Head-to-head
The Wishing Spell vs The Lightning Thief
Both are long fantasy series for ages 8-13 with magical worlds and ensemble casts, but Percy Jackson focuses on Greek mythology while Land of Stories is original high fantasy.
The Wishing Spell
by Chris Colfer
A magical quest through reimagined fairy tales that teaches kids villains have backstories too
Score comparison
| Score | The Wishing Spell | The Lightning Thief | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kid Score | 67 | 78 | The Lightning Thief (+11) |
| Parent Score | 60 | 59 | Tied |
| Teacher Score | 65 | 73 | The Lightning Thief (+8) |
✓ The Wishing Spell — perfect for
- •Kids who love fairy tales and want to see them reimagined
- •Readers looking for adventure with emotional depth
- •Children ready for moral complexity beyond simple good-vs-evil
- •Fans of portal fantasy who enjoy world-building
✓ The Lightning Thief — perfect for
- •Adventure-hungry readers ages 9-12 who love mythology
- •humor
- •and nonstop action. Especially resonates with kids who feel like outsiders at school or who have been told their differences are problems rather than strengths.
Our take
There's no universal winner here — the right pick depends on who's reading. The Lightning Thief scores higher with kids (78 vs 67) — better if your goal is "my kid actually wants to read it."
Still not sure? Take the 2-minute SPARK quiz — we'll pick the one that fits your specific kid's reading personality.
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