[Rev. M. Rodimer]

I was appalled to find this book review today.

It's for the November, 2012 "Kids' Book Club Pick", which means that some group of elitist, God-hating busybodies, paid with our tax dollars, decided the best book for children to read in November was Rick Riordan's "Red Pyramid".

Mention the name Rick Riordan to adults, and they might say, "Huh?" But kids? They know. Riordan has been burning up the best-seller lists with three different series of books that all feature modern-day kids entangled in the lives of ancient gods. The Red Pyramid — the November pick of NPR's Backseat Book Club — features a brother and sister who have no idea they are descended from age-old sorcerers until their archaeologist father accidentally unleashes ancient gods into modern society.

Dangerous? Absolutely. But also very cool.

...

All of [Riordan's] best-selling series (the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, the Heroes of Olympus series and The Kane Chronicles) follow a similar pattern: A modern-day preteen must complete a difficult mission, or the world will descend into complete chaos. Along the way, they usually discover special powers, overcome big fears and fulfill a destiny etched in stone hundreds of years ago.

Now, I don't know what a "backseat book" is, and I'm not sure I want to. It sounds like something one might claim to be looking for at a drive-in movie. "No hanky panky, officer, I just dropped my book!"

Why is an imaginary destiny involving scores of demons somehow better than a real-life destiny? Why teach these children to fantasize about ridiculous creatures with magical powers? I wouldn't want my child wasting time thinking about imaginary magic friends and enemies, when he could be praising Jesus instead!

This, and all of Rick Riordan's books, should be banned from public libraries and bookstores.