Review of “The Labors of Hercules Beal” by Gary D. Schmidt

Fulton Poelma, a student at Lowell Middle School, submitted the following review of a local author’s book.

 

I recently read a book called The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt. Schmidt is a Newbery-winning author who resides in Alto, Michigan. He went to Plumfield Books in Ada, Michigan for an author talk and book signing on his recently published book, The Labors of Hercules Beal.

My mother and I were halfway through the book, yet we loved it so much that we went to the event even though we were not yet finished with the book. He told us about some of his inspiration for people and places in The Labors of Hercules Beal. I got a copy of the book and had it signed.

Let me tell you about this book. Hercules Beal, the main character, lives in the town of Truro, Massachusetts. Before the events of this book, Hercules’ parents die in a car accident. This leaves the family business, Beal Brothers Farm and Nursery, in the hands of him and his older brother Achilles. Throughout the book, Hercules is grieving the loss of his parents.

After Hercules graduated sixth grade, his brother told him he would not be attending Truro Middle School. He would instead attend the Cape Cod Academy for Environmental Sciences. Hercules didn’t want to go, but he had to go. He went and met his teachers and classmates and ended up liking the school.

One of his teachers was named Lieutenant Colonel Daniel B. Hupfer. He had his students address him as Lieutenant Colonel Hupfer. He was a decorated former Marine and was very strict. He assigned them a “classical mythology application project.” Each person had a different task, and they had to write regular 150-word updates.

Lieutenant Colonel Hupfer recognized that Hercules was grieving, and told Hercules he had to “perform/do/make/happen/execute/accomplish” the 12 labors of the mythical Hercules for his Classical Mythology Application Project. Obviously, there are no Nemean Lions, Lernæan Hydras, et cetera in real life, so Hercules had to interpret them the best he can (metaphors, et cetera). Lieutenant Colonel Hupfer assigned this project to the class in order to “learn something about yourselves through studying the classical myths.”

Later in the book, we find out that Lieutenant Colonel Hupfer intended to help Hercules with his grieving, and it worked. Throughout the book, Hercules “performs/does/makes/happens/executes/accomplishes” the twelve labors of Hercules with the help of his friends Henry and Elly, his neighbors, and his family.

In this book, you feel like the characters are real people. Schmidt is an exceptional author who brings his characters to life. The Labors of Hercules Beal is my favorite book, and I recommend it to everyone.