A review by katiecakes91
The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

Reading this was equivalent to being wrapped in a fluffy blanket still warm from the dryer while also crying. The main character is a middle school boy and the author did SUCH a good job voicing him. Hercules felt like a very real middle school boy. The sense of community and love after the giant loss Hercules has undergone is so touching. I feel like so much of this book can be summed up by this line... 

"By the end of his labors, Hercules understood that he had been to hell and back. That meant a lot - that he had come back. Now he had a lot more living to do - and he was grateful beyond anything for that."