Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #3
The Titan's Curse
by Rick Riordan
Contents
1. My Rescue Operation Goes Very Wrong
Overview
Percy, Annabeth, and Thalia answer Grover’s distress call at Westover Hall, where Grover has discovered two powerful half-blood siblings, Bianca and Nico di Angelo. Their rescue attempt becomes dangerous when the vice principal, Dr. Thorn, proves to be a monster who already suspects the demigods’ mission.
The chapter reestablishes Percy’s friendships while showing his insecurity about Thalia’s leadership and training. Percy’s decision to pursue Dr. Thorn alone leaves him wounded, poisoned, and trapped with the children he meant to save.
Summary
Percy Jackson’s mother drives Percy, Annabeth, and Thalia through a snowstorm to Westover Hall, a military boarding school in Bar Harbor, Maine. Grover has sent a distress call from the school, and the three demigods arrive nervous, armed, and unsure what danger awaits them.
After Sally Jackson leaves, the group enters the castlelike school and immediately senses trouble. Two strict teachers, Mrs. Gottschalk and Dr. Thorn, intercept them, but Thalia uses the Mist to convince the adults that Percy, Annabeth, and Thalia are enrolled students. Grover appears and awkwardly helps preserve the lie before guiding them toward the school dance.
Grover explains that he has found two powerful unclaimed half-bloods, siblings Bianca and Nico di Angelo. Because monsters may attack once the children understand their identities, Grover has not told them the truth. He reveals that the likely monster is Dr. Thorn, who suspects something and is watching the di Angelos closely.
Thalia decides the group should blend in at the dance to distract Dr. Thorn and wait for a chance to rescue the siblings. While Thalia dances with Grover, Percy dances with Annabeth. Annabeth begins to tell Percy about her father’s decision to move to San Francisco and hints that the situation is serious, but she suddenly notices that Bianca, Nico, and Dr. Thorn have disappeared.
Percy sees Bianca’s cap and Nico’s trading cards on the gym floor, then spots Dr. Thorn leading the di Angelos away. Instead of searching for Annabeth, Thalia, and Grover, Percy decides to act alone, partly because he wants to prove he can handle the danger without relying on Thalia. Percy follows Dr. Thorn into the corridors with Riptide drawn.
In the entry hall, Percy finds Bianca and Nico frightened and tries to reassure them. Bianca is actually trying to warn him, and Dr. Thorn ambushes Percy with a poisonous black thorn that pins Percy to the wall. Dr. Thorn reveals that he knows Percy’s identity, nearly hits Bianca with a second projectile, and orders Percy and the di Angelo siblings to come with him quietly.
Who Appears
- Percy JacksonNarrator; follows Dr. Thorn alone and is wounded during the failed rescue.
- Dr. ThornWestover vice principal; suspected monster who captures Percy, Bianca, and Nico.
- Bianca di AngeloNew half-blood at Westover; Nico’s sister, targeted and taken by Dr. Thorn.
- Nico di AngeloNew half-blood at Westover; Bianca’s younger brother, carrying trading cards when abducted.
- Grover UnderwoodSatyr scout; calls for help after finding the di Angelo siblings at Westover.
- ThaliaPowerful demigod; uses the Mist and leads the group’s plan to blend in.
- Annabeth ChasePercy’s friend; helps infiltrate the dance and shares worries about her father’s move.
- Sally JacksonPercy’s mother; drives the demigods to Westover and worries about their safety.
- Mrs. GottschalkWestover teacher; is influenced by Thalia’s Mist and lets the group continue.