{"product_id":"the-labors-of-hercules-beal","title":"The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt","description":"\u003cp\u003eFrom 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHerc 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMissing 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat happens when the twelve labors of a god become homework for a regular kid?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eA Modern Take on Greek Mythology: \u003c\/b\u003e The assignment is to perform all twelve labors, from capturing the Nemean Lion to facing Cerberus--all on contemporary Cape Cod.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eA Story About Brothers: \u003c\/b\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eThe Grumpy Mentor: \u003c\/b\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eFinding Your Own Strength: \u003c\/b\u003e Perfect for fans of Gary D. Schmidt's \u003ci\u003eThe Wednesday Wars\u003c\/i\u003e, this powerful coming-of-age story is packed with humor, heart, and the power of community.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Sharp and funny . . . this essential purchase will spark interest in classical mythology and encourage readers to reach out to -others in times of stress.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal (starred review)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Schmidt's narrative keeps readers engaged with action [and] humor.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eHorn Book Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Schmidt employs his signature narrative style, balancing scenes of humor and affecting gravity through Hercules's droll narration. A moving hero's journey.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly (starred review)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eGary D. Schmidt\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003eis the bestselling author of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Labors of Hercules Beal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e; \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eJust Like That\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e; National Book Award finalist \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eOkay for Now\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e; \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003ePay Attention, Carter Jones\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e; \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eOrbiting Jupiter\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e; the Newbery Honor and Printz Honor Book \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eLizzie Bright and the Buckminster\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eBoy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e; and the Newbery Honor Book \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Wednesday\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eWars\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. He is also coauthor, with Ron Koertge, of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eStyx and Stones.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHe lives in rural Michigan.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Harper Collins","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45853400268986,"sku":"9780358699255","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0444\/2213\/5968\/files\/imageloader_2eb6c603-e997-4081-bb12-64bb99ea4c25.jpg?v=1778869722","url":"https:\/\/naturenurture.shop\/products\/the-labors-of-hercules-beal","provider":"nature+nurture","version":"1.0","type":"link"}