Rick Riordan

Rick Riordan is an author. The American author of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. This page is a short guide for parents, teachers and young readers: who they are, which of their books are in the current top 20 and where to start.

About Rick Riordan

Rick Riordan was born in 1964 in San Antonio, Texas. He taught middle school in Texas and California for about 15 years before becoming a full-time writer.

His first Percy Jackson book, The Lightning Thief, was published in 2005. His other series include Heroes of Olympus, The Trials of Apollo, the Kane Chronicles and Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, and he created the overall storyline for the 39 Clues series.

Rick Riordan’s books in the top 20

• Camp Half-Blood: The Wild Zone: number 13 in the list we checked on 7 November 2026. Four new demigods enter a restricted part of the camp, and campers start disappearing.

Other well-known books and work

• Percy Jackson and the Olympians (from 2005)
• Heroes of Olympus
• The Trials of Apollo
• The Kane Chronicles
• Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard

Where to start

Start with The Lightning Thief. For a gentler entry, try the Percy Jackson spin-offs aimed at younger readers.

Frequently asked questions about Rick Riordan

Who is Rick Riordan?

Rick Riordan was born in 1964 in San Antonio, Texas. He taught middle school in Texas and California for about 15 years before becoming a full-time writer.

Which books by Rick Riordan are in the top 20?

Camp Half-Blood: The Wild Zone (number 13). See our Top 20 children’s books for the full list.

Where should I start with Rick Riordan?

Start with The Lightning Thief. For a gentler entry, try the Percy Jackson spin-offs aimed at younger readers.

Biographical details are drawn from publisher biographies, reference works and the author’s own site, and may have changed. The illustration is our own and is not a likeness of the author. See all the authors.

Sources: Rick Riordan (Britannica).