The Labors of Hercules Beal that was published May 23rd 2023, is a modern day mythology  centered book where 7th grader Hercules Beal is instructed to complete the 12 labors of Hercules  in his own meanings, before the end of the year, by his new teacher.  The author, Gary D. Schimdt is Newbery Honors and Printz Honor award winner. Besides being an author, Schimdt is also a professor at Calvin College. 

Before even opening a book, I like to examine the front and back covers of the books I read. I immediately got the sense that this was a heartfelt and moving, young adult or children’s novel.  I also got the impression  that maybe it would be kind of boring and I wouldn’t want to keep reading this book. Usually I read realistic fiction so I was hoping it wouldn’t be another one of those sappy, hard to read ,Greek mythology books. 

I was able to visualize almost perfectly what was happening in the story. Reading a book with an audio book helps me better see and memorize what’s happening in the story so I turned on my audiobook and took a part into the story. Schmidt’s writing  also adds to this. He delivers the words with care and humor for the audience to absorb his words. Just as I started, I noticed that in the first few chapters the phrase “oh boy oh boy” was repeated every few paragraphs. It might not have been intentionally placed but it was still noticeable. Additionally, Schimdt doesn’t use any abbreviations. Even for Hercules’ school every time he says “Cape Cod Academy for Environmental Sciences.”  To add to my point, I didn’t get a good plot or timeline of the story. One page it was Thanksgiving then a few pages later it was Halloween. 

I did feel like it was an easier read compared to some of the books I’ve read and I was just waiting for this big thing to happen and it didn’t really happen till the last chapter. And yet it didn’t really. There was no climax, just small bumps in the road that could easily be overcome without needing to be explained over and over again. But as the story ends and the readers are drifting to sleep  something happens.  But the author did a good job on capturing what it would be like in a 12 year olds mind. I felt connected with the character and if he existed I would know his every thought. Consistency was clear the entire time. It was with the plot, characters, dialogue. 

It made the story and plot not predictable but interesting and like if you knew the characters in real life. Repetition was there through every chapter.  words like coffee, jerkface. phrases like “oh boy oh boy” , places being said for what they exactly were like  “cape cod academy for environmental sciences” and even the brothers getting into separate car crashes after their parents died in one?? I was stunned at the end and it was the only time I felt like I was on the edge of my seat.

It was  greatly written but there should’ve been more. I was always waiting for more to shock me or make me excited for what could come next. But by the 3rd chapter I had a good sense that this was it. I would recommend this to someone who wants an easy read and only has to keep up with the main story line. Things happen to other characters but after that chapter it was never spoken about again. Such as Hercules’ neighbor, being severely injured in a storm and Hercules and his brother saved her from her collapsing house  and she was kinda fine after. Now I understand these people aren’t in his daily life but we are connected to the story so we want to see  the outcome  and process. 

I gained some insight on Greek/Roman mythology. In the book he completes Hercules’ 12 labors but in the way he perceives them before this I didn’t know anything about them. Maybe I was disappointed from the start and couldn’t see the story for what it was but it didn’t always click with me. I couldn’t seriously recommend this to someone else without being like “ You might want to pick out something a little less boring and repetitive.”

After looking up the reading level for the book, and it was 10-12, and even grades 3-7,  I would recommend this to someone younger or just start getting into chapter books . That way they can ease and understand the book altogether. But there’s not much to understand if it’s all the same.  I wouldn’t recommend this to someone who is looking for a good read though. ⅗ stars