From award-winning author Gary D. Schmidt, a warm and witty novel in the tradition of The Wednesday Wars, in which a seventh grader has to figure out how to fulfill an assignment to perform the Twelve Labors of Hercules in real life—and makes discoveries about friendship, community, and himself along the way.
4.4Overall Score
The Labors of Hercules Beal
Reader's Review A heart-wrenching tale with wonderful themes of family, overcoming grief, hard work and teamwork, but with scenes of intense grief and some violence that may alarm sensitive ...
Reader’s Review
A heart-wrenching tale with wonderful themes of family, overcoming grief, hard work and teamwork, but with scenes of intense grief and some violence that may alarm sensitive readers. The story is narrated by Hercules, a seventh grader, who loses both parents in a car accident and has to live with his brother as they both learn to cope with their grief and juggle a nursery business they inherited from their parents. To help them are loving community members, and tough teacher who becomes Hercules’ biggest supporter.
To look out for
- Language: infrequent use of rude language such as ‘hell’, ‘jackass’ and ‘badass’
- Romance: Hercules’ brother has a girlfriend who spends a lot of time with both brothers. On occasion she hugs and kisses his brother. Eventually the two get engaged. Towards the end of the book there is a mention of Hercules kissing his friend, a girl.
- Violence: As Hercules copes with his grief he has flashbacks of the accident that killed his parents, and seeing his father die in the hospital. His own adventures include getting hurt by stray cats, saving a woman who’s house is almost swept away by the waters, dealing with his dog’s broken leg, more car accidents, a broken nose, as well as descriptions of the mythical Hercules’ violent adventures.
Purchase on: Amazon
