The kids at Camp Half-Blood face family challenges beyond those of the average human child. With one godly parent and one mortal parent, demigods are perpetually part of a broken family. Such an arrangement stokes feelings of abandonment, inadequacy, and desire to prove themselves. These emotions manifest in different ways depending on each campers’ human family structure and the identity of their godly parent.

Most prominently, Annabeth struggles with feeling like she does not belong. As a year-rounder at Camp Half-Blood, she chooses to have no association with her human father and step-family. They made her feel unwanted because she brought monsters and other complications upon them, leaving Annabeth wishing for a true parent. She sought a deeper relationship with Athena, which also left her unsatisfied. As a result, Annabeth constantly seeks ways to prove herself. The prophesy Chiron received about Annabeth says someone special will arrive at camp and give her a chance to accomplish great things. Annabeth grasps onto every newcomer with the belief that each new person is the one, meaning she’ll finally be able to shed her feelings of inadequacy and be noticed by her parents, both human and god.

By contrast, Percy has a loving relationship with his human mother.