I received an uncorrected e-proof ARC of “The Labors of Hercules Beal” from NetGalley and HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review.

The idea for this story, written by Gary D. Schmidt, was brilliant. But how Schmidt executed the story was not.

Hercules Beal starts the year by attending a new middle school. While there, his teacher, Lt. Col. Hupfer, tasks him with completing a real-life version of the 12 labors of Hercules. The orphaned Hercules then writes about each of the labors, receiving feedback from Hupfer.

After completing one of Hercules’ many tasks, Lt. Col. Hupfer discussed Beal’s,

“…maniacal insistence upon hitting on 150 words. It is a wise choice. Good writing is never done by the numbers…”

Schmidt was right about that. But what he failed to acknowledge is that good writing is ***tight writing***. Good writing is also about knowing when to add periods. It’s also about knowing when to halt a run-on sentence by breaking it up into multiple, manageable sentences.

As I read through the book, I found that I was unable to keep focused on what Schmidt was saying. In one sentence, he used 140 words (other sentences were 104, 73, 66, and 55 words long). To give you one example of these tiresome, run-on sentences that litter the book, I’ll give you one of my own:

- When I was in middle school—or it could have been in high school—it’s hard to tell because it was so long ago, I knew a girl (whose name I’m withholding for obvious reasons) who talked 90 miles a minute; I’m not lying, in fact, when my mom and I picked her up one time and from the minute we picked her up, she talked and talked and talked and talked, and then she talked some more—oh boy oh boy did she talk—and after my mom finally dropped her off at her house, my mom looked around at me and said how she couldn’t believe that (the girl’s name here withheld) didn’t pass out from lack of air, oh boy oh boy.

The run-on sentence above is **only** 126 words, but as you can see, it could easily be broken up into more manageable chunks for the readers. Schmidt would often have an entire, one-sentence paragraph about 50-100 words long (or more), followed by a 1 or 2 word sentence. At other times, the author would have single sentences spread out into 3 or 4 paragraphs when he could have easily packed them into a single paragraph. If I had written college-level papers with run-on sentences like the one above, my professors would have flunked me. No kidding. Instead, they continuously pressed me to write tight to to keep my readers’ attentions.

You may be saying to yourself: But this book has been given 5-star reviews by the numerous adult reviewers on GoodReads! Yes. But the one review that you should really focus on is the single 3-star review already given by a librarian. In that review, the librarian claimed that the MG kids in her library don’t pick up his books and read them. Yikes! As adults, we think like adults, so we will usually write adult reviews. But MG kids don’t think like adults and they usually don’t write lengthy GoodReads reviews. If a librarian serving MG kids is saying that kids don’t read Schmidt’s books, then you can be pretty sure that there’s a problem. And both the run-on and distorted, choppy sentences are likely the culprit because, as I stated earlier, the idea for this story was pure brilliance.

Now, a lot of adults read MG books, including me. But MG authors strive (or at least **should** strive) to have **MG kids** as their primary readers, not adults. If I was a publisher and I read a librarian’s review that said that kids weren’t reading the author’s books, I would be horrified. Sure, Schmidt is an English professor at a local college. But that doesn’t mean that he’s immune to good, tight writing (a lot of graduate students and their professors—in numerous fields—are notoriously bad writers). And the issues I listed above aren’t minor, nor are they a one-off. This isn’t Schmidt’s first rodeo—he’s had over 10 books published for this age group.

The book is relatively clean, with only the word “jackass” appearing. The idea for this book was exciting. I adore mythology and I absolutely fell in love with the description. But how the author delivered this story was disappointing, and for that reason, I can’t recommend this book.

Seventh-grader Hercules has a lot that sets him apart. He lives next to the ocean on a farm and nursery his family has owned longer than you can imagine. But since his parents’ untimely death, he and his older brother Achilles struggle to keep the business, and what’s left of their family, together. His workload is increased when his new teacher, an ex-Marine, assigns him to perform and reflect on the twelve labors of the mythic Hercules. Neighbors, natural disasters, feral cats and his brothers’ possibly vampiric girlfriend all combine to produce a memorable year. While Hercules’ grief is palpable, his staunch determination to carry on, and his personality filled descriptions, make the story more comic than tragic. Rich ancillary characters of all ages, including one from the Wednesday Wars, (Clarion/2007), help to reveal how the heroic can be found in the everyday. A few dated details - an art opening in Hyannis is attended in full evening dress – conflict with the contemporary setting, but are unlikely to trouble readers. The majority of the characters read as white. Thanks to Clarion and NetGalley for and Advance Readers Copy in return for an unbiased review.

Hercules Beal has a lot on his shoulders. Let’s start with a family tragedy and now enrolling in a new school. He and his brother Achilles are living on their own in their family home on Cape Cod. Yes, mom dad are deceased, so Achilles has a lot on his plate as well caring for himself and a little brother.

The new school Hercules transfers to is Cape Cod Academy for Environmental Science. A force of a teacher to be reckoned with is Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Hupfer, a tough former Marine and one who definitely presents challenging lessons. Lieutenant Colonel Hupfer assigns a year long Classical Mythology Application Project. Hercules is of course, assigned the Twelve Labors of Hercules and how they might be performed with relevance to his personal life.

The labors are presented in separate chapters, each ending with a written reflection assignment accompanied by Hupfer's comments and grade. Note the bold print.

The characters are engaging and truly likeable in the way Schmidt does in his novels. Just wait until you meet, Viola the Vampire, Lt. Col Hupfer, Pirate Cat, Regina, and Mr. Moby?

As you enjoy the antics of Hercules and friends, you may even learn a lesson or two or three. These, seen through the eyes of a young person, those of a marine and even your own. There is displayed here, resilience, community support, courage and the understanding that family can be more than a bloodline.

Personally, I’m not so into the mythology tie in, but many middle grade readers are and will find this book outstanding
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I highly recommended this one for your library collection.

This one wasn't for me, but I think its target audience is going to love it. I thoroughly enjoy middle grade fiction much of the time, but the tone and voice here were a bit too immature and whiny for me. I was reminded of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, though I never managed to read any of those in their entirety. A promising premise here, with the plentiful references to the original myth of the labors of Hercules, but I simply wasn't able to get past the voice of the perspective character enough to enjoy it. However, if I were still teaching school I would definitely be adding this to my classroom library.

This one was such a delight - nobody writes middle grade like Gary D. Schmidt. He is so funny, witty, and tender (he can make me laugh and cry on the same page). I loved this one and did a thirty second book review of it on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CsceQG7tkWR/

4.5 Stars

The Labors of Hercules Beal is the first of author Gary D. Schmidt’s books that I’ve read. But it won’t be the last. The award-winning author has penned more than 40 books for young people including Newbery Honor citations for Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy and The Wednesday Wars, and was a National Book Award finalist for Okay for Now, a novel that also won the Children’s Choice Award.

The hero of this tale is Herc — a kid whose voice rings true from Page 1. Herc’s life isn’t what he expected it to be, but he’s learning there’s more to it than he thought. And he’s got friends to help him along the way.

From the start, it’s clear that Schmidt knows his audience. He writes to them, not down to them, creating a sense of respect for the reader. Schmidt’s writing is lively with short sentences sprinkled throughout for emphasis. And though his book is about healing and empathy, you never feel like you’re “learning” a lesson.

The Labors of Hercules Beal is a strong contemporary middle-grade novel with a compelling male protagonist that should appeal to a good cross-section of readers.

I was really drawn to this story because I felt like it was an interesting concept that would appeal to readers interested in Greek myths, which I loved as a young reader and know are still popular. I really enjoyed the story overall, and the interpretations of the different Labors. The way the author handled the brothers' loss feels poignant, and I appreciated the different relationships. At times, the story felt a little sparse and like it was moving quickly. While readers still get a decent feel for the characters overall, they feel a bit two dimensional at times.

Trying to perform modern day versions of the twelve labors of the mythical Hercules for a class assignment, 12-year-old Hercules Beal learns that he doesn't have to fight a 9-headed Hydra or go to the Underworld to capture Cerberus. There are plenty of challenges and ordeals in his own life that he can use to approximate those twelve labors. Most importantly, Hercules has his brother Achilles, Viola, good friends, teachers (especially his homeroom teacher), neighbors, and classmates who are there to help him along when needed. All he has to do is learn to ask for their support. It really does take a village!

Other than getting past Hercules' annoying self-talk ("Oh boy oh boy"), this is a delightful tale that makes you truly care about Hercules and his struggles. "But like I said, I'm still here. And I have a lot more to do." The Labors of Hercules Beal is another great book by author Gary D. Schmidt.

Oh. My. Gosh. Screaming, crying. This was so good. This author has his formula DOWN. Love the expansions to the universe in his stories (iykyk) and obsessed with the structure and message of this book. It certainly had a literary feel and the writing was very strong. The diction was clearly quiet intentional and the entire book was very thoughtfully written.

Seventh grader Hercules Beal has a lot to deal with - his parents, who ran a nursery and yard materials store were killed in an accident, forcing his older brother to give up his world-traveling writing life to return home to care for his brother and to take on running the family business. Big brother Achilles (obviously their parents were into strange names) seems out of his depth playing either the substitute-parent role or the business owner, not seeming to recognize the personal or business needs of other, especially a boy on the edge of puberty. Achilles, new to running the business, decides to rely on Hercules for a lot of the labor and transfers him to a new school with an innovative environmentally-oriented program, allowing Hercules more time to help out at the business while removing him from his friends.

The major plot of the book revolves around an assignment in a class in which each student has a seemingly customized assignment. Hercules’ assignment, aligned with his name, is to find a way to duplicate the twelve labors of Hercules, and Hercules seems to align the challenges he faces in his relationships with his brother, his brother’s girlfriend, and the weather with those faced by the mythical Hercules. Through these life challenges, Hercules grows as he learns to see his teachers, his brother, and neighbors as 3-D real people instead of the typical child perceptions of many adults as caricatures of the assumed roles.

The story is well told with excellent character development. I normally read stories like this with obvious plot lines - in this case the twelve labors - with an attitude of wanting them all to end so I can see the resolution of the overall plot. This book was a much easier read - each subplot seemed to sneak up on the reader that kept me engaged.

Another great story from Gary Schmidt!

I am so happy to start by saying that Gary Schmidt has reclaimed his position in my heart as a writer of just lovely books. I know that he never left there for some of you, but I have not been impressed with a couple - most notably the one with the English butler and cricket. But Hercules Beal is right back there with Wednesday Wars and Okay for Now in my opinion. In true Schmidt style, I am reading along and enjoying the story and suddenly, out of nowhere, I am ugly crying because of one seemingly innocuous sentence that reveals all the emotion I have had building in me. Aside from the writing style itself, I also love the 12 labors and how our Hercules interprets them for his own life. I love Pirate Cat and the vampire girlfriend and, of course, his gruff teacher.

Gary Schmidt never disappoints with strength of character, setting and story mood! His storytelling and style are always a pleasure, but this title lacks a little depth compared to previous ones. Hercules endures grieving and heartache, but it feels different and somehow less descriptive and palpable than, say, Meryl Lee or Doug; the same might be said for his insights and epiphanies. The surety of Schmidt's writing and narrative arc keep the book moving and the reader is keen to see how Hercules will tackle his next labor and the living of life itself.

The Labors of Hercules Beal follows the life of young Hercules after a recent family tragedy. His older brother moves home to take care of the family farm, Hercules starts attending a new school, and he is given an assignment: complete the 12 labors of Hercules by the end of the school year.

Gary D. Schmidt fans will find his classic storytelling on these pages, as well as a friendly face from The Wednesday Wars in Hercules’s teacher. Some of the labors felt a little unbelievable, but they never took me out of the story. Schmidt writes the human condition (pain, grief, growth, hope, redemption) so well and with such real and flawed characters, a reader cannot walk away from his stories unchanged.

I am usually a quick reader but this book felt like a good, healing balm. I slowed way down and only read one chapter per day, which ended up being one labor per day. The story takes place over a full school year, so the slower pace really worked well for me. Every day, I finished a chapter with more hope and humor in my heart. I recommend this story so highly and the rest of his novels too, especially those loosely connected to The Wednesday Wars, Okay for Now, and Just Like That.

It is time for Hercules Beal to begin middle school, but instead of attending the local public school, his brother Achilles has signed him up at the Cape Cod Academy for Environmental Sciences. Ever since their parents’ untimely death about a year and a half before, the brothers have taken over the family business and have done their best to coexist despite their differences. So Hercules finds himself at a new school, where one particular teacher assigns a project that will last the entire school year; a project that is more complicated than anything Hercules has done before. His task is to study and replicate the Twelve Labors of Hercules in a modern context—which ultimately helps Hercules discover his own strengths while investigating those of his mythological namesake.

This fast-paced middle grade novel reads markedly quickly despite the relatively lengthy chapters. Hercules speaks in the first person and often directs his words to the reader, which immerses readers of all ages in his story; he also has an oft-repeated catch phrase that appears throughout the narrative. Much of the story is presented in a stream-of-consciousness style, using multiple run-on sentences and a variety of shorter, more abrupt phrases. This approach keeps the pacing moving forward with ease as the story shifts from one scene to the next. Alongside this, Hercules receives written commentary from one of his teachers, which shows readers just how much of an impact Hercules’ actions have on those around him.

Hercules lives in a small town with very few neighbors and other students. However, those who make their way into the book all have unique and memorable personalities, which enhance the overall delivery of the story. The interactions Hercules has with his classmates and neighbors are often laced with humor, giving readers lighthearted moments within the challenges Hercules faces both at home and at school. Written for a younger middle grade audience, this book does a good job getting readers to continue through the story thanks to its levity and accessible narrative. Throughout the book, readers learn not only about the Labors of Hercules, but also how one boy navigates the weight of his parents’ deaths. As he proceeds through his mission, Hercules’ community rallies alongside him to build a family greater than any he could have wished for. Entertaining and thought-provoking, this book is a positive addition to contemporary fiction collections for middle grade readers.

With the death of his parents and his brother, Achilles, returning home to run the Beal's Brothers Nursery, Hercules Beal only finds comfort in the morning routine of watching the sun rise over the ocean of Cape Cod. He did not expect to be tasked with relating, and reporting, on the mythical 12 labors of Hercules for a school project, nor how those myths help drive him toward his community and fight through his grief. The first-person narrative drives home the character Hercules Beal along with his reports to his teacher, ex-marine Lt. Col. Daniel Hupfer and his responses, to the 12 labors that Hercules tackles all year long. The characters are sympathetic and relatable, living against the backdrop of Truro, MA on Cape Cod that is a character in it's own right. Hercules' labors forcing him to face his grief, guilt, and bring his community together set against the backdrop of Greek mythology with a modern introspection is warm, inviting, and full of heart.

I'm a huge fan of Gary D. Schmidt. His books are like a warm cup of hot cocoa on a cold day. Comforting. Beloved. Moving. Empathetic.

Schmidt creates memorable characters and he's done it again with Hercules Beal. I adored the premise. The Hercules of this story having to reenact the 12 labors of the greek god he was named after, for a class assignment. As readers we get to follow along as Hercules goes from reluctant to heroic throughout the year.

Hercules was supported by a strong cast of characters, particularly his older brother Achilles and his girlfriend, a classmate at school, and a friend/neighbor from his previous school. Hercules and Achilles are dealing with the loss of their parents from a car accident, and they have taken over the family business.

This book is heartfelt, warm, and a must read!

I'm a huge fan of Schmidt's The Wednesday Wars. This upcoming release, The Labors of Hercules Beal, follows closely to that formula....it even has a small connection to TWW! Hercules is such a loveable character. He is a typical middle school boy who doesn't always think everything through, but he sure does have the biggest heart! Achilles is doing his absolute best as Herc's guardian while managing his own grief and the family business. The boys have lost their parents due to an automobile accident. One thing that helps to refocus Herc is Lt. Colonel Hupfer's mythology assignment-- which has Hercules applying the 12 Labors to his own life over the course of the school year. While it isn't his best work, The Wednesday Wars, it is pretty close!

5 stars, and then some!

This story grabbed me immediately, and my enthusiasm and engagement never wavered for a moment. Our main character, 12-year-old Hercules Beal, is one very awesome kid, and I believed in him, and rooted for him, right from the first. One of the things I really loved about him and his account of his sixth grade year is that he was a real kid, not some grownup writer's snarky-beyond-their-years version, which I find way too often in middle-school and YA books. In other words, this was a real kid speaking to us, and I cared about him and his struggles so much, struggles that included coping with the deaths of his parents, starting a new school, and just all the stuff you're trying to figure out at that age.

This book made me laugh, made me cry, made me think, made me grow. I can't recommend it enough, nor thank Gary Schmidt enough for what he wrote. This book will definitely be in my Top 5 books of 2023!

Thank you to NetGalley and to HarperCollins for a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

P.S. A couple of minor quibbles, the main one being that Hercules has an older brother whose girlfriend is named Viola, but sometimes she is named "Violet" in the prepub e-ARC. (No one caught that?!)

#TheLaborsofHerculesBeal #NetGalley

The Labors of Hercules Beal deals with grief and loss, but also has a sense of humor. Hercules has lost both of his parents in a car accident, so his brother, Achilles, returns home to take over the family business and to take care of Hercules. At school, Hercules's class is assigned projects related to Greek mythology. Hercules needs to explore the labors of Hercules (the myth, not the boy) and figure out how they relate to his real life.

Nobody could predict the trials that Hercules (the boy, not the myth) would have to endure over the course of the school year. From natural disasters to another car accident, Hercules may have suffered more than the myth. Readers will be cheering for Hercules from the very beginning. Schmidt knows how to write characters that feel real, so the reader gets completely immersed in the experience.

Gary Schmidt has done it again. The Labors of Hercules Beal is a fun, witty novel with true to life characters that will have readers laughing one minute and crying the next. Saddled with a name that didn’t fit his small stature, Hercules Beal must navigate 7th grade at a new school after his parents are killed in an accident. And to top it off his homeroom teacher, Lieutenant Colonel Hupfer, assigns him a yearlong project centered around the twelve trials of the mythical Hercules. It sounds impossible, but with the help of his friends, neighbors, and others he is able to complete the assignment. And along the way Hercules grows and becomes more confident in himself. This is a wonderful coming of age novel where Hercules pulls at readers’ heartstrings and has them laughing, crying and pulling for him at every stage of the story. This is sure to be an award winner. Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins Children’s Books for giving me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.