Hercules: The Man, The Myth...The Middle Schooler?

I have been a fan of Gary D. Schmidt ever since I was introduced to his work in one of my undergraduate classes. Schmidt’s novel, “Okay for Now,” changed the way I thought about young adult and middle-grade literature, and I have been an avid reader of his work ever since. I am also a bit of a mythology buff, so I knew that Schmidt’s newest work, “The Labors of Hercules Beal,” was going to be right up my alley.

“The Labors of Hercules Beal” by Gary D. Schmidt tells the story of a young middle schooler with some pretty heroic shoes to fill. Named after the famous hero from Greek mythology, Hercules Beal is the smallest kid in his class, but he is patiently awaiting the Beal family growth spurt that would remedy that problem. Hercules, alongside his older brother, Achilles, run the Beal Brothers Farm and Nursery, a robust botanical store and greenhouse that serves their small community of Truro, Massachusetts.

Hercules and Achilles–alongside Viola, Achilles’ girlfriend (who Hercules is convinced is a vampire)--have run Beal Brothers Farm and Nursery by themselves since the death of their parents the year prior. Achilles, a world traveler and National Geographic writer, returned home to take care of Hercules and the nursery.

Hercules begins the year at the Cape Cod Academy of Environmental Sciences, he meets Lieutenant Colonel Hupfer, a retired Marine veteran, humanities instructor, and his new homeroom teacher. Trust me, Lieutenant Colonel Hupfer is exactly how you are picturing him. With his gruff exterior and no-nonsense attitude, Lieutenant Colonel Hupfer certainly has no patience for anyone looking to slack off. Assigning all of his students a classical mythology application project designed to last the school year, Lieutenant Colonel Hupfer challenges Hercules to complete the 12 labors of his mythical namesake and reflect on the lessons that each labor has to offer.

As Hercules sets out on this daunting task, he learns more about himself, his family, and his community. With the help of some zany neighborhood characters and his trusty pets, Mindy and Pirate Cat, Hercules soon realizes that there is much more to being a hero than the myths have led him to believe… and he learned to steer clear of the neighborhood gang of angry cats.

One of the things I liked the most about this novel was the way that Schmidt truly captured the point of view of a middle schooler. The way that Hercules sees the world, the way that he interacts with his friends and family, and the way that he problem solves and tackles obstacles, is so reminiscent of childhood and innocence that it just warms your heart as you read. Seeing the world through Hercules’ eyes is a beautiful gift.

I also loved the crazy cast of characters that Hercules interacts with as he ventures throughout his neighborhood, often seeing his longtime neighbors and teachers in a new light. Each character is so warm and welcoming that you can really see the impact that a positive community can have. Dealing with loss, Hercules sees that he isn’t alone–rather, he has quite a large network of support.

There wasn’t much that I didn’t like about this novel. I thought that the pacing was good, the character development was good (a few characters were a bit cliched in their development, but not in a way that impacted the overall enjoyment of the story), and I thought that the resolution to the story left me feeling satisfied.

I would recommend “The Labors of Hercules Beal” to anyone who is looking for a comforting, heartwarming, middle-grade novel that leaves you with a smile on your face long after you finish.

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