book inspired by Norse mythology. Rick realized fantasy writing went back ages and struck a cord with middle schoolers.
Author Rick Riordan knew from the beginning he wanted to make Percy Jackson a series, but he always had a 5 book length in mind. Thanks to questions from kids, though, he realized there were still more stories to tell.
A former middle school English and History teacher, Author Rick Riordan talks about having the right sensibility to understand and write for the middle grade-aged kids. The middle grade years, he says, are a tough age to be with so many transitions — social, emotional, intellectual, and physical — so having compelling books to read that speak to their experiences is important.
