Just when you start to think all the original ideas for books for kids have been used, here comes Gary D. Schmidt with The Labors of Hercules Beal, not exactly a modern-day retelling, but more a modern-day connection with the original labors of Hercules the Myth. I love the variety of Schmidt's characters, the humanity shown in both his children and the adults, and the way the kids are not portrayed as infantile and helpless, but are empowered and allowed to show their independence. Not to mention sections that are laugh-out-loud funny mixed in with sections that tear your heart out. I haven't read anything by Schmidt that I haven't loved, and this book was no exception.

This was just an okay book for me: not terrible, not fantastic. I liked the references to mythology, and the voice was spot-on for a 6th grade boy, but overall, it never made me have a strong reaction one way or another.

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

If you know me, you know of my admiration for Gary D Schmidt. I count The Wednesday Wars and Okay For Now among my top ten favorites. So it is no small praise for me to say that this volume approaches them in excellence. In this book Schmidt has recaptured the magic of The Wednesday Wars - a run of the mill kid who is forced by a teacher to have encounters with classic literature and in the process learns about the world and himself. The lessons he learns from classics helps him decide the kind of person he is going to become, what it means to be brave and honorable. Along the way he begins to see the people around him in a new light and to accept change no matter how much it hurts. These are big ideas and the plot does not attempt to simplify the world. This is one kid finding his own ways forward, not the easy answer that fixes everything. This is a book you can reread and appreciate every time.

I really enjoyed this book. Hercules has experienced loss, enough to close one off to happiness. His parents are gone, his brother has become his somewhat resentful guardian and he has to attend a new school. A tough-love instructor takes his name at face value, and assigns him to complete the same labors of his mythical namesake. Through his journey, Hercules sees the connections between the myth and reality, while building a life that recognizes, and moves forward from loss to something greater.

CW: death of parents, animal violence (not a huge part of the book, but enough that I feel like I should mention it)

A lovely story that had me tearing up multiple times throughout. The writing was well-done and had me intrigued; however, the book layout of each individual labor did get a bit cumbersome at times. I understand that this is based on the myth of Hercules, but to choose a famous story with twelve different labors to get through was kind of a lot. Each labor did have an important lesson for our fictional Hercules Beal to learn from, but I did find myself losing steam about halfway through the book. However, I will still be highly recommending this one to middle grade readers who enjoyed books like Pax and A Rover's Story.

4.5 stars = I loved it! Would re-read.

This was lovely!! Fantastic voice for the main character, and I loved the whole cast around him. This had me cycling from laughter to tears and back again through the whole book. It was fantastic.

This would be great as a classroom/bedtime read aloud or for a classroom book group. So much to love here. Highly recommend.

I am a big fan of Gary Schmidt's books, and I'm happy to report that, at least for me, this is one of his finest. He can get across messages of hope and inspiration without being sappy, and here the uplift comes with an engaging hero, a great cast of kid and adult characters, a hilarious deadpan teacher/foil for our hero, and loads of bright, sharp, dry, and witty humor. This is an all-round top-drawer example of what quality middle grade/young YA fiction can be.

Gary D. Schmidt (Wednesday Wars, Just Like That and many more) has written many heart-warming books but this one may top them all. Hercules Beal lives with his brother, Achilles, and they both are trying hold themselves and the family business together after the tragic death of both their parents. A school assignment to relate all 12 of the mythological Hercules’ trials to real life sets young Hercules on a path that changes not only his life but that of others around him. It was amazing how Schmidt took real life events-a storm, an auction of yard sculptures, a pack of feral cats, some pesky coyotes-and connected them to the myths about the Cretan Bull, Nemean Lion and more. More impressive are some of his descriptions of the “Big Event” sunrise that Hercules watched every morning from the top of the dune as he greeted the day and his parents or the unique neighbors who were always there for the two brothers. Excellent book for readers grades 5-8 to read on their own but even better as a class novel study. Great examples of figurative language, using sensory language in descriptions, strong character development including changes over time and a variety of themes and lessons along the way. Text is free of profanity, sexual content and violence except that done by animals or nature.

“Maybe, the stuff we hold up, we don’t have to hold up by ourselves all the time. Maybe sometimes we can let someone else hold it up too. Maybe that’s how we can get by. Maybe that’s how we can do a whole lot better than just get by.”
-Hercules Beal, personal reflection, pg. 169 NetGalley arc

I loved this story about a modern interpretation of the Labors of Hercules. Gary D. Schmidt has created a cast of the most interesting characters I've read in a long time. This would be a terrific book to connect to Labors of Hercules, but it's also just a really great story. Don't miss it!

I would give this book 3.5 stars. I enjoyed the story and building the plot around the 12 laborers of Hercules was interesting. It's a difficult thing to translate mythology like this to the modern world and some of the connections to the main character Hercules felt like a stretch. I would have liked more direct connections to the idea of being a secret to yourself and discovering who you are.

Overall, this book was full of fun characters and a community that really rallied behind a boy who needed extra love and support even if it came in some untraditional ways.

Title: The Labors of Hercules Beal
By: Gary D. Schmidt

Genre:
Middle Grade fiction, Mythology,

Recommended Ages:
11 and up

Red Flags:
Loss, Grief,

Summary/Review:

Hercules, has recently lost his parents in a tragic car accident. His brother, Achilles comes home to take care of Hercules and the family business. Hercules is starting a new school year, at a new school with a new teacher. In the midst of several transitions, Hercules is assigned a school project to perform and reflect on the Twelve Labors of Hercules. Schmidt has beautifully blended Greek mythology with a modern day twist, creating a sense of community, built on friendship, and the emotions of love and loss. The unique, relative, text connections between realistic fiction and Greek mythology are the hidden gem in this middle grade novel. The old quote “It takes a village” is the theme of Schmidt’s newest emotional novel! I love it, and highly recommend reading it.


Thank you to Gary D. Schmidt, Harpers Collins Publishers, and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#reluctantreaderreads
#thelaborsofherculesbeal
#harperscollinspublishers
#garydschmidt
#netgalley
#advancedreadereditions

This was a lovely story about a boy and his experience with grief. I was initially drawn to this one because of the different take on Greek mythology, but I felt the execution was a bit lacking. I liked the premise though.

Hercules lost his parents in a car accident and is now living with his older brother, Achilles. They live on Cape Cod and the two of them are now in charge of the family business - a nursery and garden center. Hercules is going to a new middle school and his teacher gives him a year-long project in which he has to study and then re-enact the 12 labors of Hercules.

This feels like the kind of middle-grade book that adults love and kids find boring. There were some moments where the writing was beautiful, but a lot of it was run-on sentences and repetitive phrases that felt a little bit tedious to wade through. This took me a full month to finish, and while I found myself liking it, I didn't feel like this was a book I could recommend to the target middle-grade audience.

But if you are an adult who loves reading middle-grade, this might be for you! The characters were endearing, and Hercules is incredibly insightful. I appreciated the way the author tackled each of the 12 labors.

This middle grade novel is smart and funny and had me tearing up many times. Hercules Beal is unforgettable, as is his journey to reenact the 12 labors of the mythical Hercules. Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The Twelve Labors of Hercules Beal was released in May.

This story follows two brothers, Hercules and his older brother, Achilles, as they navigate life after losing their parents in a car accident a year ago. Achilles is responsible for attempting to keep his family farm and nursery up and running while Hercules faces the harsh challenges middle school. In class, Hercules is tasked to endure a year long assignment to recreate and reflect upon the twelve labors of his namesake, Hercules. His homeroom teacher, Lieutenant Colonel Hupfer is nothing but a “jerkface” and provides raw, honest, and at times harsh criticism toward Hercules’ reflections. Hercules learns life lessons related to community and found family as he applies the labors to his own life.

Schmidt beautifully captures the emotion of dealing with loss through his depictions of Hercules’ experience. Many of the chapters left me in tears as I empathized with the characters and began to feel Hercules’ growth and acceptance of his new reality. I would recommend this book to any middle school student, or adult for that matter, as the themes are for readers on the mature end.

I really love Gary Schmidt’s young boy protagonists, and Hercules didn’t disappoint. He and his brother Achilles have lost their parents and he finds himself at environmental school on Cape Cod. It’s not where he wants to be, and his teacher is a military like Instructor who is not going to go easy on him. But as he works through learning about the labors of the real Hercules, this Hercules begins to find himself and some peace with what has happened. It’s a heartwarming story about a friendship between a teacher and a boy, two brothers, and a story about finding oneself. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Four stars.

“Maybe, the stuff we hold up, we don’t have to hold up by ourselves all the time. Maybe sometimes we can let someone else hold it up too. Maybe that’s how we can get by. Maybe that’s how we can do a whole lot better than just get by.”

Thank you to @clarionbooks and @netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

THE LABORS OF HERCULES BEAL is about 12 year old Hercules Beal, who is starting at a new school after his brother comes back to look after him and their family business following their parents’ death. Hercules’ English teacher assigns each classmate a personalized yearlong project, and Hercules is told to research and perform the 12 labors of mythical Hercules, as well as write about their relevance in his life.

I didn’t realize how much I needed this book right now. It deals heavily with grief and finding yourself again after a tragedy. It’s about rebuilding your life and learning how to be honest with yourself.

I was surprised to see how each of the tasks were “performed” and relevant in Hercules’ life. Most of all though, I loved seeing the community that Hercules and Achilles build around themselves throughout the book. Hippolyta’s belt was my favorite task.

I think we could all learn a little bit from Hercules Beal, especially when it comes to grief, especially when it comes to everything going wrong, and especially when it comes to understanding that we aren’t alone.

Thank you again to Clarion Books and Netgalley for the ARC. I really needed this.

Gary D. Schmidt's latest release is a laugh out loud funny and emotionally resonant middle grade novel that follows Hercules, a middle schooler who is nothing like his namesake.
The Labors of Hercules Beal is memorable for its humor as much as its deep emotional moments. Schmidt balances the two in an incredible way, inviting readers to experience a full spectrum of emotion.
Hercules's conversational, confiding tone invites the reader in. His sense of humor and relatable circumstances are endearing, as is his growing connection to his community. His first-person narration allows for plenty of humor to lighten up the heavier moments. Hercules has plenty of emotional depth and opportunity for sensitivity-- a character trait I'm always happy to see portrayed, especially for boys. No toxic masculinity for Hercules Beal!
The supporting cast of characters is just as endearing and laugh out loud funny as the narrator. From neighbors and teachers to the bus driver, each character is well developed and memorable.
Framing the story within the labors of the mythical Hercules sets the pace of the novel and allows the reader to experience firsthand the Marine Lieutenant Colonel's grading style. This clever tactic also pushes Hercules outside his comfort zone, introduces him to new characters, and allows him to shift his perspective on those he's already familiar with.
Those who value their furry family members are sure to enjoy the adventures of Hercules, Mindy, and Pirate Cat. A whole host of animals parade their way through this Cape Cod setting, many ending up needing Hercules's intervention along the way.
The setting is a character itself, sometimes calm and sometimes unpredictable. Hercules's interactions with his environment are integral to the story, and having this setting felt just right for these characters in this story.
Overall, The Labors of Hercules Beal was a delightful, engaging read. It was un-put-down-able, and is sure to entice young readers and their grownups alike.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and HarperCollins Children's Books for an e-ARC such that I could share my honest opinions.

I really enjoyed this coming of age middle grade novel filled with greek mythology influences. Hercules experienced such trauma at a young age and watching him process it was moving. I also loved that this novel was based in the Cape, where I vacation ever year, so I could picture the vibes and setting so easily. Great read!

One of my top reads of 2023. I loved every character in this book and the relationships that Hercules has with them. The modern take of the myths was interesting and fresh! 10/10. Will recommend this to all of my book lovers!

Summary: "Seventh-grader Hercules Beal has to figure out how to fulfill his teacher's assignment of performing the Twelve Labors of Hercules in real life, and discovers important things about friendship, community, and himself along the way."
Hercules has a lot going on. He's twelve and the smallest boy in his class. He has to navigate parental loss and adjust to attending a new school. while helping his older brother keep their family greenhouse and nursery business afloat.
When one of his new teachers, Lt. Col. Daniel Hupfer (one of my fav characters!) gives him an assignment to perform the 12 labors of Hercules, the best advice he receives is, "It's a tough world, Beal." As the story unfolds you see more and more how tough Hercules Beal is. He also has some amazing help along the way.
I truly enjoyed getting to know the characters in this book from Mindy, the loveable dog, to the sweet and bedraggled Pirate Cat, to the wonderful neighbors and his brother's girlfriend, Viola.
I did get tired of the "oh boy, oh boy" and there were times the story was a little over the top and unrealistic, but the good in this story far outweighed any small issues. The story has heart and courage and I felt my eyes fill with tears more than once.
I highly recommend this book to all who want a compelling, satisfactory read.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.