The Labors of Hercules Beal

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 a seemingly impossible school assignment—and learns about friendship, community, and himself along the way.

Herc Beal knows who he's named after—a mythical hero—but he's no superhero. He's the smallest kid in his class. So when his homeroom teacher at his new middle school gives him the assignment of duplicating the mythical Hercules's amazing feats in real life, he's skeptical. After all, there are no Nemean Lions on Cape Cod—and not a single Hydra in sight.

Missing his parents terribly and wishing his older brother wasn't working all the time, Herc figures out how to take his first steps along the road that the great Hercules himself once walked. Soon, new friends, human and animal, are helping him. And though his mythical role model performed his twelve labors by himself, Herc begins to see that he may not have to go it alone.

What happens when the twelve labors of a god become homework for a regular kid?

• A Modern Take on Greek Mythology: The assignment is to perform all twelve labors, from capturing the Nemean Lion to facing Cerberus—all on contemporary Cape Cod.
• A Story About Brothers: Living with his older brother Achilles isn’t easy, especially when they’re both trying to save their family’s nursery. It’s up to Herc to figure out how to mend his family while taking on his impossible quest.
• The Grumpy Mentor: Herc’s teacher is Lieutenant Colonel Hupfer, a retired marine who doesn’t believe in friends. But his tough assignments might be exactly what Herc needs to find his own strength.
• Finding Your Own Strength: Perfect for fans of Gary D. Schmidt’s The Wednesday Wars, this powerful coming-of-age story is packed with humor, heart, and the power of community.

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