The Labors of Hercules Beal

Gary D. Schmidt’s 2023 middle-grade novel The Labors of Hercules Beal is narrated by seventh-grader Hercules Beal as he completes his own version of his mythical namesake’s 12 labors for a school project. Navigating life without his parents, he learns about himself and the world, revealing the themes of Community Impact on Individual Healing, The Benefits of a Shifted Perspective, and The Significance of Setting on Personal Development.

Other works by this author include Orbiting Jupiter, The Wednesday Wars, and Okay for Now.

This guide refers to the 2023 Clarion Books print edition of the text.

Content Warning: The source material includes frequent discussion of parental death.

Plot Summary

Twelve-year-old Hercules Beal details his impending enrollment at the Cape Cod Academy for Environmental Sciences and reveals that his parents died a year ago. His older brother, Achilles, has moved home to run the family business, Beal Brothers Farm and Nursery. Hercules believes that his hometown of Truro, Massachusetts, is the most beautiful place. Every morning, he watches the sunrise from the Dune with his dog,

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