“Camp Half Blood: The Wild Zone” Tour

Rick Riordan & Annabelle Oh

VANESSA HUANG

Rick Riordan is back at it again, with a twist! This time, he and Annabelle Oh have co-authored a book that exists within the “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” universe. As Riordan explained during their tour together, people new to the universe don’t need to read the thirty-some other books first—though having context will certainly make it more fun.

Set in Camp Half-Blood, the place demigods go to learn how to protect themselves, “The Wild Zone” caters to fans who yearn to know the lore behind the mysterious camp. Each book in the series will follow a different character from the new main group. As Riordan assured, all four books of the series have been finished and will be released on a rolling basis every six months.

Without spoiling too much, these co-authors disclosed their inspiration for “The Wild Zone.” Its main character, Katie Kim, is a demigod who struggles to reconcile her identity with what it means to be Korean-American and a daughter of Ares. Even though she isn’t naturally gifted in sports like her mother or older sister, Katie has her own strengths that reveal themselves throughout the book. Her character arc proves that being different is a positive, and that anyone can find a place to belong.

I have to admit, this was the first time I’ve ever attended a book tour event. The atmosphere was incredibly heartwarming, with half the crowd dressed in iconic bright orange Camp Half-Blood T-shirts. In addition to getting a peek into the writing process of such acclaimed authors, I even got a free copy of “The Wild Zone” (signatures included)!