The Labors of Hercules Beal
Gary Schmidt
Clarion, May, 2023
352 pages
Grades 5-8
Realistic Fiction
Seventh grade does not have a promising start. Hercules's brother Achilles moves back home to raise him after a tragic accident and becomes busy managing the Beal Brothers Nursery and Garden Center in their Cape Cod small town. Achilles transfers Herc to a new school, away from his best friend, but where he makes a new friend--and an old enemy. His quirky homeroom teacher, Lieutenant Colonel Hupfer, gives the class a strange assignment: take a classic Greek myth and rework it in present reflecting your own interests. Naturally, Hercules takes on his namesake, recreating the ancient hero's labors in new, yet poignant, ways. Working at the family garden center is exhausting and school is a lot (especially when it moves to the family's property), but luckily Herc has a couple of good pets and good friends to keep him company. Throughout the school year Hercules weathers storms, both personal and physical, faces his past, and becomes finally ready to face his future with the help of his tight knit community and his newly reconstructed family.
This is award-winning author's Schmidt's new novel and in my humble opinion his best yet. Set in present day with relatable characters, kids will find the story approachable. Since Hercules has suffered tragedy, they will also find the story compelling. The reader does not know initially what happened to Herc's parents, but eventually the back story is revealed as he is able to finally face the events and come to terms with his past. Hercules finds healing through the help of community and the assignment to repeat the labors of his namesake. This is a character driven story in that all of the various characters are all unique and developed, most especially Hercules himself. Each labor serves as a slice-of-life mini-adventure, which all add up to a satisfying conclusion that will make the reader breath a sigh of relief when they close the book knowing that Hercules and all of the folks around him will be okay. A worthwhile read, reminiscent of Dead End in Norvelt, that is sure to win awards.
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